Page 78 of The Charm of You

I haven’t been there since Keely dumped me, not that I care about seeing her. It’s the hushed whispers and judgy glances I’m avoiding.

This town is relentless with its gossip.

“I didn’t pull you away from… anything, did I?” She says “anything” like she has a particular something in mind.

I shrug. “No. I had a break at work, so you called at the perfect time.”

“Oh, good.” She nods. “I try not to call you while you’re at work, or… elsewhere.”

I set my fork down and ease a napkin out of the holder in the center of the breakfast table to wipe at the corners of my mouth. “You can call me anytime, Ma. You know I’m here for you with whatever you need,” I say, purposely ignoring the questioning tone in her voice.

“I know, sweetheart.” She reaches over to pat my hand. “You’re a good son.”

I furrow my brow as she resumes eating, almost naturally. But she picks at her food, nudging it sideways like I used to when she’d put Brussels sprouts on our dinner menu.

I’ve always hated Brussels sprouts.

“What’s on your mind?” I finally ask.

She lifts her head, and the cloudy hesitation in her normally bright eyes gives me pause.

“What is it? Are you not feeling well?” I shift to the edge of my seat, ready to jump into action if needed.

But her eyes crinkle in the corners with a smile. It’s enough to put me at ease. “I’m fine, honey. You always worry so much about me, and it’s unnecessary. I don’t know how many times I’ve told you that.”

I pick up my fork again and stab another bite onto it.

“I was just thinking about the game Friday night,” she says. “There’s the chili dinner afterward too. I know you don’t normally attend such things, but it’s your reunion week. You seem to be getting along so well with Caroline. It’s really nice that you two are sweet on each other, and I was thinking…”

I nearly choke on my food. “What are you talking about? I’ve seen her a few times, sure, but we’re not… I mean, we’re just—we’re fine.”

I cringe as the final word rushes out of my mouth. That fucking word has plagued me all morning, ever since I uttered it in front of Caroline.

“You don’t have to explain yourself, honey. I was young once too, so I get it.” She holds her finger up, and her eyes shine like a lightbulb flashed on. “I have a nice notion. You should give her the old Valentine’s cards you made her in high school. Wouldn’t that be adorable?”

I cough, wincing as I struggle to swallow my bite of chicken like I’m trying to stuff my entire plate down my throat.

She can’t be serious.

But as she scoots my glass of water toward me, she retains her sober expression. She is terrifyingly serious.

“No,” I manage as I pound on my chest. “That would be completely embarrassing, not to mention creepy.”

Ma exaggerates a shrug, as if to call me ridiculous, and she returns to eating her food.

My appetite has left the building, though, and I nudge my plate away. “What does Caroline have to do with the reunion or the game on Friday?” I ask, backtracking to the origin of this horrendous conversation.

She snaps her fingers and lowers her fork with her other hand. “I was thinking about our movie night.”

Understanding dawns.

Our standing movie date is every Friday, and if we both go to the homecoming festivities, we won’t be able to do it.

“We can still do our movie night after chili,” I propose. I don’t want to break the woman’s heart by breaking tradition. “Or we can move it to tomorrow night. I’ll ask Judd for a rain check on dinner with him and Mary. Actually, you know what? I don’t have to go to the game or to the chili dinner. I never went when I was in high school, anyway, so?—”

“Austin, you should go. Spend time with your friends and be with people your own age.” She smiles reassuringly. “We can skip our movie night this week. There’s a lot going on, and there’s no need to worry over something we can pick back up next weekend.”

I study her expression, but nothing alarming resides there. In fact, she’s calm and… is she happy? Does she want to skip movie night? That can’t be right.

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