Page 79 of The Charm of You

“We never cancel it altogether,” I say cautiously, feeling her out. Something else is going on here, and the mystery gnaws at me. My skin pricks with awareness like my own mother is in on some prank against me. Am I being played?

“But there’s no harm in doing so if… other things come up.”

“What other things?” I press.

“Like the reunion.”

“It’s on Saturday, not Friday.”

“The football game and the chili dinner are on Friday, though.” She sets her fork onto her plate with a clink. “I need to help Paulette and the other ladies with the dinner, which is going to be stressful. We need to prep tomorrow night, so I can’t do movie night then, either. There’s just too much to do, and I can’t fully focus on everything.”

“All right. All right. We’ll skip. No big deal,” I say, but I don’t know if I mean it.

In any case, I don’t want her to get worked up over anything, especially not Hallmark. There will be plenty of guys in plaid falling in love with city girls in heels next week, and beyond.

“Eat.” She points to my abandoned plate, and I relent.

As I resume plowing through the casserole, we move on to different topics of discussion. All the while, the irony of most Hallmark romances laughs at me.

I’m fucking living in one. The only difference is that the city girl and I won’t be sharing a sweet, everlasting kiss before the credits roll.

Caroline is going to leave Sapphire Creek in a few days, and that’s actually the beauty of what happened between us last night.

It was fun, and that’s what I’m normally after when I hook up with women—uncomplicated fun. There’s no reason Caroline and I have to be any different.

Which is why I’ve been cursing myself ever since she left the garage earlier.

I acted like such a jackass and probably ruined whatever good time we could’ve enjoyed while she’s here.

After lunch, I walk down the driveway toward my truck to head back to work, and my phone vibrates with the answer I’ve been looking for.

It’s a new text in the group chat I share with Hunter and Gemma.

HUNTER

Sorry to do this, but I have to cancel on band practice tonight. I’m needed at the station.

GEMMA

I was just about to pop in here to cancel as well. Laramie spiked a fever. Taking her to the dr now.

I text back that it’s no problem, and I offer well-wishes to Gemma and her three-year-old.

My night just freed up. Although it doesn’t happen often, band practice still gets canceled on occasion; toddlers are unpredictable, and Hunter’s new gig as a volunteer firefighter has thrown off our schedule.

But I’ve dreaded those texts in the past.

Now, it’s not so bad, because one person comes to mind. She’s the one person I’d actually rather spend a free night with.

chapter

twenty-four

AUSTIN

She opens the door, and I’m momentarily speechless.

I sometimes hear of people growing so accustomed to beauty that they don’t recognize it anymore. Like people who move to the beach because they love it so much, but they quickly grow tired of it since it’s not a rarity anymore.

---