Page 9 of Faking it with my Off Limits Neighbor

Milly looks at me mischievously. “Who knows what might happen?”

I scowl at her again. “No, Milly. That boat has well and truly sailed. I can tell you with absolute assurance that Charlie Woods doesn’t want anything to do with me. She nearly blew a gasket this morning trying to get away from me.”

“Give her time,” Milly said.

“I think that’s the problem. Don’t you?” I’m about to get into Dad’s truck when I turn back to my little sister. “And stay out of it. None of your manipulating schemes, do you hear? We’re two completely different people now.”

“All right. All right,” Milly says, raising her hands in surrender.

I nod and slide into the driver’s seat. When I open the window and start the engine, she calls out, “Don’t forget tonight. Seven o’clock. Withering’s.”

“Yeah, I’ll be there.”

Withering’s is a diner of sorts. Far from the high-end restaurants Paris has to offer, it’s more homely and family-friendly. It’s been established since before my parents were even born; though the family that opened it no longer owns it, the people who now run it have kept to the simple menu that the townsfolk have loved for generations.

That night, when I open the door and enter the restaurant, I’m surprised to see Milly running toward me. “Oh, good. You made it. We’re in the back,” she says excitedly, taking my hand and leading me through the tables.

We? She means me and her, right?

Nope!

As I follow Milly around the corner to the small, secluded area at the rear of the space, a huge cheer goes up.

5

Charlie

Milly’s name comes up when my phone rings. It’s just after three in the afternoon, and I’m not long back from the client I went out to see this morning. Instead of a car, there’s now a blue pickup truck in Troy’s driveway. I recognize it. It belongs to his dad. So either Troy has been out, or his father has come to visit and left him the truck.

Why do you care?

I don’t.

Right.

I dump my portfolio case on the island in the kitchen, and I’m already worrying about how this new development is going to pan out. Am I going to have to sneak in and out of my own house so I don’t have to see him?

It’s worrying, to say the least.

Lifting my phone, I hit the green button.

“Am I forgiven yet?” Milly says without even saying hello.

I sigh. “Sure. Though you at least should have let Troy know. He nearly went into cardiac arrest when he saw me this morning.”

“I heard,” she says. “He came over to see us.”

Well, that answers that conundrum. And then I realize what Milly means. “He told your Mom and Dad?” I nearly shriek.

“No, no. Just me. He hasn’t mentioned you to Mom and Dad, but you know they wouldn’t care either way, Charlie. They always did like the idea of you and Troy being together.”

“Not going to happen,” I snap.

“I know. I know,” she coos. “I was actually calling for an entirely different reason. I wanted to make it up to you. Do you fancy dinner tonight?”

“Oh, Mil, I’m slammed. I have so much work—”

“Come on, Charlie. We haven’t been out for ages. Besides, I’ve already booked the table. If you don’t show, I’ll lose my deposit.”

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