Page 28 of Faking it with my Off Limits Neighbor

“Yes, yes, of course,” Milly says excitedly.

I drop my shoulders and shake my head. “You don’t have to do this, Charlie.”

“I know,” she replies. “But Milly is right. Your Grandma was always very good to me, and this last year, her health has deteriorated. What’s the harm if it’s going to make a nice old lady happy?”

I can’t argue with that, but at this moment, my thoughts are not really on the idea of arguing. I’m just so blown away by Charlie’s kindness. I shouldn’t be surprised; she’s always had this pure soul. It’s one of the things I always loved about her. But to put herself in such a position just to make my grandma happy is on a whole other level.

“Then I suppose that’s settled,” I say.

“Are you all right with it?” Charlie asks, looking at me warily.

“Do I have a choice?” I reply. “I’m going to look like an insensitive idiot if I refuse now.”

“I’m sorry,” Charlie says, looking apologetic.

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” I say before turning my attention to my sister and scowling. “That’s someone else’s responsibility.”

“Yes, well. We should go,” Milly says, throwing us a quick smile. “Bye, Charlie.” A second later, Milly has left the kitchen, presumably heading for the front door.

For a moment, I don’t move. I’m looking at Charlie, and she’s looking at me. “She was out of line, Charlie. I’m sorry she’s pulled you into this.”

Charlie shrugs and gives me a wry smile. “This is Milly. She is a law unto herself.”

“She’ll be a buried law if I get my way,” I growl.

“Don’t be mad at her. She’s doing it for your grandma.”

And in that moment, I realize that there’s another thing that hasn’t changed about Charlie Woods. She is still as innocent and naïve now as she was when we were together. By her soft expression, I can tell that she truly believes Milly is doing this out of the goodness of her heart. I, on the other hand, know exactly what she’s doing.

My younger sister is trying to push me and Charlie back together.

13

Charlie

I’m standing and looking at myself in the bedroom mirror. The dress I’ve chosen is navy blue. It’s a bit clingy, but not immodest; with a love heart neckline; there is ruffled material gathered at the waist, and the skirt ends just below my knee. I have blue shoes to match because you just have to, right?

Am I completely mad to go to this birthday party pretending to be Troy’s girlfriend again?

Yes. Quite likely.

But after Milly mentioned Mrs. Patterson’s limited time left with us, a part of me felt I just couldn’t say no. I have no doubt that it has a lot to do with my own mother’s untimely passing. When death affects you so deeply like that, it’s difficult not to imprint it on all sorts of experiences that would not ordinarily affect someone.

If her believing that Troy and I are together makes his grandmother happy, who am I to take that away from her? Yes, it is a little white lie, but I’m not the one who told it.

No, Charlie, you’re just complicit in going along with it.

I shake my head and try to ignore my conscience. I’m bringing a smile to an old woman’s face. Surely that can’t be a bad thing. Of course, you may notice that I’m also completely ignoring how all this makes me feel.

My immediate answer to Milly was a firm no. Mainly because I was caught off guard, but more than that, I’m still not a hundred percent sure that Troy and I could make it if we tried again. But I suppose those thoughts will have to wait for another day. Taking a deep breath, I turn and leave the room.

“Wow,” Troy says, giving me a wide-eyed glance when I approach the truck. “You look…” He trails off, either because he’s lost for words, or he’s worried he might say the wrong thing. I don’t know which.

“You don’t look too bad yourself,” I say, nodding to the black suit and white shirt he’s left open at the neck.

He looks far better than my flippant compliment conveys, and I feel my stomach tighten as my eyes graze over him. He looks delicious, but there’s no way those words are leaving my mouth.

He opens the passenger door and gestures for me to climb in. “Let’s get going. We don’t want to disappoint Grandma now, do we?” He rolls his eyes, and I giggle.

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