Page 25 of Caught Stealing

I lean back on my sofa and ignore the crinkling sound the leather makes. I hate the sound, but our mother picked out the thing so I try not to be a jerk and wince. “She’s supposed to call me tonight when she gets home. I guess I’ll tell her and see what happens. I don’t have much of a choice.”

“That stinks. I’m sorry, Drew. I can see how excited you are after one date, but try to keep that in mind. It was one date, and there’s a chance she’s not as perfect as you think she is. First dates can be deceiving, right?”

She sounds like Koa.

Scratching my beard, I stand and head to the sliding door to let Goblin outside. He’ll just annoy my sister for scraps while she cooks and preps my meals, and it gives me a chance to think about what she said before responding. Goblin goes straight for the slide like I knew he would.

“I guess you’re right, but we clicked, you know? I wanted to see if we could grow something from that like Mom and Dad.”

She chuckles. “Mom and Dad are the exception, not the rule and you know it. Getting married after three months of dating and staying married for thirty-five years is insane for most people.”

“Your support in this matter is overwhelming, you know,” I say, glaring at her from my peripheral.

She throws her hands up and stands. As she heads into the kitchen, she says, “For what it’s worth, I hope she changes her mind. I want you to be happy, and it sounds like she needs a decent guy to show her they aren’t all trash.”

“Yeah, says the woman who wants to travel back in time through books to meet a man,” I tease.

“Go ahead and laugh, but this way you don’t have to vet men who might break my heart.”

“True.” I snatch my phone from the coffee table where she left it and close the app. Even the smooshed face image of Lottie makes my heart stir. She’s a keeper no matter what my sister thinks, but convincing Lottie that I am feels like a monumental task.

Two hours later, Layne is finished prepping and packs up her things to head back to her house. I’m forever grateful that she’s willing to help me out, but it’s also good practice for her. I peer into the fridge and freezer to see what I’ll be having this week, and I’m pleased. There are a few of my favorites, but also a few new things including a Key Lime pie I can’t wait to try after dinner. I grab something I know I’ll like and set it out for dinner.

By the time I put the last bite of my chicken dinner in my mouth, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and find Charlotte’s name flashing at the top of the screen, right beside a video chat request. Goblin turns his head and his tongue hangs out.

“Looks like she wants to see us, boy. Come here.” I pat the seat beside me before tapping the green dot to answer. Tension builds in my shoulders as I contemplate exactly how to tell her the truth.

The screen fades in and Lottie’s smiling face greets us.

“Hi! Oh, is that Goblin?” she asks, eyes bright and smile wide.

Goblin sniffs the phone and perks his massive triangle ears. “It is. I’m glad to see you. I didn’t think I would tonight.”

A petite boxer leaps on the sofa beside Lottie and smooshes her snout to Lottie’s cheek. Lottie scrunches her face and pulls away, creating almost the same image as her profile picture. “Ginger, what are you doing to me? Go eat your dinner, sweet girl.” The dog’s tongue hangs out farther than Goblin’s ever does and she licks her big jowls. “This is Ginger, the camera hog.”

“She’s cute,” I say and laugh. “She really does like kissing you.”

“Way too much, honestly. It’s kinda gross.” Ginger shakes and leaps from the sofa, prompting Goblin to do the same.

“Well, now that we’re alone, how was your day?” I sit back and try to relax, but there are things I need to say. I pray there’s a natural opening so it’s not awkward and maybe she’ll even give us a chance.

“Well, it was great, then not so good, then a little tiring, if I’m honest.” Her full lips duck into a frown. “Overall, I suppose it was nice enough. I’m beat though.”

I want her to elaborate on her day. With the way she brushes it off, I can’t help but assume that she doesn’t think I want to know. I do. I want to know everything about this woman before she wrecks me and tells me she doesn’t want to see me again.

“What was not so good?” I ask and adjust so I don’t get the late afternoon sun glaring off my phone screen.

Lottie shrugs and sits back. “Probably nothing you’d be interested in hearing. Church was great, and I told you about my friend’s kiddo. I ended up someplace else for lunch and ran into someone I’m not keen on seeing. Choir practice dragged a bit, but I guess the day wasn’t a total wash.”

“No?” I ask and raise an eyebrow.

“Nah, I get to talk to you. How was your day?” She pulls her legs up and sits cross-legged, hiding her face for a moment. I wonder if she said that with a straight, blush-free face? It’s too hard to tell, but it is encouraging that she is happy to talk to me.

“Not bad. I ended up meeting a friend for a workout this morning after we texted. After that, my sister came by to meal prep for me. We chatted a while and hung out, then you called right after I ate. It’s been kind of a boring day waiting to talk to you, if I’m honest.”

She giggles and tucks her red hair behind her ears. “Aren’t we two exciting people?”

“Clearly we are both starved for company.” When she makes a cute little scrunchy faced expression and shrugs, I think this might be my chance to break into the truth. With pleasantries out of the way along with small talk, it seems like time to dive a little deeper.

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