Page 44 of The Rogue

“As a matter of fact, your brother insisted,” I say.

“Really?” He steps forward, lowering his voice. “Did you happen to give him the same stuff you poisoned Jackson’soldnanny with?”

“Noah,” Charlie grits, pulling on his bicep. “That mean ol' lady had it comin’. Lay off her. Plus, I like Tessa, and I don't have a lot of friends."

"I'll buy you new friends," he grumbles.

“Excuse me,” I mutter, then walk over to Aiden, who’s glaring at Noah. “Would you mind texting me when Jackson can be picked up? I should probably go.”

“You’re staying,” Aiden says softly, then points his son to the kitchen. “Come help me with something.”

Noah rolls his eyes and follows the older man behind the wooden door.

Charlie takes my hands and lures me into a booth. “We’d love for you to come and help. With the upstairs of my new bookstore finished, we can start stacking books. Jackson’s been looking forward to working on the children’s section.”

I smirk. “That doesn’t sound like my cup of tea. But…I suppose I should stick around and make sure he doesn’t hurt himself or something.”

Charlie gasps and lifts her phone. “Does Pepper know you’re here? I’ll invite her. We could make frozen margaritas. We just put in a kitchen and there’s an ice machine—”

I hold up my hands. “I’m on the clock, but an iced coffee wouldn’t hurt.”

She squeals and textsPepper.

A flutter bursts in my stomach as I lean back in the booth. It’s unexplainable—this sudden foreign feeling of joy—but the wordacceptancecomes to mind. Evenwelcoming. Despite my flaws.

A minute later, Noah approaches our table, looking stoic and dry. “Tessa, glad to have you back. Won’t you please join us today?”

I smirk up at the robotic stud beside us. “Since you asked so nicely.”

Rolling his eyes and eerily reminding me of his older brother, he walks off.

I perk a brow at Charlie. “I guess opposites truly do attract.”

She smirks his way. “We’re not all that different.”

It’s four in the afternoon and I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Charlie, Pepper, and I have spent the majority of the afternoon together—painting, stacking, and drinking our guilty pleasures. And neither one has asked where I’ve been or why I skipped town.

I’m not sure how long this ‘no questions asked’ will last but I’m grateful for it.

Something in my chest swelled each time they had a chance and opted to make me laugh instead. To welcome me into this small circle of friendship.

My bladder has caught up with my second iced coffee so I head up to the restroom on the second level. I find Jackson and check in on him.

“Hey, Wiggles. How’s it hangin’?” I eye the display of plush ‘reading buddies’ on the round table he’s arranging ever so thoughtfully.

I lift one. “These are cool.”

Jackson reaches over and flicks a switch. “And look, there’s a light if you’re reading in the dark.”

“Supercool.”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t use it to read, though. I’d use it as a night light.”

“You sleep with a night light?”

He nods like he’s ashamed. “I get scared in the dark.”

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