Page 35 of Free

And now here I am, staring at her as she walks ahead of me through the parking lot. The sun makes her skin glow, and her hair catches the light like it’s holding onto the last embers of a fire. She’s effortlessly stunning, and my brain does somersaults trying to keep up with my heart.

Charlie stops by her car, tossing me a grin over her shoulder. “Did we jump timelines?”

“Probably not,” I say, fighting a smile. “Reality being what it is and all.”

She crosses her arms and leans against the car.“I just never,everexpected to see Nick Hutton on a yoga mat. So, after this morning, I guess anything is possible, you know? Even jumping timelines.”

I grunt and roll my eyes, stretching out my sore back, ever aware of the scars crisscrossing down my torso and into my leg. I don’t know that I’ve ever worked my muscles like this. I’ll pay for it in the morning.

“You didn’t tell me yoga was actually some form of medieval torture.”

Charlie’s grin deepens, her eyes sparkling with amusement.“You did okay. For someone with zero flexibility.”

I narrow my eyes, fighting the urge to smile. “Okay? I think I deserve a medal.”

“For what? Collapsing out of tree pose like a giraffe on roller skates?”

I laugh despite myself, shaking my head. “It wasn’t that bad.”

Her brow arches.“It wasn’t good.”

I step closer, caught in her orbit, her teasing smile pulling me in. My heart stutters as I close the distance, but I keep my voice light, playful. “I’m just sayin,’ one of us stepped outside his comfort zone today and his so-called friend is making fun of him for it.”

Her expression softens, and for a moment, I think I see something deeper flicker across her face. “I don’t mean to make fun?—”

“Jokes, Charlie,” I say, holding up my hands. “I’m just messing around.”

“Honestly, though. You doin’ okay? That wasn’t too much for your, you know, your injuries?”

“If it was, I would have stopped.”

“Don’t lie, Nick. Not to me.”

“Fine,” I say. “I wouldn’t have stopped. But I swear I’m fine.”

“I guess I have no choice but to take your word on that one.” Charlie shrugs, that little smirk still on her lips, and suddenly I’m thinking about how long it’s been since I’ve seen her like this—relaxed, happy, teasing me like we’re just two people who don’t have years of complicated history behind us.

I should thank her for the class and say goodbye.

But I don’t want to.

I lean my arm on the roof of her car. “I think I earned a reward for surviving.”

“A reward, huh?” She narrows her eyes, suspicious.

“Yeah. A cup of coffee. You know, to help with my recovery after you folded me in half like some kind of human origami project.”

Charlie bites her bottom lip, her eyes dancing with amusement as she considers. I can see the moment she decides to say yes, but she doesn’t make it easy. “Coffee, huh?”

“There’s a coffee shop a few doors down. Walking distance.”

She turns over her shoulder, as if seeing the building might help her decide.

“Come on, Charlie. You practically tortured me in there. It’s the least you can do.”

“Tortured?” she scoffs, laughing as she pushes lightly at my shoulder. The touch is brief, but it’s enough to send a jolt through me. “You’re being awfully dramatic for someone who is always fine.”

“Dramatic?” I mock gasp, placing a hand on my chest like she’s offended me. “I fell on my ass in a room full of people and got right back up and kept going. If that doesn’t deserve a coffee, I don’t know what does.”

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