Page 37 of Free

She opens the car door but pauses, looking up at me.

There’s a moment. The wind in her hair. The light in her eyes. The way my hands ache to touch her.

I could close the distance.

I could pull her to me, kiss her the way I’ve wanted to for years.

But I don’t. I can’t. Not if I’m going to be the best version of myself for her.

Instead, I take a step back, offering her the space I know she needs. The space I need if I don’t want to ruin this friendship thing before it gets off the ground.

“See you around, Charlie,” I say, my voice softer than I intended.

“Yeah.” She gets in her car, but before closing the door, she looks up at me again, her eyes searching mine. “See you around, Nick.”

And then she’s gone, driving away while I stand there, replaying every second in my head.

NINETEEN

Charlie

I walk through the door on a cloud of contentment, the kind that makes everything seem brighter. The air smells of garlic and rosemary, warm and inviting, wrapping around me like a hug. Garrett and Angela are sprawled on the floor with Elise, who’s squealing with delight on her play mat, all kicking legs and big, gummy smiles. The faint whir of the ceiling fan hums above us, mixing with the distant crash of waves outside.

Fluff, their fat, brown-and-white cat, waddles over with an imperious air, winding himself around my legs. I give him an obligatory scratch behind the ears, smiling when he purrs in approval. On the couch, Orange, the sleek tabby, sprawls lazily, flicking his tail like a metronome, the perfect picture of feline indifference.

“How was work?” Garrett asks, lifting Elise high above his head like she’s a weightless little bird. Her squeal of delight is practically a song.

“You’re home later than I expected,” Angela adds, her voice soft with curiosity. “Is that a good sign or a bad one?”

“Definitely a good one,” I say, sinking into the couch with a deep sigh of contentment. “You’ll never guess who I ran into.”

Garrett’s eyebrows shoot up in curiosity, while Angela starts tossing out random celebrity names.

“Tom Hanks?” she says, grinning.

“Dwayne Johnson?” Garrett chimes in.

“Oprah?” Angela gasps dramatically, earning a laugh from me and a delighted squeal from Elise.

“It was Nick,” I say, grinning as I glance between them. “He took my yoga class.”

That gets their attention. Angela’s eyes widen, hopeful and curious, while Garrett’s expression tightens, his natural grumpiness giving way to something more thoughtful. He doesn’t speak right away, but the shift in his demeanor is subtle and deliberate, like a soldier preparing for battle.

“What was he doing there?” Garrett finally asks, calm but probing.

I shrug, still marveling at the memory. “Trying yoga for the first time, apparently. He looked as shocked to see me as I was to see him.”

“And then?” Angela prompts, her tone teasing but clearly invested.

“And then he asked me out for coffee.” I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face as I say it. “As a reward for, and I quote, ‘folding him in half for an hour.’”

Angela’s face lights up. Garrett’s does not.

“He asked you for coffee?” Garrett repeats, his tone neutral, but his jaw tightens slightly. He glances at Angela, then back at me, and I can almost hear the wheels turning in his head.

“It was just coffee, Gare,” I say quickly, rolling my eyes. “Relax.”

“Was it?” he asks, arching an eyebrow. “Because from where I’m sitting, Nick’s timing seems a little… coincidental.”

---