Page 36 of Free

Charlie’s lips curl into a smile, and for a second, she just looks at me, her gaze softening in a way that makes my pulse quicken. Her eyes linger on mine. Her breath catches slightly. She straightens, arms still crossed, but the playful banter fades, replaced with something a little more serious.

“Okay,” she says, her voice quieter now, like she’s as surprised as I am that she said yes. “Coffee sounds good.”

The conversation flows easily as we walk—she teases me a little more about my failed yoga attempts, and I fire back with some lighthearted quips of my own. It feels natural. Comfortable. But underneath, there’s this charge in the air, like we’re both waiting for something to happen.

Something that was supposed to happen, but never did.

Part of me wonders if—no…hopes that—she feels it too.

The coffee shop is cozy, with mismatched furniture and the smell of fresh cookies hanging in the air. We place our order—black coffee for me and a double espresso for her—and sit at a table by the window, the bright Florida sun streaming in. I lean back in my chair, trying to keep things casual even though all I want is to reach across the table and pull her closer.

“I have to ask,” she says. “What in the world possessed you to take this class today. Did Garrett tell you I was teaching?”

I snort. If Garrett had known I was thinking of going, he would have done everything in his power to keep me home.

“Can’t a guy just decide to try something new?” I ask.

“Sure. I encourage it.” Charlie cocks her head and shoots me a knowing smile. “But, come on, this is you we’re talking about.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Her eyes shine in the light. Her hands flare. “You’re just… predictable.”

“Predictable?” I fake a wounded look, then reach for her espresso, intending to take a long, unpredictable drink. But she reaches for the cup at the same time. My hand brushes hers. Her breath hitches at the contact, and my heart thumps a little faster.

For a second, the banter fades, and the space between us crackles, the air charged with everything I’ve ever felt for the woman across from me. My fingers linger against hers a moment too long, and when I look up, Charlie’s eyes are locked on mine, dark and unreadable.

She pulls her hand back slowly, her smile softening. “Maybe you’re not that predictable.”

Our eyes lock. The moment thick with everything we’ve never talked about. The way she’s looking at me now, confused and maybe even a little scared…

Fuck.

I’m supposed to be keeping things light for her sake, staying away for her sake.

Time to lock it up, Hutton.

The door swings open and a group of high school kids tumbles through, breaking the moment.

Charlie blinks, like she’s trying to shake off whatever just happened. “You’re uh, you’re really doing okay?”

“I’m fine, Charlie,” I lie, my voice lower than it should be.

She nods, but her eyes linger on mine, like she’s trying to convince herself to believe me. Her fingers curl around her coffee cup, and I can see her wrestling with whatever she’s feeling, just like I am.

I lean back and force a grin. “So, as friends, we look out for each other, right?”

“That is what friends do.”

“Okay, well, as friends,” I say, emphasizing the word just a little too hard, “if I ever decide to show up for another yoga class, could I count on you to keep me from collapsing again? I have a reputation to uphold.”

Charlie’s lips twitch into a smile, but the humor doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Right. You got it, friend.”

We finish our coffee, the conversation lightening as we tease each other about old memories. But the heat between us hasn’t faded. It’s just hibernating. As we leave the café, the silence feels heavier than before, like we’re waiting for something to break.

At her car, Charlie plays with her fob, glancing at me with a nervous smile. “Thanks for the coffee, Nick. And for, you know, not dying in my first class at a new studio. Probably would make them question my employment.”

I chuckle, stepping a little closer, feeling the heat between us build again. “I got you, Charlie.”

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