Page 106 of You Float My Boat

‘Full of Energy. You’re funny. That was funny.’

Granted I didn’t know Gordon well, but I’m not sure I’d ever seen someone look so pleased with themselves. It was short lived, however, because his attention went back to Charlie.

‘Don’t pretend you understood that,’ I hissed, while the two of them discussed whatever it was Gordon had rushed over here for.

‘I’m an actor,’ she replied, flicking her hair over her shoulder. ‘But itwasfunny.’

I rolled my eyes. ‘Whatever.’

Maybe it was because I didn’t laugh at his joke that he said goodbye to Charlie and scurried off without giving me a backward glance.

‘Interesting guy,’ said Stella, pulling on a thick strandof hair and looping it around her fingers as she watched him leave.

‘That’s Gordon,’ Charlie and I replied in unison, like that explained everything. Though it kind of did.

‘Alright then,’ she grinned, and her eyes flicked up to Charlie. ‘Oh, hey, Happy Valentine’s Day, Chuckles.’

‘Happy Valentine’s Day, Stella.’

‘And may I congratulate you on some very nice cupcakes? Great touch. Delicious,’ she nodded, solemnly. ‘Great British Bake Offworthy, I’d say.’

If it was possible for a person to explode with happiness, I’d say Charlie was on the verge, ‘Thank you! That’s what I said. Yes! They are.’

‘You told someone your cupcakes wereGreat British Bake Offworthy?’

‘I told myself.’ His grin was wide and toothy.

‘Of course you did.’

‘What? I always make it a point to agree with myself.’ He chuckled as he leaned in, planting a kiss on my cheek.

‘You know something?’ Stella began, and we both turned to find her staring at us intently. ‘You two are actually quite cute. I wasn’t quite so sure about this,’ her finger flicked between Charlie and me, ‘you know given that morning you banged heads, but I see it now. I like it.’

Charlie cocked his head, ‘Thanks Stella. I appreciate the approval, not that I asked for it.’

‘Well, you know, I like to give it anyway.’ She smiled sweetly, too sweetly. ‘You might not have asked for it, but you do need it.’

I bit down on my lip before I started laughing.

‘Does Big Bad Brooksy still think this is fake?’

Charlie and I nodded our heads in sync, while Stella’s face lit up with an unparalleled level of glee. Or mischief. It was hard to tell. Probably both.

‘Oh pleeeeease let me be there when you break the news.’

Beyond saying we needed to tell my brother we hadn’t discussed it. I was still pissed off about the incident outside the gym. But I knew it was starting to weigh on Charlie, more than I realized, seeing as his face suddenly lost all colour and his smile vanished.

I slipped my hand into his and squeezed it, ‘Hey, it’s not going to be that bad.’

He nodded, but there was no conviction in it.

‘Charlie, it won’t be.’

‘I think it might be,’ he replied quietly. ‘But I’ll deal with it.’

‘We’lldeal with it.’

He glanced at me, a small smile curving his lips. ‘Yeah.’

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