Page 209 of The Charlie Method

Diana throws her head back and laughs, then pulls Charlie in for a hug. “Are these dumbasses bothering you?”

“Not really.”

Meanwhile, Patrick is still staring at her like he’s processing the world’s hardest math equation. “Okay, so if she’s your girlfriend, Beck, or, wait…no, Larsen’s girlfriend too. How does that…” He stops and regroups. “Who decides when you do boyfriend stuff?”

Beck and I both shrug like it’s no big deal.

“For example,” Patrick says, “back to the flower dilemma—”

“Why are you so focused on flowers?” Nazzy demands.

His friend ignores him. “Do youbothget her flowers? Like on the same day?”

I sigh.

“No, this is a great question,” Shane says, grinning behind Patrick’s head. He’s clearly toying with the kid. “Is there a staggered flower schedule?” he asks Charlie with a grave look. “Beckett one week, Larsen the other? That way you always have fresh flowers in your room? Or do they double up on the flowers so your room is always overflowing with them?”

“I don’t really care about flowers” is Charlie’s response, and I swear Patrick’s brain implodes.

“And what about Valentine’s Day?” Shane pushes. “That’s gotta be a war zone for you guys.”

“Yeah,” Case says with a grin. “Do you have a Google Calendar or something for this whole setup?”

“Don’t get her started about her calendar,” Beckett groans.

“Dude, I’m out,” Trager says, gulping the rest of his beer. “This is giving me an anxiety attack. I feel pressured when a chick even asks me what my favorite color is. You two assholes are over here onnext levelrelationship mode.”

“Go away, all of you,” Diana orders. “You’re putting Charlotte on the spot.”

Thankfully, Diana succeeds in shooing everyone away, until only her and Shane remain.

“See?” Beckett says to Charlie. “That was easy.”

“What are you talking about!” she huffs. “I’m exhausted from that grilling.”

“Nah, that went better than I thought it would,” I admit.

The five of us drift into the other room, where Charlie and Diana huddle together talking, while the boys and I talk hockey. Eventually, Diana drags Shane to dance, although I don’t know if there’s much coercion involved. Dude can deny it all he wants, but he totally likes dancing now.

Charlie returns to tuck herself between us, and Beckett leans down to brush his lips over hers. Then he nudges her toward me, and I draw her back against my chest, kissing her cheek.

A few girls nearby glance our way. I notice they’re giving Charlie looks, and not the good kind. Raised eyebrows, thinly veiled annoyance. Whispering to each other behind their drinks.

Charlie notices too, and she shifts a little closer to me, uncomfortable.

Beckett gives her hand a gentle squeeze. “Ignore them,” he says.

She nods, but I can tell she’s still uneasy.

Fortunately, Diana struts back toward us at that moment, platinum ponytail swinging, confidence on full display. She frowns when she clocks Charlie’s expression. Then she notices the girls glaring in our direction and bursts out laughing.

“Oh my God,” Diana tells Charlie, tossing her ponytail over her shoulder. “You’ve got half the women in here fuming. You snagged the two biggest catches on the team.”

I wink at her. “Aw, thanks, Di. I didn’t realize you think I’m a catch.”

She grins at me before linking her arm through Charlie’s. “Seriously, though, ignore those looks. They’re just jealous.”

As if on cue, one of the glaring girls, a tall blond in a too-tight dress, walks by us. She’s with a couple of her friends, who all exchange a glance, and as she passes, she sneers loud enough for us to hear.

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