Page 95 of The Charlie Method

As the opening credits roll on the screen, I try to relax, but it’s difficult with Beckett on one side of me and Will on the other. Any other girl would kill to be in my position. Sandwiched between two good-looking hockey players, being the center of their attention, the object of their affection.

I feel the tension building again, but I push it down, determined to keep things light. I’m not here to stress out. I do enough of that in my regular life. Tonight, I’m supposed to be enjoying the fun part of my double life. I’m supposed to be wild and free.

The movie kicks off with a flirty, banter-filled scene between the lead characters, and my cheeks heat up when I realize what we’re in for.

I shoot a sideways glance at Will. “Didn’t take you for the rom-com type.”

“Hey, it’s not just any rom-com. I heard this one has nudity.”

Beckett snorts.

I love a good rom-com, and I’m enjoying this one until it suddenly hits a bit too close to home: the female lead, a quirky, clumsy blond named Jessie, is adopted. And that’s not the only similarity.

My hand trembles as I reach for my mug. I take a sip, the hot liquid warming my throat on the way down.

“You okay?” Beckett asks. “Your face got real serious.”

“I was just trying to figure out if this is a gigantic coincidence or if you guys somehow hacked into my email.”

“Huh?”

Will pauses the movie. “What?”

I hesitate, because it’s heavy subject matter for a movie date. “The plotline about Jessie tracking down her biological parents feels like it was plucked out of my own life.”

Feeling awkward, I explain how I signed up for BioRoots and discovered I have a brother out there somewhere.

“He really never responded?” Will looks sympathetic.

“Nope.” I set the mug down, unable to hide my disappointment. I’ve been trying not to think about that empty inbox, the green “read” checkmark next to my outgoing message.

“You could reach out again,” Beckett suggests.

“No. If he wanted to talk to me, he would.” I give a half shrug. “I’m not going to push it.”

“Well, I guarantee he’s missing out,” Will says gruffly, reaching over to touch my knee. He gives it a soft squeeze, and while I know it’s intended as a gesture of reassurance, it quickens my pulse.

I swallow. “It…is what it is. C’mon, let’s keep watching.”

He unpauses the movie, which turns out to be not only a rom-com but a love triangle. Jessie is torn between her attorney boyfriend and the brooding bartender in the small town where she winds up during her search for her roots.

Beckett nudges me with his elbow. “Who do you think she’s going to choose? Hot lawyer or Mr. Broody?”

“Maybe she won’t choose either. Maybe she’ll run off and become a nun.”

Will chuckles from the chaise. “Nah. She’s got to pick someone. The tension’s killing her.”

That triggers a snicker from Beckett.

Heat rises in my cheeks. I laugh nervously, the movie’s suggestive scenes not helping my racing thoughts. On-screen, Jessie and Hot Lawyer are having a heated conversation that quickly turns into something physical. Then the movie earns its nudity warning by showing us Jessie’s breasts. Nipples and all. I gasp when Hot Lawyer drops his pants and we catch a split-second glimpse of his penis.

“You guys! This movie is getting intense. We just saw boobsanda boner.”

“Really?” Will says, feigning innocence. “I hadn’t noticed.”

Beckett’s eyes sparkle with mischief. “Yeah, baby girl. Get your head out of the gutter.”

I can’t help but squirm a little. This is more than I’d bargained for. “I’m starting to think this was a setup.”

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