Page 47 of Charlie Takes a Chance

CHAPTER 18

Charlie

The plumbers arrived shortlyafter Max had texted me. I texted him and told him so. Because it’s nice to be worried about, and honestly, it made me feel safer. The whole crew seemed really nice, and no one made me uncomfortable, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Ted Bundy seemed like a nice, normal man to some people, and I have a high sense of self-preservation.

I finish drywalling the living room wall, call Hubert Jefferson, and then head into town, leaving the plumbing crew to finish their work. They said with all six of them, they’d be done by the end of the day.

Before I go to the Flying J, I drive into Pine Ridge and park Max’s truck in front of the cafe. I grab a coffee, explain to Sharon that I’m borrowing the truck from Max, and then head back toward the general store.

The front door jingles as I browse the small electrical section for extension cords. I glance over my shoulder and drop the green extension cord in my hand.

Max is in the store, walking toward me. His confident walk with a little smirk on his face…it’s hard to look away.

I bend down to pick up the cord, trying to play it smooth as he stops in front of me.

“Why are you back so soon?” Subtle question.Good job, Charlie.

Max glances around the store and then steps a little closer. His voice is low as he explains, “I showed up to the house, and my brother and his fiancée were there. My parents wanted us to hug it out.”

I lean toward him and whisper, “That’s ridiculous. Everyone knows it’s better to fight it out.”

Max stares at me blankly for a split second; then, an ear-to-ear grin spreads across his face. His smile lines deepen, and his eyes sparkle. “Exactly. I knew you would understand.”

“Feel like chopping down a tree?” I ask him as I nudge him with my elbow. I don’t like seeing a brittle Max. He’s too much fun. No one should be cracking him this way.

“Only if it’s a very dull ax that I’ll have to swing too much.”

“Perfect. I found a rusty one in the woodshed behind the bunkhouse.”

Max drapes an arm around my shoulders and gives me a quick squeeze. He releases me so quickly I almost fall back against the display of light bulbs.

He walks away and says goodbye to Henry. I’m pretty sure Max St. James just tried to hug me. He did such a bad job of it I wasn’t sure if he was trying to crack my back, grab something off the shelf behind me, or dust some lint off my shoulder. I can’t help but laugh.

I leave the electric cords, follow him out of the store, and tap him on the shoulder. He spins around to stare down at me. I do my best to keep a serious face. “I can see why hugging it out wasn’t a good option for you. I’ll have to give you some lessons later.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Max says as he pulls his keys from his pocket and begins flipping them back and forth in his hands.

“It means you’ll have to report back, and I’ll give you hugging lessons at the first availability. I think I have an opening on Tuesday at 3.”

“I didn’t want to overwhelm you with my phenomenal hugging skills inside. My hugs cause people to swoon all across the state. That’s the real reason I didn’t want to hug my brother and his fiancée. The collateral damage would be too much.”

“You’re absolutely full of—” I don’t finish what I’m about to say because a young mother is climbing out of her SUV with a small child. I smile and nod at her as she walks inside the store.

“Let’s go get that tree,” Max says.

“But I want to hear more about your day!”

“Why?” He eyes me suspiciously.

I shrug. “Because it’s probably better than my whole ex-drama.”

Max takes a step toward me and folds his arms across his chest. “What did that dweeb say?”

I snort at that particular insult…because it fits so well.

“If I tell you mine, will you tell me yours?”

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