Page 72 of Charlie Takes a Chance

“True, you’re always going and staying at your grandma’s,” Magnolia interjects.

“And the people here have been really welcoming. Do you know that no one has batted an eyelash that I’m a contractor? They don’t act like it’s strange that I can build houses. They don’t act like I’m an anomaly. Instead, they ask me things like, ‘Hey, could you fix my porch? Do you have time to renovate an old farmhouse? I need a shop built behind my house.’” Charlie changes her voice to imitate each question. “I would have work and business here to keep me busy for a good long while.”

“You won’t feel like you’re missing out on an opportunity by leaving Bend?” Magnolia asks. It’s a justifiable question since Bend is expanding at a rapid rate. There’s enough work for any kind of contract work a person could look for—enough work to make a name for oneself in the industry and grow a big career.

“You know I like what I do. But I’m happy just doing what I’m doing right now. I don’t want to girl-boss it up and own a huge company someday. I just want to be able to renovate houses, maybe build some occasionally. I don’t need to be some world-renowned contractor. I just want to do what I love. And I have the opportunity to do that here…with someone I’m coming to care about.”

There’s silence for a moment, and I wonder if I should make my entrance yet. Instead, I hold off.

“And honestly, Max scares me,” Charlie says quietly, and I hear a shuffling sound like maybe she’s rearranging how she’s sitting.

Max scares meare not the three words I’ve been dying to hear from Charlie.

“What do you mean by that?” Magnolia asks.

“He’s good. And fun. And he looks out for me. And he’s ornery, and I can dish it out to him, and he just laughs!”

“Annnnnd this scares you how?” Magnolia asks with a laugh.

“Because I’m falling for him—fast. And I’m scared it’s a one-sided thing.” Her voice quiets to a whisper, and I have to lean toward the door to catch it. “I think I’m already in love with him, Magnolia. It’s only been three days of us being a thing.”

Magnolia laughs. “You’ve been staying together for almost six weeks now. I don’t think that’s that strange. I mean, look at Nash and me. We got engaged during our second meeting!”

Charlie giggles. “That was a fake engagement, so I don’t think that counts.”

Charlie is referring to the fact that Nash and Magnolia got to know each other when he asked her to meet his dying grandpa—as his fiancée.

“If you know they’re worth it, then don’t second-guess yourself,” Magnolia advises. “I’m so glad I took a risk with Nash.”

“Max asked me to take a chance on him,” Charlie admits. “I want to. I’m just scared I won’t be the right person for him. What if he gets to know me, and I annoy him? Or I’m too much for him?”

“Well, you’ve already had lots of fights. If you’ve survived that, I don’t think you’ll annoy him. I know how stubborn you can be.”

“Thanks for that,” Charlie says dryly. “With friends like these…”

I take a deep, slow breath, hoping not to alert them to my presence. Now is not the time to interrupt. Besides, I don’t want to ruin things by telling them I was eavesdropping. I turn around and head back toward the living room as quietly as I can.

Charlie is falling in love with me. She’s worried I won’t want her.

Which is ridiculous. Of course I want her. I’m scared she’ll wake up one day and realize I’m the lead weight in our relationship.

She even said the L word.

She’s falling in love with me. Hopefully, I can push her over the edge so she gets there faster.

And I think it’s safe to say I’m feeling the same.

CHAPTER 30

Charlie

Grandma went home,and I can’t help but think that she went home lighter than she came, spending time in a new space for the holidays.

What I hadn’t expected to see was her enjoying her time with Alexander so much. It was good to see her smile. She seemed so relaxed and happy. It was the happiest I’ve seen her in a long time.

Magnolia and Nash stayed a couple of days but had to go home because of Magnolia’s work. Alexander and Grandma left on the same day, and now it’s back to justMax and me again.

Bryce left me a voicemail this morning. I can’t decide if he’s bluffing or not after I listen to his message.

---