Page 25 of Charlie Takes a Chance

“I do not have lots of girlfriends.”

“I know,” I say and give him a sad look.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asks as he pulls out a chair at the round kitchen table and sinks into it. It creaks but holds up well for looking like it’s a thousand years old.

“Well, the way you like to throw women out of the house…it’s not a surprise they don’t stick around.”

Max snorts. “Why am I having this conversation with you?”

I raise my eyebrows. “We’re in a stranger’s house, who just assumed I am your girlfriend. That seems to make sense on why we’re talking about it.”

He picks up a muffin and holds it in front of my face.

“You can’t distract me with delicious muffins,” I tell him as I take a long sniff. They smell…pleasant. Maybe I should try a small bite. I take the muffin from Max and sink my teeth into it. It is delicious.

No wonder he doesn’t call ahead to have Darlene pull his order. If I got to hang out in a waiting room like this all the time, I’d never call ahead either.

We sit there and eat muffins in silence until Darlene returns. She’s carrying a large box that she sets in the center of the table.

“This is all of it, I think. Wait, did you get the mineral bags?” she asks as she pulls a paper from her back pocket.

“I thought I ordered a pallet of those.”

“They were delayed, of course. But they’ll be here either tomorrow or the day after. They’re coming with the shipment of protein tubs.”

Darlene slaps the paper on top of the box. “There’s your invoice. Now let’s get down to business.”

Max looks at me with wide eyes. “Actually, Charlie needs to go. We’re on a tight schedule.” He jumps up, the chair scraping loudly as he leans over to pick up the box, jerking his head toward the door.

“How long have you two been dating?” Darlene asks as she sinks down into the chair next to mine.

“Oh, we’re not dating,” I tell her as I finish the last bite of muffin.

Darlene’s eyebrows shoot up. “Cousins?”

She says it in a way that says the only reason I’m not dating him is that I am related to him.

Max groans, sets down the box, and sinks into the high-backed wooden chair. He looks resigned, but I see the twinkle in his eye right before he says, “Charlie’s boyfriend broke up with her.”

I kick his ankle under the table, and he just grins at me. My socked foot does nothing besides givemea little bruise.

Darlene’s eyes widen, then she pats my knee. “Let me get us some coffee.”

It’s almost like she had the mugs in her back pocket. I’ve never seen anyone prepare three cups so fast, and soon, we’re all sitting around the table, sipping coffee as Darlene waits for an explanation.

“How do you know Max, and why did your boyfriend break up with you?” She hugs the mug as she crosses one leg over the other.

I turn to glare at Max. He shrugs. “You said you didn’t care if I told.”

“I’m going to murder you,” I whisper to him before I turn back to Darlene. “I’m just in town to fix the Whitlocks’ house. It sounds like when some of the family was squatting there, they went out of their way to trash the place.”

“I heard about that. I can’t believe that happened. But someone really should be living in that place year-round. It would help keep it up.” She sets her coffee cup down with a thump. “I always think it’s a shame when places sit empty.”

“But I thought Max lived there.” I turn to stare at him, but he has leaned his head back against the chair, and his baseball cap is pulled low over his face. I think he’s actually sleeping. I didn’t know someone could fall asleep so fast.

Darlene stares back and forth between me and Max’s sleeping figure. “Oh, so you’re really not his girlfriend. Darn. I guess that explains it.”

“Explains what? And he already said I wasn’t his girlfriend.”

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