Page 34 of Charlie Takes a Chance

I grab a granola bar to eat while I wait for the coffee to perk.

My phone chimes, and I pull it out of my pocket.

Dad: Are you going to Bryce’s for Christmas?

Oops. I still haven’t told my parents that we broke up. The entire town of Pine Ridge knows by now—but not my parents.

Charlie: I actually got some work fixing up Magnolia’s fiancé’s house. I’m in Pine Ridge right now.

Dad: Sounds great, kiddo. Text me some pictures. If you have time, we’re going to Aunt Lisa’s for Christmas. Love you.

Charlie: Thanks, Dad. Love you too. I’ll let you know.

I pocket my phone and fill a cup with coffee. I grab the already mixed calf bottle out of the fridge and stick it in the sink while I fill it with hot water to warm it up.

Magnolia texts next. Apparently, everyone is in a chatty mood today—probably because I’ve been bad at texting people back ever since I got here.

Magnolia: Piper just texted me and said Bryce stopped by the apartment.

What the heck?

Magnolia: She didn’t want me to tell you. She didn’t want to ruin your day, but I thought you should know.

That little rat—Bryce, not Piper. Magnolia, Piper, and I used to be roommates in an apartment in Bend. Now it’s just Piper and me. I rent shop space from a friend on the outskirts of town to store all my tools and work truck in, so it’s never been necessary to leave the apartment, especially since we moved to a better one in a safer part of town.

“You’re frowning,” Max says.

I jerk around and look at him. “Quit creeping on me, Max.”

“You looked mad. Everything okay?”

I scowl as I look back at my phone. “My ex stopped by my apartment.”

“That’s weird.”

“Yeah.”

I send a message to Piper.

Charlie: What did Bryce want?

Piper: Dang it! Magnolia texted you, didn’t she?”

Charlie: Yes.

Piper: I didn’t want to ruin your time over there.

Charlie: What did he want?

Piper: To talk to you. I told him you weren’t here, and he left.

Charlie: That’s it?

Piper: Well, he wanted to know where you were. I wouldn’t tell him.

Charlie: Thanks for running interference with him. That’s weird he’d just show up. He hasn’t texted me or anything.

“Any hot gossip?” Max asks with a little smirk.

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