Page 21 of The Playboy's Most Unexpected Baby

“She’s got a point there,” Charlie chuckled. “You want to learn to surf, Izzy?”

“I’ve tried a little around here,” Izzy said. “But the waves are kind of a joke.”

“Yeah, that’s true. If you really want to learn, you have to go out west.”

“I don’t know where this surfing thing is coming from,” Olivia said. “You’ve never talked about surfing before.”

“Sure I have,” Izzy countered. “I talk about it all the time. Surfing and skydiving.”

“Skydiving?”

“Have you ever been skydiving, Charlie?”

“Can’t say I have,” Charlie said. “I’ve thought about it, but I think that might be a little too intense for me.”

“Not me,” Izzy said. “I’m dying to go.”

“You’re not going skydiving,” Olivia said firmly, but at the same time, she knew that if her sister wanted to go, she would do it. There was a closing window of time during which Olivia could tell Izzy what to do. Soon enough, she would be on her own, and she would make those decisions for herself.

It was a frightening thought.

“Hey, Izzy,” Charlie said, “what’s the best restaurant in town? I mean, I have my favorites, but where do the kids like to eat?”

“Paul’s Diner. That’s where we go after basketball games.”

“Why don’t we check it out?”

Olivia glanced at him. “You want to go to Paul’s Diner?”

“I’ve never been there.”

“I don’t think it’s your kind of place. It’s a twenty-four-hour greasy spoon.”

“You don’t know everything about me yet,” Charlie said. “Let’s go. Let me treat you ladies to dinner.”

“That sounds awesome,” Izzy said.

“It’s too early for dinner,” Olivia protested.

“You and I missed lunch,” Charlie said. “And Izzy — are you hungry?”

“I’mstarving.”

“Of course you are. When I was in high school I was constantly hungry. Growing kids need food. Let’s go. How do I get there?”

“It’s downtown,” Izzy said. “Right by the movie theater.”

“Oh, sure. Okay. I know where that is.” Charlie took a right turn.

Olivia sat back in her seat, deeply frustrated at the fact that no one seemed to listen to her about anything.

And yet, if she was being completely honest, she would have to admit that there was something pleasant about seeing her sister get along with Charlie so well. She was enjoying it in spite of herself — and there was a part of her that really did want to get dinner with the two of them.

* * *

“Your car is so cool, Charlie,” Izzy said enviously, taking a bite of her cheeseburger.

“Yeah?” Charlie beamed. “Thanks, kid. You know, my sister says it makes me look like I’m having a mid-life crisis.”

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