Page 21 of If My Wishes Came True
I’m fighting the urge to reach for Charlie’s hand when thunder cracks between us.
“Speak of the devil,” he says, pulling his phone out of his pocket and frowning at the screen.
“Your dad?” I ask, perplexed. “I thought you only used thatringtone for your boss.”
He sighs. “My dad and my boss are one and the same. Unfortunately.”
“Ah,” I say, putting the pieces together. “Sounds complicated.”
Charlie runs a hand over his short hair. “It is,” he says, then pockets his phone.
I nod, sensing that he doesn’t want to get into the details. “Want to keep walking?”
Charlie gets up and offers his hand to help me. I take it, and when we’re both standing and facing each other, I keep my palm connected to his, waiting to see if he’ll let go. He doesn’t.
He steps closer to me, and I know he’s searching my face for a sign.
He wants to kiss me. But he’s not sure if I’m ready.
Neither am I.
I want him more than I’ve ever wanted anyone—that’s not the problem.
The problem is, I think I could fall in love with this man. He sees me in a way no one else ever has. And when our eyes meet, we connect on a different plane. There’s something so familiar and safe about him.
But when I moved to Chicago for another fresh start, falling in love wasn’t part of the plan.
Neither was painting. I guess plans change.
I wasn’t prepared for Charlie Sutton to come into my life, but here he is. And now I have a decision to make. Can I put my past behind me and finally move on?
I’m frozen, staring into his sexy, deep brown eyes, whensomething—or someone—pushes me forward into his waiting arms.
“Oops! Sorry!” a runner yells as she continues past us down the trail. She’s staring at her phone, and I suspect she accidentally elbowed me because she was distracted. If she’d pushed me any harder, Charlie could have fallen backward into the lake.
But he’s standing steady, with his arms around my waist, just like I’ve craved. Maybe this runner gave me the nudge I needed.
I should thank her.
I tilt my head up, ready for my lips to meet Charlie’s, when I feel something fall down the side of my neck.
“Oh no, my earring,” I say with a frown when I check my lobes and notice one’s missing. The clasp on the hoop must have opened when the runner bumped into me.
I glance down at the pavement, but don’t immediately see it. I’d be so upset if I lost it. These earrings are the most expensive purchase I’ve made for something nonessential. They’re two-carat diamond drop earrings I bought after I broke up with Scott. I figured they’d be the only diamonds I’d ever own.
I turn around to look behind me, but don’t see anything there either. When I spin back to face Charlie, he’s on one knee, carefully examining the ground. Then he looks up with a smile.
“Got it,” he says.
But the sight of him kneeling with a sparkling diamond between his fingers sends shockwaves through me.
Hunter.
I’m in my college apartment. It’s the night after we graduated.
From outside the window, I hear a song…
“Can’t Help Falling in Love.”
