Page 75 of If My Wishes Came True
“Of course. Anything.”
I lead him over to the couch, and he sits next to me. “Has your work interfered with your relationships before? Because you seem really worried about that happening to us.”
“It has,” he says without hesitation.
My gut clenches, although I do appreciate the fact that he’s being so open and honest.
“I mean, ultimately, those relationships weren’t right for me,” he goes on, “and I’m more sure of that than ever—now that I’ve met you.”
His words give me butterflies.
“But being at the mercy of my demanding boss, who also happens to be my father, is a pretty big buzzkill when it comes to dating,” he continues. “And I do want to move on from Sutton’s—eventually. It’s just such a bad time. When my dad makes these new hires, it should be easier. I won’t be leaving him in the lurch. But in the meantime, the idea of losing you because of this damn job wrecks me. The thing is, Jenna, I love…”
My eyes widen as I wait for him to finish his sentence.
“Um…I love what we have.”
I’m pretty sure he wanted to say something else.
“We’re so good together,” he goes on. “And I’d never forgive myself if I let my career and family issues come between us.”
I take his hand in mine. “You’re not going to lose me over this job, Charlie. I think we’re both too damn smitten to let that happen.”
My words elicit the most adorable grin on his face. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
Then he kisses me with such intensity that we almost skip dinner, and end up in bed. We surely would have, if not for the tempting smell of the takeout Thai food I ordered. So we put our make-out session on pause, and eat at my kitchen island while sharing a bottle of Riesling.
Afterward, I take Charlie’s hand and lead him into my art studio. Maybe it’s the wine, but I’m totally calm when we walkinto the room. Even more so when my boyfriend’s eyes widen with wonder.
I watch as his gaze moves over each portrait. First me, then my family, then Hunter, and Esther. I rearranged the canvases this morning, saving Charlie’s for last. I covered it with a sheet and separated it from the rest of the paintings, so I could surprise him.
“Wow,” he says on a heavy exhale. “These arestunning. I mean, I already knew you were talented, but…you have a real gift. The way you convey emotion in each piece, with these subtle lines around the eyes and lips…it’s so realistic, I feel like I’m looking at a photograph.”
“Thank you,” I say, leaning into him.
Charlie can’t take his eyes off my artwork, which thrills me. He points at the paintings at the top of the line. “So there’s you, then your mom, dad, and sister, I’m guessing? I can see the family resemblance.”
“Yup. And Hunter and Esther on the end,” I explain. “And…there’s one more I want to show you.”
I unclasp my hands from Charlie’s waist and walk to the other side of the room. When he joins me, I unveil the portrait I painted of him.
I watch as he takes it in.
First he sighs. Then he chews on his perfect bottom lip, which I’ve never seen him do before. Then his forehead crinkles. Next thing I know, he’s blinking back tears.
“When did you do this?” he asks, turning to me. His voice is barely a whisper.
I don’t know what to make of his reaction. Regardless, I tellhim the truth. “I painted this after our first kiss. But the look in your eyes…that’s what I saw the first time we met. When we crashed into each other by the elevator.”
Charlie nods, then swallows. After a beat, he stares down at his shoes, his hands on his hips.
Whatever sedative effect that Riesling had on me is gone now. My palms are sweating.
“Jenna, there’s something you should know,” he says. “I probably should have told you this before…but I’m still trying to wrap my head around it, myself.”
My heart is hammering as I wait for him to explain.
“I was painfully shy as a kid. And it only got worse in high school. I didn’t look anything like I do now. I had acne, for one thing. I wore braces for years. I was tall and gangly—my fast metabolism wasn’t doing me any favors back then,” he says with a wry smile. “All of that to say, I graduated without ever having kissed a girl.
