Page 200 of Charming Like Us
He’s okay, Oliveira.
But my eyes are on him like he’s my job. I don’t even care that he’s my sole focus right now. Charlie has his family at this event.
Jack has me.
That’s my husband.
He looks up at me with this weak smile that tries to strengthen. “You’re staring at me like I’m your subject, Os.”
“Who said you weren’t?”
I watch a soft breath leave him and his smile grow.Help him. Don’t be distracted by his charm.The thought kicks me into further action.
I adjust my earpiece and ask Thatcher, “Where’s Redford?” And then I see a concierge doctor sprinting over to us, trauma bag thwacking his hip.
He’s older. Ponytail at the base of his neck. That’s Dr. Edward Keene, Farrow’s father.
He squats down to Charlie and begins assessing. I’m not surprised he’s on-call considering only the Keenes make-up the med team.
Thatcher answers me, “Farrow left the carnival early with Maximoff. Ripley didn’t feel well. Teething issue.” His gaze narrows onto the funhouse entrance.
I survey the onlookers, on alert.
Teens and adults loiter around the funhouse and take out their phones. Snapping photos. Filming. A good number of temps are thankfully keeping them at bay. Anyone who tries to approach is being told to stay back.
I’m about to ask Dr. Keene to check out Highland too, but Charlie is the one who says, “Can you look at Jack? He hit his head badly earlier.”
“On what?” Dr. Keene immediately shifts to Jack.
“A metal bumper car pole,” Jack answers. At least he remembers that. Puts me less on edge.
Dr. Keene shines a tiny light in Jack’s eyes.
“What happened, really?” Jane asks Charlie again.
He stretches out his leg. “I was robbed.”
“Robbed?” Shock widens her blue eyes. Thatcher has a comforting hand on her head, but his anger bears down on me.
Since Akara’s not here, I knew I’d receive the wrath of the SFO lead.
He glares. “Where were you?”
“I had a temp on him because I went off-duty to talk to my brother, but Gabe lost sight of Charlie.”
“Why didn’t Gabe radio earlier that he was missing?”
I grimace, knowing what happened. “I told him that if I was ever in the vicinity, he didn’t have to.” I laugh but it’s an odd sounding one, this night catching up to me. “You know what, I didn’t realize that he thought being at the same carnival was consideredinthe vicinity. I should’ve been more specific.”
My fucking bad.
“Where wasyourradio?”
I swallow an acidic taste. I’ve fumbled so royally hard tonight. “It’s broken. I’m using Gabe’s now.”
Thatcher’s shaking his head. His tightened eyes nail into the funhouse. I’d bet a hundred bucks he’s worried about Akara and Banks.
I’m not used to being on the receiving end of disappointed, irate stares from Thatcher, and it lingers with me.
