Page 3 of Charlie and Her Sweet Escape
“I had no idea little Charlie had a crush on me,” he mused as he continued to stare down at the picture. “First your cousin, then me. These journals are priceless.”
“I was young.”
“You still are,” he said with a wink.
Why did it have to open tothatpage? Though, if I recall correctly, there were several drawings, so the odds weren’t that bad.
Oh, to be a hormonal teenager again. It was nice not having to worry about getting all riled up and starry-eyed at the sight of a boy’s chest anymore.
He picked up my journal, and I held my breath, hoping he wouldn’t flip through the pages. To my relief, he closed it, set it gently on the pile of blankets in the box like it was something fragile, and tapped the cover like it was a sleeping baby’s back. Then he swaggered insufferably from my room.
I brought Gretel up to my face. “You’re not in trouble, but do you see how one little action can cause a chain of events you have no control over?”
She licked my nose. I tried not to think about what else her tongue had recently been on.
“Should I change my name to Gretel?” I mused. “It has a nice ring. I could go on that show,In the Wild,and be off the grid.” I snuggled her to my chest and ran my fingers over her tiny ears until her trembling stopped.
Bennett came back into the room with a wet towel and some carpet spray, more subdued than he’d been just moments ago. He knelt down and started scrubbing at the fresh puddle.
“I can do that, Ben.” I set Gretel on my bed and reached for the towel.
“I’ve got it.”
Had my drawing upset him? Maybe he felt uncomfortable now. Panic welled in my stomach as I tried to read his emotions. Greg always liked when I started with an apology—it was usually enough to keep him from getting angry at me.
Before I could apologize, Bennett continued. “Tonight is the night, Charlie. I’m going to do it.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Propose?”
He nodded nervously.
I squealed and gave him a hug that nearly knocked him down. “We’re going to be cousins!”
He chuckled. “Yep, but remember, that means you can’t marry me.”
“Oh my gosh.” I covered my face and moaned. “Let’s never tell Dylan about this, okay?”
“Your secret is safe with me.” His excited grin nearly sparkled.
I wish I’d taken a picture or appreciated his smile more. I didn’t realize his smile would disappear, and I wouldn’t see it again.
Lily came home that night, sobbing, and told me she’d said no to his proposal. And Bennett grew his hair long and his wild beard hid his face. He spent almost all his time on the ocean and pushed away everyone but his siblings.
And me? Well, I fell in love with my own handsome prince who asked me to marry him, and we were going to live happily ever after.
2
3 YEARS LATER
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