Page 48 of Charlie and Her Sweet Escape
Rosie
YOU GUYS, I WAS ASLEEP. BENNETT, DO NOT LISTEN TO JULES. DO NOT TREAT HER LIKE A BRO. CHARLIE IS AMAZING. LEAN INTO FALLING IN LOVE WITH HER. KISS HER AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
Bennett
[auto-responder] I am embarking on the adventure of a lifetime on Wilderness Network’s Wild (with no cell service). Thank you for your patience. I will contact you … eventually.
It was too loud to talk on the boat to the island where our family cabin was, but it was nice to be out on the water with the wind blowing in our faces. It was almost enough to pull me out of the weird mood I’d been in all morning.
The problem was this: I couldn’t remember how to be normal.
When Charlie had stumbled into the kitchen this morning, looking like she’d just lost every dream she’d ever had, I didn’t know if I should pull her into a hug, make her breakfast, or flee the scene.
What would Bennett of old do?
Not what I’d done, which was a weird combination of all three. I’d thrust a breakfast burrito at her with one hand while I patted her on the head like a child with the other, then abandoned the entire townhouse completely when I heard her turn on my shower a few minutes later.
I’d done a quick grocery run, dropped everything off at the marina, and then raced back to the house to get Charlie. Maybe if I didn’t stop moving, this strange sensation of being a husband couldn’t catch up to me.
Even now, Charlie was stretched out behind me on the boat, her head tilted toward the sky, as I navigated us to the island. Her knee skimmed my back. I should have taken my sailboat instead. Tons of room to spread out.
But Bennett of old wouldn’t care about a little knee skim here and there.
We arrived at the island, and I cut the engine, leaving us with the sound of the waves lapping against the metal.
“I’m so glad we’re doing this before going on the show,” Charlie said, a wide smile crossing her face. Her swollen eyes were hidden behind huge sunglasses, but I was glad to see some genuine happiness from her.
“Me too.”Lies. I hopped out to tie us to the dock. I took her hand to help her out of the dinghy, exactly like Bennett of old would do.
“No one is supposed to know that I’m completely heartbroken right now.” Her voice cracked, and this time, I didn’t let myself question it.
I pulled her into an awkward hug around our life vests. She could hardly get her arms around me.
She giggled and dropped her forehead onto my padded chest. “What would I do without you, Bennett?”
“Be married to a loser?” Could I say that now that they’d broken up?
She pinched my waist, but when she pulled back, she was still smiling. “Tell me how you really feel.”
The sun backlit her with a golden, nearly irresistible glow.Nope. Don’t think I’ll be doing that.
She helped me gather our duffels and the grocery bags, and we walked over the sandy trail to the cabin. My brothers and I had built most of the cabin ourselves over several years. I had touched every part of the redwood planks, the steeply pitched roof, the wraparound porch with a white swing out front. If I could live here, I would, but it was too far from work to be feasible. After Lily broke up with me, I seriously considered it. Quitting work. Living on the land. Becoming a recluse.
In the end, I didn’t want to abandon Rosie. She’d had enough people leave her; I wasn’t going to add myself to the list. But I’d spent plenty days off out here. No internet. No cell service. Just blissful quiet.
“You love it here,” Charlie said.
I opened my eyes and realized that I’d stopped just short of the porch of the cabin to breathe in the woodsy scent of home. “It’s one of my favorite places.”
“I can see that.” She followed me inside, where I turned on the lights and opened the windows to air it out.
“Take whichever room you want,” I told her as I started to unload the groceries. I was making us grilled salmon with parmesan risotto for dinner, and a flourless chocolate cake for dessert.
She wandered down the hall and then came back a few minutes later and sat on a stool in the kitchen. “I took the middle room. Is that okay?”
I busied myself so she wouldn’t see me swallow extra hard. The middle room was mine, but Iwould notpicture her sleeping in my bed. Nope. “Yep. Perfect.”
“Can I help?” She leaned her elbows on the counter as I set out all the ingredients.
