Page 25 of Charlie and Her Sweet Escape
Charlie’s smile was unnaturally bright. “Oh, we know. We’re huge fans. Like super fans. Not stalker fans, though, or anything like that.” Her nervous laugh sounded exactly like a stalker fan’s laugh might sound.
Rosie raced from the room, abandoning us. If Rosie was jumping ship, we were definitely going down.
“Well, then.” Savannah’s glance cut to the side, and I imagined her looking at a clock on the wall, wondering how long she’d need to be on this call with us before she dashed all of Charlie’s hopes and dreams. “If by some chance you’re picked, we’ll fly you to Canada, and you will be here for eight weeks. If you are rescued or you decide to leave the game, you will still need to remain at camp headquarters until the last couple wins. It’s good that you’re fans of the show. That means you’ll have some familiarity with how it works.”
Rosie slid back into the room, nearly taking out my bookcase in her haste. She had a tablet in her hands and turned it to face us. On the screen, she’d typed: PUT YOUR ARM AROUND HER.
Charlie squinted at it and went to put her arm around me at the same time I moved to do the same. We both continued the action, and our arms were around each other’s shoulders likebuddies at the end of a baseball game, congratulating each other on a good win.
Rosie ran a hand down her face in a clear:I’m working with boneheadsexpression. With a glare at Charlie, she pointed at the message a few times. She deleted it and typed: PLAY WITH HIS HAIR FOR A SEC, THEN PUT YOUR HAND BACK IN YOUR LAP
Charlie’s arm glided against mine as she brought her hand up to the back of my head and scratched her nails into the nape of my neck. I caught my breath at the touch. Forget rumbles. My stomach was a full-on fireworks finale on New Year’s Eve. She twisted her fingers in the ends of my hair right beneath the brim of my hat.
All three women looked at me expectantly, and I realized I must have been asked a question. “Can you repeat that?” I said in that stupid low voice again.
Savannah’s smile seemed a little less sweet. “Why do you want to be on the show?”
Oh. Why would Greg want to be on the show?Channel your inner smarm, Ben.“Well, first of all, thank you so much for considering us, Savannah. We are deeply honor—” My words gargled to a stop when Charlie’s fingernails skimmed against my neck, and an electrical shock zinged through my veins, short-circuiting all intelligent thought.
Rosie waved the tablet in the air. TO TEST MY SKILLS …
“Is our connection still good?” Savannah asked.
“Oh, good!” I said, trying to sound relieved. “We lost you for a moment.” Mentally, anyway, even though my internet was still holding strong.
Charlie’s laugh sounded forced. “That’s Alaska for you.”
Focus, Ben.I needed a date,realbad, if I was reacting like this to a simple touch from my little sister’s best friend. “I’mexcited for the chance to test my skills, and to show off to my new bride—and the world—that I’m the best.”
“Okay,” Savannah said, and I forced myself not to cringe. Greg would totally have said something like that, and not only owned it, but believed it. Even if his survival skills were subpar at best. “And you, Charlotte?”
Charlie clasped her fingers together. Longing emanated off of her. She really wanted this. “I’ve always loved theWildseries, and going on the show would help my mom with the medical bills that piled up after my dad got sick and from her accident last winter.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Savannah said, but a smile curled up at the corner of her mouth, as if she was actually glad to hear it.
I squeezed Charlie’s shoulder. Her mom’s well-being weighed heavily on her.
Savannah continued, “It’s a compelling story that viewers will connect to. Very timely. What unique experiences do you bring to the table?” she asked Charlie, taking notes as Charlie explained her botany degree, and how that translated into knowing what plants could be edible, medicinal, and useful for daily life. Her great respect for nature was evident, and her face lit up with excitement as she talked about the outings her dad used to take her on before he died.
My dad also used to take us backpacking to teach us how to hunt and mine the land for riches. It lingered now as a bittersweet memory, especially when I recalled our very last outing. The one that changed everything.
“He taught me to love the land, and through it, how to love myself.” Charlie’s smile dimmed, and I looked to Rosie for some indication of what I should do next, but Rosie was watching Charlie like her heart was hurting for her.
I tugged Charlie close and gave her a side hug. “I wish I could’ve met him.”
“Yeah. Me too. He would’ve loved you.”
“As much as your grandma?”
“No one loves you as much as my grandma.” The tenseness in her shoulders eased as she teased me, and it had the magical effect of helping me relax too. It was almost possible to forget Savannah was watching us.
Until she cleared her throat to get our attention. Savannah had leaned forward and was watching us closely.
The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood up straight as I realized what I’d said. Greg and Charlie had known each other their entire lives. Greg had met her dad.I’mthe one who didn’t move to town until she was eighteen.
“How did you two first meet?” she asked.
Charlie looked at me as if waiting for me to take over, but I kept my mouth clamped shut. “We’ve just known each other our whole lives. The island isn’t that big—one K-12 school on the entire island—so we’ve always been around each other.”
