Page 65 of Heart Strings & Hotlines
All five heads slowly turn to me.
“That’s not really a decision you can make.” Rafe speaks to me with his hands held out in a placating form as though I’m going to have another meltdown.
This is why I don’t like people being too close to me. Once they see beneath the curtain, they treat me as if I’m glass when I know I’m fucking steel.
My stomach seizes. Will Charlotte eventually look at me as Rafe does?
“Oh, Lottie’s a good girl. She won’t mind. Plus, Winona told me how sick Lottie was down at the Patch. Thane’s right not to leave her side.”
“And where will you stay?” Rafe asks.
Last night I slept on Charlotte’s floor. My back is paying for it today, but that won’t stop me from doing it again tonight. “Here.”
“Thane.”
I stare at Rafe. Concern, or maybe confusion, shows on his face.
“I slept on her floor last night to ensure she was all right. I’ll do the same thing tonight, and then I’ll sleep on her sofa when she’s feeling better.” I spin on my heel to head back upstairs.
“What if she doesn’t want us here though?” Kara’s words are quiet. When I search for her face across the room, I frown. Is she scared?
“Pfft. Lottie’s not gonna kick you out.” Mr. Carver says.
“Kicking someone out and inviting them to stay with you are two different things, though,” Boone says. He just can’t help sticking his nose into my business.
I’ve always been an ask for forgiveness, not permission kind of guy, so I continue to the stairs. “When Charlotte is well enough, we’ll reassess and discuss this with her. Does that work for everyone?”
“It’s your funeral,” Boone mutters.
“We’ll take your lead, Thane. But prepare yourself for Lottie’s wrath,” Rafe says. “Traditionally speaking, moving yourself into your self-proclaimed girlfriend’s home after only a few weeks puts you right back into stalker territory.”
“I’m not a stalker.”
“You’re a little stalkerish, Brad. But like, with a good heart. You’re a good-hearted stalker.” I can’t tell if Kara’s fucking with me or truly trying to help. Her grin gives nothing away while her eyes remind me of the Joker’s.
“A good-hearted stalker. What does that even mean?” Boone chuckles.
“Don’t you have work to do?” I growl in his direction.
Generally speaking, I like the guy as much as I like anyone. He doesn’t use unnecessary words, he has great references, and he pretty much keeps to himself, but today I’m questioning my vetting process entirely.
“I do.”
When he stands there, I peer over at Rafe, who shrugs.
“Well.” I roll my hand toward the door. “Get on with it then. Rafe, can you grab my stuff and make sure Kara gets everything without touching the poison?” I knew that house was toxic as soon as I saw the snot-colored carpeting.
“I’ll give you this, Thane.” Rafe smirks, then heads to the front door. “When you jump in, you don’t aim for the deep end. No, you head out into the middle of the ocean, send the ship away, and search for Atlantis. Hopefully, this doesn’t come back to kick you in the ass.”
“Oh, don’t you go putting ideas into his head.” Mrs. Carver clucks. “This is what we do in Sweetbriar. We take care of each other. You boys take Kara to get your stuff. Vinny and I’ll go make up the beds next door.”
I nod in thanks and then take the stairs two at a time to get away from all the probing eyeballs.
Do I know what I’m doing? Probably not. But if ever there was a time to trust my instincts, it’s now, and all my instincts point me straight to Charlotte Sinclair.
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
LOTTIE
