Page 54 of Charm Me Not

“Must be nice. Dad’s been married more times than I have fingers since I started living with him. At least, that I can remember.”

My brows furrowed, my smile diminishing into a frown. Before I could say something, a small kid pushed her way between us, throwing us apart and plopping down on the bench.

Una looked over the girl’s head at me, completely bewildered. I just shrugged and smiled.

“Did you know dolphins can swim over twenty miles an hour? And that they have two stomachs?” the little girl said so fast, I didn’t think she even took a breath. She stared at Una with expectant eyes, waiting for an answer. I highly doubted she would wait long, though.

“I… didn’t know that,” Una answered, still rather confused why she was there. “Thank you for the information.”

“You’re welcome. Remember, sharing is caring. I share facts about fun animals. You should try it,” she said equally as fast, before standing up on the bench. Even at full height, she was only a few inches taller than Una sitting down.

In a flash, she wrapped her arms around Una’s neck and gave her a quick hug. Una barely had time to pat her on the back before she skipped off to a family on the other side of the viewing area.

I had never seen Una give anyone a hug before. I stared at her in wonder and admiration. “She was cute.”

She nodded, looking a bit baffled by the whole interaction. “Cute and smart,” she added. “Do you think those guys can swim twenty miles an hour?” she asked, pointing at the trio of dolphins in front of us.

I nodded, a smile forming. “I bet they could. After they digest their food in their two stomachs, of course.”

“Of course. They have to wait twenty minutes so they don’t get a cramp.” Una pursed her lips while fiddling with one of her braids.

I hated being so far from her, so I moved back over, so close now that our shoulders and knees were touching. I sensed her stiffening, her fidgeting stopping, her back straightening like she was nervous.

“You didn’t always live with Coach—I mean, your dad?” I asked softly, bringing us back to the conversation from before the girl interrupted us. Curiosity got the best of me, but I hoped I said it in a way that told her it was okay if she didn’t want to answer.

She turned her head, finding me staring at her. I gave her my complete, undivided attention. I held no judgment to whatever she was going to say, if she said anything at all. Her past was her past and was not for me to comment on.

“Dad didn’t know about me. At least, not for a while. My mom met Dad in college. He was at his peak, but it wouldn’t last too long. She never told him she was pregnant. They never even officially dated or anything. Mom and I lived in a junky apartment near campus after I was born. Then, when I was two, she drove back here to Teller, found Dad at some house, and dumped me on the front step.”

I pursed my lips, my brows still knitted while really, truly listening. “Wow,” I whispered. I leaned back on one hand, rifling the other through my hair for a moment. “Your dad must really love you.”

Una flinched, startling me for a second. “What do you mean? Were you listening to what I said?”

“Yup. Sure did. But think about it. Not just anyone can raise a kid, you know?”

Her face scrunched into confusion. She blinked, as if trying to figure out what I meant. “She literally dumped me on his doorstep. He didn’t have a choice.”

I caught her gaze before I spoke next. I wanted her to realize the sacrifice and dedication her father chose. “There’s always a choice, Una. He chose to keep you. He chose to raise you. He chose to get married so you would have mother figures in your life.”

“What about your mom?” She jumped to her feet, ready to keep moving through the rest of the aquarium. I realized that for too long made her anxious. “Is she the perfect Fairview queen?”

I couldn’t stop the little wicked smile that crossed my face. I waggled my eyebrows as I fell into step next to her. She didn’t know about my mom and this truth was going to be so much fun to break to her.

She would never see it coming.

“What?”

“You never heard about my mom, huh? It’s okay. Over time, people forget and stop talking about things.”

Her cheeks flushed, like she was embarrassed that she didn’t know, which was the opposite of what I wanted her to feel. Mom’s past wasn’t a massive secret, but not many people talked about it anymore, and therefore, more and more people didn’t know.

I waited another few seconds before dropping the bomb, really adding some heightened tension to the matter.

“My mom was a Teller girl.”

Her jaw dropped so hard I thought I heard it pop. For the first time, she was completely speechless.

“Mr. Charming has Teller blood in him? There’s no way,” she stuttered so quietly, I don’t think she even know she was talking out loud.

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