There’s a pause before her next message arrives.
Charlotte:Tempting, but you need rest, not another workout
Me:Resting? I was thinking more along the lines of recovery... with you as my masseuse
Charlotte:Smooth, Brooks. You’ve got an away game to win in 2 days, though. Someone has to keep you focused.
I let out a frustrated sigh, knowing she’s right but not liking it.
Me:Fine, I’ll stay put. But tomorrow, you’re mine ??
Charlotte:I better be ??
Me:Night, beautiful
I set my phone down, still feeling the ache of wanting her close, tempered by the promise of tomorrow.
Chapter twenty-seven
You’ve reached your quota on theword ‘friend’
Charlie
Mondays always feel chaotic. The office hums with the usual morning buzz of clacking keyboards, ringing phones, and the occasional burst of laughter from down the corridor. I stare at an email, but my mind drifts back to last night.
The game. The kids. The way Jake looked at me when I called him a friend.
I press my hands to my face. I could have handled that so much better. The kids caught us off guard, but the sting in Jake’s eyes when I stumbled over my words still lingers in my chest.
Seeing him get hit was terrifying. Instinct pulled me to him, forgetting the kids in my rush to make sure he was okay. I didn’t think twice. Being so openly affectionate with him in front of his teammates and our friends doesn’t bother me at all, but in that moment, I forgot the kids were there too.
I'm trying to ease the kids into this, but last night I went and did the opposite. And then I doubled down, confusing them even more by insisting Jake and I were just friends.
“Morning, lover girl,” Zoe’s voice breaks through my thoughts, and I glance up to see her grinning from the doorway.
“Hey,” I reply, trying to sound casual. “Aren’tyou supposed to be in the boardroom?”
“I’ve got a few minutes.” She waves her freshly manicured hand dismissively and steps in, closing the door behind her. “So, how was the rest of your night with yourgood friendJake?
I groan, dropping my head to the keyboard. “Don’t start.”
“Oh, I’m starting,” she says, sliding onto the edge of my desk. “It was pretty entertaining. Every time you said the wordfriend, he looked ready to haul you over his shoulder like a caveman to stake his claim.”
“It wasn’t like that,” I argue, though my cheeks heat at the memory. “The kids were confused, and I didn’t want to make it more complicated.”
“Complicated? Charlie, those kids aresmart. Anyone with eyes can see there’s more going on than friendship.”
I run a hand through my hair, trying to sound firm. “We agreed to ease the kids into this. It’s not as simple as jumping into his arms forever.”
“It’s exactly that simple,” she counters. “You’ve got a guy who’s crazy about you and the kids. So why are you still holding back?”
Before I can respond, there’s a knock at the door. Marcus peeks his head in, a bright smile on his face. “Morning, Charlotte. Zoe.”
Zoe gives me a pointed look before hopping off my desk. “Catch you later, Charlie.” she says, muttering something about popcorn as she brushes past.
Marcus steps inside, his gaze lingering a moment too long before he speaks. “I was wondering if you’d like to grab lunch today? My treat.”
“Oh,” I stammer, caught off guard. “Thanks Marcus, but I’ve got a lot to get through.”
