Charlotte wanted to enjoy knowing what was coming next.
Chapter Thirteen
“Addy, I appreciate you stopping by, but—”
Addison waved her comment away and snatched the pillow behind her back. She fluffed it up and then carefully set it back behind Charlotte’s head. “Whatever you’re going to say, don’t waste your breath. I know it’s been a few days since the procedure, but the doctor did say to take it easy.”
Charlotte’s lips twitched. “Yes, he said to take it easy, not act like an invalid.”
While she enjoyed spending a little more time with Addison, it was starting to rub her the wrong way. It had been four days since the procedure, which Addison and Mason had both attended, with stars in their eyes and nervous energy that made them shift the entire time. Four days of Addison showing up every morning, marching Charlotte back to bed, and spending hours plumping her pillows, making her food, and watching TV with her.
On the one hand, it was nice to slow down and take a break from the usual hustle and bustle of her life. On the other hand, having Addison there to look over her shoulder each time she gotup to stretch her legs or use the bathroom was slowly chipping away at her.
Charlotte couldn’t live like this, and she couldn’t imagine anyone who could.
But she didn’t want to hurt Addison’s feelings by making her feel excluded.
She can’t keep this up forever anyway. Not when she has a job.
“You’re not an invalid,” Addison responded after a long pause. “I just want to make sure we’re giving your body the best possible chance, you know.”
Charlotte sighed and linked her fingers together. “Yes, I know. But don’t you have work or something else to do?”
Preferably something that didn’t include another day of kale salad, flavorless pan-seared food, and skimming through articles about the best chance to increase fertility. Charlotte’s head already hurt, and she knew more than she ever wanted to know about the whole process.
Addison’s phone rang before she could respond.
She drifted toward the bedroom door and pressed it to her ear. “Hi, no. I’m coming in later.” Addison paused and ran a hand over her face. “Now? I’m in the middle of something.”
Charlotte pushed herself up and cleared her throat. “You should go and see what’s wrong.”
Addison spun around to face her and covered the phone. “I’ll find someone else to take care of it. You need me.”
“I’m not leaving the house,” Charlotte responded, flashing her an easy smile. “You don’t have anything to worry about. Go and take care of whatever it is. You’ve still got a job to do.”
And at least it would give Charlotte a few hours of peace and quiet.
Addison drew her bottom lip between her teeth. “Are you sure?”
Charlotte nodded, the smile never leaving her face. “Positive. Go. I’ll call if I need you.”
“Or you call Mason,” Addison said with a frown.
She stepped out of the bedroom and pulled the door shut behind her. A few moments later, Charlotte threw the covers off and tiptoed to the door. Through the slit, she saw Addison gather her coat and purse off the living room couch. She stuffed her feet into the shoes she left by the door and wrenched the knob open.
Once it clicked shut behind her, Charlotte hurried into the living room, spread her arms out on either side of her, and threw herself onto the couch. She released a deep breath and put her arms behind her head. Then, she wriggled her toes and rubbed her body against the pillows, enjoying the length and feel of them after days of being confined to her bed.
Charlotte was scrolling through shows when the doorbell rang. She ran inside to get her wallet and threw the door open without glancing through the peephole. Patrick stood outside her door in a pair of jeans and a formfitting shirt, a pizza box in his hand. He smiled when she lifted her gaze to his and stared.
Her stomach gave a familiar dip, and Charlotte suddenly forgot how to speak.
“We have to stop meeting like this,” Patrick joked, pausing to shift from one foot to the other. “And you really should consider healthier options.”
Charlotte blinked, and her mind came crashing back. “I’ve been eating kale salads, crushed nuts, and flavorless pan-seared protein for days. I needed something I could actually eat.”
Patrick chuckled. “Okay, fair enough. Are you on some kind of diet?”
Charlotte shook her head and pushed the door open the rest of the way. “No, I went to see the doctor about some…stomach issues, and he recommended I adjust my eating habits.”
