Charlotte snapped her mouth shut and sighed. “No, but you could’ve at least told me you were going to do that. Patrick is my…well, we’re dating. He’s not the handyman.”
“But he is very handy,” Addison protested before finally meeting her gaze. “I figured it’s a good chance for you two to spend some time together too. Two birds, one stone.”
Charlotte threw the covers off and stood up. She filled up a glass of water and downed it all, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. Then she filled up another glass of water and took it inside to Patrick, who was lying on the tile floors of her bathroom, shirtless and sweating. Her stomach gave an odd little dip, and when he looked at her and smiled, her heart was doing cartwheels.
Why had she forgotten what she went in there to say?
Patrick used a rag in his back pocket to wipe the sweat away. “You don’t get proper ventilation in your room. Did you know that?”
Charlotte placed the glass of water down on the table behind her. “No, I didn’t, but it’s fine. It keeps me warm in the winter.”
Patrick frowned and stood up. He gestured to the glass of water, which she hastily handed him. “Yeah, but overheating isn’t good for the baby or you. We don’t want you to be dehydrated.”
Charlotte raised an eyebrow. “When did you become such an expert?”
Patrick took a long sip of his drink and exhaled. “I did some research, and Addison sent me all sorts of links.”
Charlotte folded her arms over her chest. “Okay, I’m not sure I’m a fan of this unholy alliance. Next thing you know, you’ll be conspiring to help me move out of this apartment.”
Patrick chuckled and stepped forward to brush a wisp of hair out of her face. “That’s not one of our short-term plans, but there’s no denying that it did come up.”
Charlotte shook her head and groaned. “I knew it. IknewAddison was going to try to rope you into things. You know you can say no to her, right?”
Patrick covered the distance between them and took her into his arms. “I know, but she’s your best friend. I plan on trying to stay on her good side.”
Charlotte tilted her head back to look up at him. “I think you’re doing fine.”
Patrick smiled, and her breath hitched in her throat. “Good, because that means I get to do a lot more of this.”
He brushed his lips against hers, and Charlotte melted.
She leaned into his touch, and Patrick kept one arm on her waist, the other going to her shoulders. He was massaging her scalp and sending the butterflies in her stomach into a frenzy when Addison cleared her throat. Slowly, reluctantly, they drew back, and Charlotte tried to fan herself. With one last smile in his direction, Charlotte went into the living room to get herself something to drink.
When the doorbell rang, she was surprised to find Libby at the door, carrying a bag of groceries. “Hi, sorry I’m late. Annie and I were having a chat.”
She threw the door open the rest of the way. “I didn’t even know you were coming, but come on in. How are things with Annie?”
“Better,” Libby replied, pausing to set the bag down on the kitchen counter. “I hope it’s okay that we asked your roommates about some of the things you needed around the house.”
Charlotte sighed. “I suppose I should get used to all of this. I doubt Addison is going to ease up any time soon.”
But Charlotte loved her all the more for it.
Addison came out of the bedroom to greet Libby and peruse through the stuff. Then she shooed Charlotte and Libby out of the apartment, banishing them to her mom’s bakery for the day. Outside, the mid-afternoon sun was in the sky, set against a backdrop of clear blue skies. Libby looped her arm through Charlotte’s, and the two of them set off at an even pace.
It felt good to be out of the house, to feel like she wasn’t cooped up there.
Or a prisoner of her own design.
“How is the baby? Everything stable?”
“So far, so good. So, have you spoken to Annie about the adoption thing yet?”
Libby missed a step and nearly went sprawling. “I…no. I haven’t found the right time.”
Charlotte squeezed her hand. “Since you two are getting along and getting things out in the open, now is a good time to bring it up. It’s just my two cents, anyway.”
Libby stopped outside the bakery and peered through the glass. “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll let you know how it goes anyway.”
