She lets out a heavy sigh. “This was a mistake.”
“What was?” I rest my hand on hers. She drops her gaze to it, and I feel her fingers slightly tremble before she jerks her hand back.
“You know what? The closer I get to saying it, the crazier it sounds.” Her eyes fall shut, and she shakes her head at herself. “I need to talk to Jolene. She’d tell it to me straight.”
“Who’s Jolene?”
“A homeless lady who lives in Central Park.” Her brows pinch together. “I hope she’s okay.”
I cock an eyebrow. “What the hell are you getting at?”
“Nothing. Forget it.”
“For a second there, I thought you were coming in to tell me you want to take me up on my offer.”
Charlie’s face doesn’t waver. “Your offer?”
“To move in until there’s more room. I heard what happened to your cat. I don’t have any dogs, you know.”
She leans back, looking slightly horrified. “How do you know what happened to Tulip?”
“Quinn,” I huff. “She basically funds the local cat rescue group on her own. She’s at the vet more than anyone I know.”
“More than your mom?” she asks, and a small smile starts to pull up her face. “She still has a million dogs, right?”
“Just four,” I laugh. “Quinn actually does have a million cats, though.”
“Cats are amazing.” Her eyes sparkle even under the dull overhead lights.
“How is your cat?”
Her smile falls and concern takes over her face. “She’ll pull through. I’m lucky I was home to break up the fight.”
I nod. “You are. So when are you two moving in?”
Biting her lip, she gives me a glare. Fuck, that stern look makes my cock jump. What I’d give to have her punish me right now…
“Owen,” she starts but doesn’t finish her thought.
“If you’re unable to resist me, just say it and I promise not to be offended.”
“I can resist you just fine.”
“Then use the guest bedroom for the next few weeks. It has its own bathroom. And I have no pets.”
“Why don’t you?” she asks as if it’s incriminating not to have any.
“I’m not home much. I had a bird for a while.”
“A bird?” She wrinkles her nose.
“Yeah. Someone ditched it in the cage on the side of the road. He was cool and knew how to say ‘fuck’ and a few other choice words.”
“What happened to him?”
I lower my gaze to the bar, stomach clenching just thinking about it. Captain Morgan was a fucking awesome cockatiel. “Jackson let him out when the living room ceiling fan was on high.”
Charlie gasps and brings her hand to her mouth. “Oh my God, I’m sorry.”
I just shrug. “It was an accident. And as far as Jackson knows, Cap is living at the aviary at a zoo. I haven’t gotten any new pets since.”
Charlie tips her head up, holding my gaze for a few seconds. “You really wouldn’t mind having me and my crippled cat at your place for a while?”
“Of course not.”
“If I do this—and that’s a big if—it’s only because I’m literally out of every single other option, and that includes screening in the back porch and living in my parents’ yard.”
“Well, what else would it be?” I lean a little closer. “A chance to win you back?”
“Win me back?” Charlie’s eyebrows go up. “Like I’m some sort of prize?”
“Of course not. You’re a strong, smart, independent woman who I’ve always respected. I was using win you back as a saying, I suppose. But I do plan to.”
Charlie quickly shakes her head and looks down. “Fool me once,” she says so softly I hardly hear her.
“Come to dinner with my family on Sunday. I’ll show you I’m not going to fool you again. Fool around with…yes. But just fool…I’m not that person anymore, Charlie.”
She looks up and I see the hurt in her eyes. It’s only there for a second, and I’m not sure if she’s thinking about us together in the past or her loser fiancé. The guy has to be the world’s biggest dumbass to do anything to lose Charlie.
Right when I think she’s going to say no, her eyes meet mine. “What time?”
“Six.”
“Should I bring anything?”
I shake my head. “My mom’s methods of cooking haven’t changed.”
“So she’s still making enough food to feed a small army.”
“She is, and we usually eat it all.”
“You Dawsons are basically a small army.” Her lips start to curve up into a smile. “And there are more of you now. Is everyone going to be there?”
“More than likely. Sometimes Wes and Archer are called into work, but the rest of the gang will be there. I think you’ll like Danielle, Logan’s wife.”
“It’s still weird to hear you say that.”
I chuckle. “It’s still a little weird for me to say that. And to have him be busy with her all the time.”
“You two were always close.”
I shrug. “It’s a twin thing.”
“And you said that all the time too. I never really understood it.”
Even though Charlie said she didn’t want wine, I grab a bottle just in case she changes her mind. “No one but twins will. It makes it fun.”
“So…I’ll meet you there?”
“I can pick you up.”
“Sure. That would be fine. I take it you remember where my parents live?”
My head bobs up and down. “I drive by every holiday hoping to see you changing in your bedroom window.”
She purses her lips. “That happened once, and—oh my God. You took a picture!”
I was nineteen at the time and mostly took the photo to show her how visible she was from the street. But also, because I was nineteen and making mature decisions every day, of course.
“And it’s printed as a poster and plastered to the ceiling above my bed. Along with some of the other nudes you sent me over the years.”
Charlie just stares at me, and I wonder if she’s thinking how weird it is to be that close to someone, to share something so intimate as naughty photos, and then to just break up and never see each other again.
“I think Logan might have stolen one of my favorites, though.”
“And which one is that?” she asks dryly, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Remember when you were a sexy Bo Peep for Halloween?”
“Oh my God, no!” Her eyes close as she laughs. “We were what, juniors in college then? I have no idea why I thought that was a good costume. Actually, I might still have it in my parents’ basement. I have a few bins of crap down there.”
“Wear it to dinner Sunday.”
She laughs once more, reminding me how much I miss hearing that sound. And the way her eyes crinkle just a bit when she’s laughing. Reaching out, she takes the wine from my hand and pulls out the rubber stopper. She pours a bit in her glass and then looks around once more.
“This place is amazing. I can’t get over how busy it is.”
“Thanks, and you should see it tonight. Fridays and Saturdays are crazy.”
“Maybe I’ll come by some time with Carly. When I’m speaking to her again.” She takes a sip of wine.
“I can imagine things being a little tense since her dogs attacked your cat.”
She nods. “They didn’t do it maliciously, but still…” She lets out a sigh and turns back to me, biting her lip. She’s probably thinking that crashing at my place is a bad idea. And if that’s the case, I’m going to show her just how good bad can be.
Chapter 13
Charlie
I changed my outfit three times. My first dress made me look way too much like a stuffy lawyer. The second showed an indecent amount of cleavage. And the third? It’s a simple red sundress that matches my lipstick.
Not that I care how I look for Owen or anything.
Mom knows I’m going out, but that’s it. She doesn’t need to know the small details, and it’s not like I have to ask permission. If they knew I was going to see the entire Dawson crew? It wouldn’t matter, because nothing is going to come from this. It’ll be nice to see everyone. They were a big part of my life for a long time, and it’ll be nice to catch up. Too bad I don’t have better news about myself. Though until a few weeks ago, things were going pretty damn well.
Feeling like a teenager again, I hop up when I see a black pickup truck slow to a stop in front of the house. Years ago, I’d run down the sidewalk and leap into Owen’s arms. My heart flutters at the thought, remembering in vivid detail just how amazing Owen used to make me feel.
Like I was on top of the world, because I was his whole world.
“Hey,” I say, opening the passenger side door before Owen has a chance to even take off his seatbelt.
“Hey, Charlie.” He runs his eyes over me, not even caring that I can see he’s obviously checking me out. “You look good.”
“Thanks.”
“What, no complimenting me back?”
I pull my seatbelt over my lap. “I don’t want to lie, now would I?”
Owen laughs. “I miss this.”
“What?”
“Your sass.”
I look out the window, biting the inside of my cheek. Owen does look good. He’s wearing a t-shirt and jeans, and his hair is messily styled in a way that looks way too sexy for anyone to be able to pull off. And now I’m remembering him all sweaty, body glistening in the sun as he pushed the lawnmower up and down his yard…
“What’s your mom making for dinner?” I ask and fiddle with a strand of my hair.
“Don’t know.”
“Are you sure I shouldn’t have brought something? My own mother would scold me to know I showed up at a dinner party without anything.”
“It’s just dinner. Not a party.”
“You know what I mean.”
“There’s a good chance it’s going to be hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, so don’t worry.” He takes his eyes off the road for a second to look at me. “And when I bring you home, should I go inside and get your stuff?”
“My stuff?”
“To take back to my place.”
Twisting my hair around my finger, I watch the landscape pass us by. “We’ll see.”
“I’ll convince you tonight.”
I turn to look at Owen, not sure if his confidence is annoying or sexy. Heat rushes through me, settling between my legs with a quiver. Narrowing my eyes. I sink my teeth down against my lower lip. I can handle whatever Owen throws at me. I think. I hope. I’m not interested in dating or even hooking up.
“You won’t convince me, but go ahead and give it your best shot.”
* * *
The century-old farmhouse looks exactly the same. It’s strange how the sight of it brings up a maelstrom of emotions.
Sunday dinners spent around the table.
Sneaking up the creaky old stairs and into Owen’s bedroom, which he shared with Logan for a while. When Weston moved out, Logan took his room, leaving Owen and me with way too much privacy.
Holiday time split between my own family and Owen’s.
There was so much promise. So much hope in a future together. I look at Owen and wonder what things would be like if we’d never broken up. Would he have eventually turned around? I didn’t demand a ring or a baby. All I wanted was a promise of a future together, to get serious about the next phase in our lives, and look for a place of our own to put down roots.
Owen didn’t want any of that, and at the time, it felt like a betrayal. Like I wasn’t enough for him. It haunted me for years, wondering where I’d gone so wrong. What I could have done differently to be enough for him. Looking back now, I can see that we were just too different of people.
The truck bumps along the gravel driveway, and Owen parks next to a Tesla.
“Whose car is that?” I ask.
“Archer’s.”
“Ahh, right. He’s a doctor.”
Owen takes off his seatbelt. “Quinn still makes more than him.”
I can’t help but smile and feel a little warm and fuzzy inside. One thing all the Dawson boys take seriously is looking after their baby sister. For a time, Quinn kind of felt like a sister to me too. I can’t even remember the last time I’ve seen her, and now she’s married with two kids.
Time goes by so fucking fast…until shit hits the fan and your own life is scattered to the wind all around you.
Smoothing out my hair once again, I get out of the truck and follow Owen around the house. We enter through the garage, and a brigade of dogs comes barking as soon as we step into the house.
“Easy,” Owen tells them, but his voice is lost under the scrambling of paws and excited barks. A large German Shepherd comes barreling over, nearly knocking Owen to the ground in his excitement.
“Dex!” Owen drops to his knees and lets the dog get up close and personal for a few seconds. “You’re getting fat,” he tells the dog, who’s now lying down for a belly rub. “This is Logan’s dog, Dexter.”
“He likes you.”
“Logan got him back when we were both at the house. He’s used to me.”
“Owen?” Mrs. Dawson calls. “Is that you?”
“No, Mom,” Owen calls back. “It’s a burglar, and I’ve secretly befriended all five dogs over the course of a year just so I can sneak in unnoticed.”
“Oh, well, good. Feel free to take any of the junk in the attic while you’re burglarizing the place.”
Owen gets back up, brushes dog fur off his lap, and goes through the rear entrance and into the kitchen. I follow behind, heart racing a little faster than I expected. Quinn and two other women, who have to be Scarlet and Danielle, are sitting at the island counter. Quinn is nursing the newborn I saw with Archer, and a gorgeous blonde woman I’m guessing to be Scarlet is holding baby Violet, who I recognize right away by the shock of blonde hair on her little head. Cascades of blonde waves fall around Scarlet’s face, and even though she’s sitting, I can tell she was one of those lucky women who lost all the baby weight right away without even trying.
A brunette is sitting next to her, and I’m guessing that’s Danielle, Logan’s wife. She’s pretty as well, and is talking and laughing about something with Quinn. Seeing the three of them there together makes me feel a little out of place, which isn’t something I was expecting to feel.
Because it means I want to fit in. Again.
Quinn looks up, about to say hi to Owen, and then sees me. All it takes is a split second of total shock on her face to let me know Owen didn’t tell anyone he was bringing me.
“Charlie?” Quinn’s eyes go wide.
“Hey,” I say with a small wave. “I take it you had no idea I was joining you for dinner.”
Quinn keeps staring at me like I’m a spirit who might disappear into the night if she takes her eyes off me. “No, he didn’t.” A second later, she rapidly blinks and turns to Scarlet.
Mrs. Dawson, having heard my voice, rushes through the kitchen. She too stops dead in her tracks, looking from me to Owen and back again. Then she takes me in her arms, wrapping me in a big hug.
“It’s been years!” she exclaims, releasing me. “I heard you were back in town, but I didn’t know if I’d see you.”
“Yeah, I’m home now. For a while at least.”
“Owen!” Mrs. Dawson steps to the side. “Why didn’t you tell me you were bringing someone? I have to add another place setting to the table.”
“Don’t go to any trouble,” I start, but Mrs. Dawson waves her hand in the air.
“It’s no trouble at all. It’s this one
who’s in trouble.”
Owen zeroes his eyes in on me, giving me a punish me later type of smirk. “I wasn’t sure if she’d actually come,” he admits.
“Come in, come in,” Mrs. Dawson says, waving me into the kitchen. “Dinner is almost ready. Do you want anything to drink? I just opened a bottle of red wine.”
“Yeah, that’d be nice,” I say though my head is screaming at me to avoid alcohol at all costs. Because being back here in this familiar house with the family I loved so much is pulling on my heartstrings.
“Danielle, Charlie. Charlie, Danielle,” Owen introduces. “And this is Scarlet, Wes’s wife.”
“Nice to meet you.” I sit in the bar stool Owen pulls out.
“So, how have you been?” Quinn starts, readjusting her baby at her breast. “I don’t even remember the last time I saw you.”
“It’s been a while. And I’ve, uh, been good. Well, until recently.”
“Yeah, I, uh, heard. I’m sorry.”
It takes a lot to unnerve me or make me feel inadequate. Being a female in a male-driven profession toughened me up fast, and I’ve always been more or less confident in who I am. The Dawsons aren’t judgmental people, and I can’t see Wes or Logan marrying anyone who’d sit here and make me feel bad.
“Thanks. Better I got out now, right?”
“What did happen between you and your ex?” Owen asks.
“Owen,” Quinn scolds. “That’s rude.”
“It’s fine.” I push my hair back. “He, uh, cheated on me with his assistant,” I blurt it all out fast, like ripping off a Band-Aid. The truth will come out sooner or later, and things can get twisted when spread through the rumor mill.
“Ugh, I can’t stand cheaters.” Danielle shakes her head, speaking with enough emotion to make me think she’s dealt with it in the past too. “I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. Though really, I’m fine. I probably should have broken up with Todd months before, but you know how it is when you’re in a familiar routine.”
“The guy is an asshole,” Owen says. “Anyone willing to lose you is a fucking idiot anyway, but cheating? I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.” I bring my hands into my lap, feeling uncomfortable.
Fight Dirty: A Dawson Family Novel Page 8