by Kelsie Rae
Charlie
Skipping up the steps to Levi’s mom’s house, I rap my knuckles against the door and wait. It’s still pretty early, but Ms. McCoy has always been an early bird like me, so I don’t stress too much. With a slight creak, the door opens.
“Hey, Ms. McCoy. Long time, no see.”
“Hey, Charlie!” She opens her arms and pulls me into a quick side hug that never seems to last long enough. Not when life is so short.
“Did you say hello to your dad? I called to let him know I had your phone last night in case he tried to text you or something, and he gave me a bunch of crap for not inviting him to dinner even though we both knew he’d decline.”
They’ve always been friends, but one drunken night when I was growing up, lines were almost crossed, and they both decided to keep their relationship a little more structured. Little do they know, I’ve always considered both of them my parents anyway, so it wouldn’t have mattered to me. But I guess when you’ve been abandoned while six months pregnant, it can make you a little hesitant to trust the opposite sex, and Ms. McCoy never really recovered. Even though I’m sure my dad would’ve loved to join us for dinner, he respects her enough to keep his distance even when she extends an invitation.
“Yes. I went and visited him before he left for work. Even swung by Get Baked to sneak him a fresh brioche bun.”
“Ooo, honey, I hope you brought me one too.”
With a grin, I offer the pink box that’d been in my hands. The one she was too polite to mention when she first opened the door.
“Of course! I think it’s still warm.”
Ms. McCoy lifts the lid and breathes in the scent of white chocolate and vanilla. “Mmm…,” she sighs contentedly. “Thank you! Do you want to come in for a few?”
“I can’t. I have to get to work early today to cover for Sophie. She has the flu.”
“Aww, poor thing. The flu is the worst. I remember when you and Levi would get sick when you were little, and I could never keep both of you from sharing your germs because as soon as one of you would get sick, the other would insist on snuggling while watching Disney movies.”
The memories bring a soft smile to my face. “I remember that! I was too obsessed with him to care about catching his cooties.”
“I know. Childhood crushes are my favorite. Especially when they blossom into love.”
Not in the mood for a lecture, I lift my empty hand. “I’m sure they are, but I do need to get going.”
“Fine. I won’t give you too much crap. I guess I’m just feeling sentimental since a guy’s been blowing up your phone all morning.” She places said phone into my open palm. My eyebrows pinch in confusion.
Phone blowing up? Is it Levi? Maybe he wants to talk about the kiss!
My enthusiasm deflates as soon as the thought crosses my mind. He knows I didn’t have my phone this morning. Curiously, I check my messages to see an unknown number.
UNKNOWN: Hey. I’m glad Levi was able to work his magic and convince you to let him give me your number.
A picture message was sent about thirty minutes after the original text, and I can’t help the amusement that follows.
Bonnie’s brindle head is squished into the frame right next to a grinning Conner. It’s a little blurry, which probably means she was squirming like crazy when he took it, but the picture still does its job, and I find myself laughing under my breath as I examine it.
UNKNOWN: Went to Forever Grey this morning in hopes of running into you again, and your girl was lonely. Don’t worry. We had a nice long run, talked it through, and both decided you’re not ignoring us. You’re just busy this morning. (Or at least I really hope so, or you’re gonna break a couple of hearts.) Have you given any more thought to cowboy sushi?
“I know that look, and I don’t like it one bit,” Ms. McCoy interjects.
My head snaps up, and I slide my phone into the back pocket of my jeans. “And what look is that?”
“It reminds me of the one you give my son.”
Sighing, I pull her into another quick hug and ignore her comment because we both know it won’t get us anywhere to discuss her son and whether he’ll ever give me a shot or not. I’ve never actually come out and said I’m in love with Levi to her, but she’s also not blind and easily pieced together the facts long before I did.
Still. It doesn’t change the glaring truth that he doesn’t feel the same way, no matter how much I want him to.
“Thanks for everything, Ms. McCoy. I’ll make sure to come see you the next time I drop by my dad’s, okay?”
“Mmmhmmm,” she hums, returning the hug. “Tell my son to get his head out of his ass, okay?”
Snorting, I release my hold and look at her as if she’s been replaced by an alien. “Ms. McCoy! Did you just swear?”
“Sure did, and I’ll do it again if it means my son grows a pair! Tell him to give me a call, will ya? Seems he and I need to have a little chat.”
“Then call him,” I return. “‘Cause I’m not going to be your messenger girl this time. See ya later!”
Exasperated, she waves me goodbye. “Bye, Charlie.”
“Hey! Sorry, I’m late!” I call out as soon as I swing the Get Baked door open.
“No worries!” Indie replies as she hands a customer some change. “Thanks for coming! I hope you enjoy the muffins!”
Once the customer exits past me, I approach the counter and grab an employee apron off the hooks lining the side wall behind the register.
Wiping off the fingerprints on the glass counter, Indie asks, “So did you get your phone?”
“Yeah, but how did you know about that?”
“Levi stopped by to let me know in case I texted you or anything.”
“Well, that was…thoughtful of him.” My face blushes as memories of the night before rise to the surface.
“I thought the same thing. Don’t get me wrong; he’s always thoughtful but,”—she wags her finger at my face—“your reaction to his name is a little out of the ordinary this morning. Are you guys doing okay?”
The knowing look with a side of mirth painted across her face makes my cheeks redden even further.
“Uh…yup.” I pop the ‘P’ at the end. Ass vibrating and reminding me of my insane assumption last night with Levi, a giggle bursts out of me as I pull my phone out of my back pocket.
I think I’m gonna die from embarrassment.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: Levi says you’re a kickass texter. I told him he’s full of shit cuz you still haven’t responded.
“Liar,” Indie teases, bringing my attention back to her. “Are you texting him?”
“No. It’s his friend, actually.”
“Seriously?” She doesn’t bother to hide her surprise.
I nod.
“Ooo…things just got interesting. Fill me in!” Resting her elbows against the counter that separates us, her eyes shine with intrigue.
“You’re as bad as Suzette from Forever Grey! Nosy little buggers.”
With a wicked cackle, she says, “Damn straight. And don’t you forget it. I learned from the best.”
“The best?”
“Sophie and Natalie. Natalie’s the girl you replaced,” she clarifies. “And you don’t know Sophie that well because your shifts don’t usually overlap, but when those two girls get together, it’s like the Spanish Inquisition. They can smell a lie––and the latest gossip––from a mile away. I guess it rubbed off. Now.” She claps her hands. “Chop, chop. Fill me in! Who’s the friend?”
“The friend is Conner.”
“Aaand?” she prods.
“And he’s been trying to get my number for a little while now. Yesterday, I gave Levi permission to give it to him.”
“Why the hell did you do that? I thought you….” Her voice trails off, and she clams up, debating whether she should finish her sentence or not.
“You thought what?”
Pursing her lips, she mutters, “I thought you had a thing for Levi.�
�
“Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner.”
“Then why give his friend your number?”
“Because Levi doesn’t have a thing for me,” I explain.
Eyes narrowed, she hums, “Hmmm…,” before setting aside the rag and tapping her foot against the floor.
“Hmmm?”
“I just…hmmm.”
“Spit it out, Indie. I’m dying here.”
“Let me ask you this. If Levi tried anything with you, would you pursue it?”
I’m pretty sure I’m the color of a lobster as soon as the words tried anything slip past her lips.
“Did he try anything?” she presses, her lids lower to tiny slits of suspicion.
“Umm…yes and no.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean? Details, Charlie! Gah! No wonder Natalie and Sophie were so frustrated with me,” she adds under her breath.
Laughing, I ask, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“When I first started seeing Rhett, those girls said it was like pulling teeth to get any details out of me, and I finally see where they were coming from. Now spit it out, Charlie!”
“Fiiine. We sorta, maybe kissed last night. But it wasn’t a real kiss—”
“How was it not a real kiss?” Indie interrupts, confused. “Did your lips touch?”
“Well yes—”
“Then it was a real kiss.”
“No, because it was for…research purposes?” It comes out more like a question than an answer, but I can’t think of a better description of what our kiss was.
“Research purposes?”
“Yeah. He asked why I wouldn’t give his friend, Conner, my number, and I told him it’s because I get too nervous around the opposite sex. He mentioned how I’m not nervous around him and asked if he could help me get more comfortable with other guys.”
“So, he offered to kiss you?” Indie’s voice is laced with disbelief, and I can tell she’s sitting on pins and needles, fully invested in the story.
“Yup.”
“And then you kissed?”
“Yup.”
“For research purposes?”
I laugh, dryly. “Sure did.”
“Hmmm…,” she hums for what feels like the tenth time in this conversation. “How was it?”
Covering my face, I try to find my voice, but it’s gone into hiding––along with my pride.
“That good, huh?” she teases.
I nod, still refusing to look at her.
“Was there tongue?”
“Indie!” I squeal.
“What?” Raising her hands in surrender, she gives me an innocent look. “I’m just trying to figure out what he might’ve been thinking.”
“Fine. Yes. There was tongue.”
“How long did it last?”
I look up toward the ceiling and try to come up with a ballpark estimate. I replay the encounter until I’m positive the tip of my head and all the way down to my toes is the color of a tomato.
“That long?!”
“I didn’t give you a number yet!” I argue.
“Which means you had to do the math! If it were a two-second kiss, you’d be able to say two seconds like this!” She snaps her fingers. “Which means it was a hell of a lot longer than an experimental kiss that was only meant to make you more comfortable around the opposite sex, which is a bullshit excuse in the first place, by the way.”
“It sounded pretty logical at the time,” I offer, sheepishly.
“I’m sure it did. But let’s be honest. If you’re in love with him, which you obviously are, then he could’ve said he had to make out with you for a challenge like the ice bucket one a few years ago, and it would’ve sounded just as logical to you. Only this time, you have to make out with your platonic best friend and film it in an effort to save the whales or something instead of helping people understand ALS.”
“Good point,” I admit under my breath.
“Exactly. Now. The question is, why did he kiss you if he was going to turn around and give your number to his friend?”
I shrug. “No idea.”
As Indie taps her finger against her chin, her eyes glaze over, considering all the possibilities.
“Hmmm….”
“You’ve been saying that a lot this morning.”
“Because you’ve been giving me a lot to think about,” she quips without blinking an eye. “Tell me this. Who do you want? Levi? Or Conner? I mean, I know you want Levi. But do you think you could be happy with Conner too?”
My heart plummets into my stomach as I even consider letting Levi go. But let’s face it, if I want to be happy, I’ve got to get out there instead of waiting around for a certain friend to see me as something more.
Glancing at a very intrigued Indie, I admit, “I don’t know…. I’ve always wanted Levi. But I’m also sick of waiting for him to notice me. It’s been years. And that kiss messed with my head. Especially when he turned around and practically shoved me into his friend’s arms right after it.”
“Yeah. That’s the part I can’t wrap my head around,” Indie admits. “I say we use it to our advantage, though.”
“Our?”
“Hey! I’m as invested in this as you are.”
Throwing my head back, I laugh at the ludicrousness of the situation then wave my hand through the air. “Well, alright, then. How do we use it to our advantage?”
“We rub his nose in it. Let Levi see exactly what he’s missing out on. You’ve always been there waiting for him to get his head out of his ass and give you a real chance. Now, we’re going to make him think like he’s lost it.”
“So, we’re going to use Conner? I don’t know how I feel about that.” It still feels weird to say we when it’s definitely going to be me who uses him, but I appreciate the camaraderie and stick with it.
“I don’t look at it like we’re using Conner. I look at it like you’re taking the leap into the possibility of a relationship, and you’re going to see how many arms are willing to catch you when you jump. You don’t know my history with Rhett, but in a nutshell, it was messy. And seemed impossible. And so far out of my reach, it’s not even funny. And even though I had to go through hell to finally be happy, I’m so glad I did. If Levi can’t figure out how amazing you are, then you still deserve to find your happiness. And maybe it’s with Conner.”
“You really think so?” I whisper.
“I know so. But if we’re going to make this work, then we need to knock them both on their asses.”
“And how do we do that?”
“We call in Sophie.”
“Oh, we don’t need to do that,” I start.
What I really want to say is that I so don’t need to air out my dirty laundry to everyone at Get Baked, but she sees right through me.
“Yes, we do. Trust me, Charlie. You might be a tomboy, but it’s okay to get dolled up once in a while too, and Sophie knows exactly how to blow a guy’s mind.”
“So, what exactly does this mean?”
“It means the next time Conner asks you on a date, you’re going to say yes.”
“And what does that have to do with Sophie?”
“Oh.” She gives me a devilish grin. “And we’re going shopping. You need a big dose of confidence, and you need to take the best friend blinders off Levi. Sophie’s a master at delivering both of those. Julio can cover while we all go out. I’ll text Sophie right now.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
“Thanks, Indie. I’ve never really had a girlfriend before.”
“Whelp. Now you’re stuck with me. And bring along Suzette too.” With a wink, she adds, “Seems like she belongs in on this secret mission too.”
What the hell did I get myself into?
Chapter Seventeen
Charlie
Indie wasn’t kidding when she said she was just as invested in the situation as I am. She practically booted me out the door after our conversation, insi
sting I give Suzette an update. By the time I got to Forever Grey to do exactly that, I had received a text from Indie that said she’d already recruited Sophie and to plan on going shopping later that afternoon.
Which is where I am now. In the dressing room at a department store with more clothes strewn across the floor than I have in my entire closet at home.
The clang of hangers hitting the door breaks my focus from the mirror on the wall to the gap between the ceiling and the top of the door. Sure enough, another handful of outfits have been delivered.
“Try these on too!” Sophie calls.
“More?” I reply, exasperated.
“Yup! And don’t change out of them until we can all give our votes, Charlie Brown! You’ve been cheating!”
I want to smack Sophie for the nickname, but Indie Pie insists that it’s simply one of Sophie’s quirks and not to be too offended. Apparently, she gives everyone a nickname once she’s deemed them part of her circle.
That should make me happy, right? That I’m part of her circle?
I run my hands along the black leather skirt and Ramones T-shirt she’d tossed over the door a few minutes earlier, impressed with the way I look feminine but still like me.
Yeah. I guess I’m okay with her claiming me.
Pounding on the door ensues.
“Come on! I’ve been patient, but I’m over this whole sneaky, hiding away in the dressing room shit. Let’s see!” Sophie yells. Man, for a tiny girl who’s carrying a set of twins in her swollen stomach, I have to give her props for her energy.
With a sigh, I pop my head out of the dressing room to see Sophie, Suzette, and Indie sitting in cushioned chairs and anxiously waiting for my runway debut. Ya know, since I was cheating before and wasn’t giving them their votes on whether I should yay or nay to the outfit.
“Let’s see it!” Suzette twirls her finger, silently ordering me to do the same.
I spin around on my toes to give them a view from all angles. Catcalling, hooting, and overly-enthusiastic “woo-hoos” commence, making me laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation.