a life you don’t even know about.”
Okay, now things were getting interesting. “You’ve been dating? Are you seeing someone now?”
“Of course not.” She shook her head. “I love my life just the way it is. I have a full schedule filled with social events and plenty of friends. You couldn’t pay me enough to get in another relationship.”
“So when did you date?”
“I was in a few relationships when you were in college and the years soon after. I decided it wasn’t for me. I like my freedom.”
Nicholas had to say he was pretty impressed. He’d always thought of his mom as this person who lived for her children and her social standing. It turned out she was an independent woman who had made a good life for herself. She’d managed to create stability for Nicholas and his brother while also keeping her obligations and taking a job as an office manager. He hadn’t given his mother nearly enough credit.
“But that’s not to say I would trade my marriage to your father for anything. I loved having a partner to share my life with, and it brought me two amazing sons. To be able to do that with someone you truly love, who will commit to you for life and not stray, well, that’s the dream, isn’t it?”
Nicholas couldn’t believe it, but his mom’s meddling was actually helping this time. She made a good point. He’d felt a connection with Charlie that he couldn’t remember ever feeling before. There was something there. If he didn’t at least check to see if Charlie felt the same, he could be walking away from something real. Something amazing.
“Thank you.” Nicholas set his fork down and looked his mom in the eye as he said those two words. No matter their differences recently, he really did love his mother and he wanted her to know. His gratitude wasn’t just about the words she’d said to him tonight. It was about everything she’d done for him, all the sacrifices she’d made. It was a thank you that was long overdue.
She smiled. “You’re welcome.”
21
Charlie glanced at her phone, smiling at the text on her screen. Things were on the right track. After work tonight, she was meeting a group of friends for dinner—a girls’ night she’d begged out of multiple times because she didn’t go out on work nights. This was her first step toward moving out of her comfort zone and experiencing life.
It was a welcome change. It took her mind off Nicholas. She woke up every morning saddened that things hadn’t worked out between them. She kept waiting for it to get easier, but it hadn’t yet.
So she’d reached out to her friend group to see if they were still doing “Hump Day Dinner,” as they called it. It was the same group she sometimes met for dinner on weekends, only slightly smaller because it was a work night.
Turned out she wasn’t the only one who loved her routine.
Charlie glanced at the clock on her computer screen. Just a couple more hours until lunch. It was around the time of morning when things calmed down long enough for her to get some work done, but she never knew when someone might come walking up the small hallway that led to her semi-private corner of the office, ready to ask some question or request paperwork. That meant she had to power through her to-do list while she had the chance.
“She’s right over here. We’ll just check in with her.”
The sound of her boss’s voice made Charlie groan inwardly. An interruption. Hopefully, it would just be brief.
But when she looked up, she saw it wasn’t just Justin coming toward her. Nicholas was right behind him.
Charlie’s heart shifted into double-time as she stared at the men walking in her direction. She knew she should look away. Staring at Nicholas wouldn’t do anything to hide her feelings for him. She needed to remain cool, composed, completely indifferent…
“Hi.”
The greeting slipped out of her. She wasn’t even sure where it had come from. She pulled her gaze away from the two of them and stood, turning to face them with a stiff, perfectly straight posture.
“Hi,” Nicholas returned, seeming oddly nervous. He wiped at his forehead, then stopped behind Justin, who was standing just inside the low wall that set the boundaries of Charlie’s office.
“We were wondering if you could help us with something.” Justin glanced back at Nicholas before continuing. “We’re planning a surprise bonding trip for the staff, and we