“It’s not ridiculous. It’s probably very normal.”
“Maybe. I also want to be extraordinarily mature so I can do the right thing here. Gray is my dad too, and I love him and I want him to be happy. I just…I just wish it could be with you.”
Christ. Talk about a gut punch.
I swallowed around the lump in my throat and inclined my head.
“Me too,” I whispered. “But it’s been over for a long time. We can’t be sad about it anymore.”
Charlie stomped his foot and marched to the opposite end of the island. “Yes, we can. I’m sad. And I have to get this out of my system. I will not under any circumstances let Gray think I’m opposed to him marrying Justin. I’m not. I love Justin. He’s great for Papa…but, I think I need to mourn what’s gone.”
“That makes sense,” I rasped.
“You’re the only person I can talk to who was there and who remembers us…the three of us. We were a good team. We were a good family. I hate what happened to us. I hate that we ended. I hate that—”
“Shh. C’mere.”
I pulled him into my arms and held him tightly when his voice trembled. I was shocked at my outward calm. My heart and lungs felt like they’d been knocked loose in my chest. I couldn’t breathe…or maybe I was holding my breath. No one had warned me that a parent could only be as happy as his or her least happy child. And that their pain outweighed our own. In this case, it magnified it.
I hurt all over. My heart, my head…my ass. Of course, that last one was thanks to Olympic-caliber sex with Trent. I concentrated on the dull ache, thankful for the physical reminder that I was alive…if not entirely well.
Charlie pushed away and blew his nose again. He threw the paper towel into the trash, washed his hands, and leaned against the counter, looking more like himself. His red-rimmed eyes were sharp and clear, signaling the worst of the storm had passed. Which meant he’d now throw all his energy into fixing me. That was Charlie for you.
Any second now he’d initiate the Dad Project, which could involve anything from daily visits and dinner invites to random attempts to set me up with someone.
Wait for it.
He surprised me.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make this about me.”
“You didn’t.”
Charlie raised one brow so high it practically reached his hairline. “I turned into a human sieve and cried like a baby on your shoulder. I think that’s the very definition of ‘making this about me,’ Dad.”
I chuckled lightly. “Well…”
“Drama-mama moment over. I’m going to throw myself into the engagement party and wedding planning to show my support. And I’m going to help you too.”
Ahh, there we go.
“Thanks, but I don’t need help.” I stalked toward the sink and rinsed out my cup.
He frowned. “You do. Trust me. But bringing home strange men is not a good strategy, Dad. Even though he was hot as hell in a Daniel Craig meets Sylvester Stallone kind of way. He looked vaguely like an assassin. Should I be concerned?”
I pivoted on my bare feet and pointed a parental finger at him. “No, you should not. I told you he’s a bodyguard, not a boy toy.”
Charlie snorted. “Bodyguard? You know I might have believed that if he hadn’t left an In-N-Out cup on the hood of his shady-looking vehicle. As a Double-Double and fries aficionado, I know for a fact that fine establishment does not open its doors until ten thirty a.m. Try again. Or don’t. I personally think a tawdry affair with a burly hunk could be good for you.”
“Charlie…”
“Oh, come on. Who is he? Where’d you meet him?”
His careless shrug was the picture of innocence. I didn’t buy the act, but I also didn’t see any problem in telling the truth. Or some of it.
“Trent’s an actor,” I admitted.
“I knew it!” Charlie smacked his palm on the island hard enough to hurt. “Don’t tell me…he was auditioning for a role in your upcoming vampire flick, Baxter Meets Dracula. It’s important to know if someone can really suck—”
“Out! This conversation is over.” I gestured wildly in the general vicinity of the door, pleased when he burst into laughter. That glimmer of humor felt like a ray of sunshine through dark clouds. “Go on. Your work is done here.”
“All right, all right. I’m off.” He sashayed to the doorway and paused, glancing over his shoulder as if to make sure we weren’t in danger of being overheard. “One more thing. I know you wrote the script on this sort of thing, but there’s going to be a lot of publicity surrounding Justin and Gray’s nuptials. On you and me too.”
“Char, I’m a big boy. I can handle it. And I know you can too.”