All In (Firsts and Forever 2)

“I’m worried about you, Charlie.”

“You don’t need to worry about me. I’m fine,” I said, still not making eye contact.

“It really scares me that you’re getting mixed up with Dante Dombruso,” he said, cutting right to the chase. “The man’s dangerous. I mean really, really dangerous. In all likelihood, he’s a killer. And the list of illegal activities he’s involved in is longer than my arm.”

“He won’t hurt me,” I said quietly.

“And you say that based on what?”

I shrugged and said, “I feel good around him. Safe. I’m trusting my instincts, and they’re telling me Dante is ok.”

He wrinkled his brow in concern and said, “I care about you, Charlie. You’re like, the most innocent guy on the planet, and I hate the thought of this guy taking advantage of you.”

“You don’t know him.”

“And you do?”

“I’m getting to know him. And he’s been absolutely wonderful so far.” I grinned as I thought about his sweet concern this morning, rushing over because I said I wished we could talk and then holding me and kissing me and making me feel so incredibly good.

“Oh man. You’re totally falling for him.”

“What if I am?” Was I?

“I just want you to be careful, especially if you decide to sleep with him.”

“Wow. Ok, thank you for the sex talk, Jamie. I didn’t realize you’d stepped into the role of my dad after my real one disowned me,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Oh, don’t get all sarcastic and defensive, Charlie. I’m just trying to help. I can’t sit back and watch you headed for disaster. You know I can’t.”

“I appreciate your concern. But there’s no reason to be worried about this.”

“Really.” Jamie looked totally unconvinced.

“Ok, so, I need to go help Cole set up, because your bar opens in ten minutes. Are you done with your lecture?” I asked.

“That wasn’t a lecture.”

“It was a little bit of a lecture.”

“It was a friend expressing concern.”

“In the form of a lecture.”

“Fine. I’m done lecturing, even though it wasn’t a lecture. Just…be careful, Charlie.”

“Message received, loud and clear. I’m totally going to ignore it, just so you know. But it was received.” I got up from my chair and started to leave, then impulsively turned back to Jamie and said, “Hey, could you do me a favor?”

“Of course. What is it?”

“Could you never summon me into your office again? It makes me feel like I’m back in high school and Principal Brewer is getting ready to chew my ass off. It’s not a good feeling.”

“Sorry. It was just a more private place to talk. I didn’t mean to induce a principal’s office flashback.”

“I know,” I said before heading out the door.

I’d expected yet another lunch shift so deserted that tumbleweeds would be rolling through the dining room. But we actually had a couple customers. And then a four-top was seated in my section. I was excited until I saw who it was. And then I felt like crawling under a rock.

The four women in the booth were people I knew all too well. I pressed my eyes shut for a long moment, then made myself stick a smile on my face and walk up to them with a cheerful, “Hi ladies. How’s it going?”

Jamie’s best friend Jess greeted me with a smile and a friendly, “Hey, Charlie.” Jamie and Jess had been inseparable since the first day of Kindergarten. And when I was fifteen and transferred to their high school (for the better football program), they both took me under their wings.

Jess had been a great friend to me, before I’d been stupid enough to dump her best friend. She was still cordial to me after that, but we really weren’t friends anymore. I didn’t know why she was even cordial, actually. Jess was a cute, tiny badass, and I’d expected her to kick my butt after dumping Jamie the way I had.

I was also greeted with a smile by Callie McLoughlin. Now here was another woman that should, by all rights, want to beat the shit out of me. After our short engagement, which ended when I admitted to her that I was living a lie, that I was gay, that I was in love with Jamie, she’d actually forgiven me and said she wanted to remain friends. God knows why.

Callie’s two besties, Tina and Gina, who were seated in the booth with her and Jess, didn’t share Callie’s forgiving attitude, however. They thought I was the Devil incarnate, and were glaring at me like I was something disgusting they’d found stuck to the bottom of their stilettos.

“Hey Charlie. I’d heard you were working here,” Callie said, still smiling. She had thick auburn hair that framed her face in soft waves, and freckles and big brown eyes. She was sweet and pretty and a really nice person, and had always been way too good for me. “How do you like it?”