Davis ran his hands through his hair and sighed. “Look, Charlotte, I like Rick.”
“I don’t have time for a Charlotte conversation,” she complained loudly.
This wasn’t going to be good.
Davis ignored her. “I like him. Hell, he’s a good guy and the two of you seem like you’ve got something good going.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“It’s not a problem, more like a concern.”
“And that would be?”
“What is it exactly that you’re doing with him?”
“How is that any of your business?” Were they really going to do this?
“Can’t you just answer the question?” Davis was stubborn and she knew that he was dug in.
“What are you doing with Ava?” she shot back, not happy that she was being called out on something that she did not want to discuss. Especially when it was something that she’d already began to question.
“What I’m doing with Ava is different.”
“How’s it different?”
Davis’s eyes softened and damn if that big old lump didn’t find its way back inside her throat.
“What I have with Ava is different because I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. It’s different because I’m pretty damn sure that I’ve been in love with that girl for years. And I don’t want to sound like a dick or anything, but I’m pretty damn sure she feels the same way.”
Charlie was silent for a few moments. She let that anger settle a bit. Let the lump in her throat dissipate.
“Just because Rick and I aren’t in love doesn’t mean we can’t have some sort of….of…” God, what was it that they had? “I wouldn’t call it a relationship exactly, but shit Davis, adults do these things all the time. Hanging out with each other isn’t a crime. Sleeping with each other isn’t a crime.”
Davis studied her for a few moments and when he spoke, his voice was gentle, as if he was talking to a small child. “But Charlie, you don’t do casual. You never have.”
“How do you know what I will and won’t do?” she spat. “Seriously Davis. Where do get off giving me relationship advice?”
“You’re my family. It’s what I do.” Davis sighed. “I’m worried, okay? Can I be allowed to worry about you?”
“There’s no need.”
“Charlie. There is.”
She took a step back, wishing her stomach would just settle already.
“And why exactly are you worried?” she asked, but really, she knew the answer before Davis even spoke.
“I’m worried because I don’t want you to get hurt. I’m worried because as far as I can tell, Rick’s going to leave and go back to wherever the hell he’s from.” He paused. “Unless you know something that I don’t.”
She shook her head slowly.
Davis swore and sho
ved his hands into his pockets. “I’m worried, Charlie, because you’re in love with him.”
She opened her mouth, a hot denial on her tongue, but then stared at her friend with nothing to say. Because really, how could she argue with the truth?
Chapter Twenty-seven