Callum & Harper (Sleepless 1)
“But I’m not.”
“I can see that now,” he said, laughing a bit.
“I’m sorry I made you feel you had to do that.”
“I’m not. I was ready to move on.”
I stood there next to Charlie watching Harper and Cherry gossip closely.
“She’s in love with you, by the way,” I said.
“Samantha? No, she’s not. She’s only in love with herself.”
“Not Sam, Charlie. Cherry.”
This took Charlie by surprise.
“What? You’re mad! She’s my best friend!” He exclaimed in disbelief.
“She is and I can honestly say, I’ll consider you the biggest idiot if you don’t realize soon that she’s perfect for you.”
“I can’t, Callum,” he said, sighing loudly in exasperation. “She’s the only person in my life, besides you, I can count on. If I fall in love with her, I could never lose her and that’s scares me more than anything.”
“So you’ve thought about it then?”
“Of course I have. I just never knew she felt the same way.” Charlie swallowed and stared hard at the ground. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone more beautiful then Evelyn. She’s the kindest, most lovely girl.”
“I agree. Well, almost,” I said, nodding my head toward Harper, making Charlie laugh and shake his head. “Wait a minute! Evelyn?”
“That’s Cherry’s real name. It was her grandmother’s. I think I’m the only one she’s told.”
“Wow. I’ve never thought to ask if Cherry was her real name or not.”
“Nah, I called her that when we first met seven years ago. She was super tall, porcelain skinned, crazy deep red hair. When she stood next to me, she was only a few inches shorter than I and I was so intimidated by her. That was what made me think she looked exactly like a cherry bomb. Beautiful to look at but there was something alarming there as well, like a fire was nearing the end of her wick. Her eyes make me feel like if she exploded anywhere near me, I couldn’t help but be a very willing casualty.
“Haven’t you ever wondered why I’ve never tried it out with her?”
“Not really,” I said honestly. “I just figured you weren’t into red heads.”
“No,” he said emphatically. “She is the reason I don’t date red heads.”
“Damn, Charlie. You got it bad.”
He laughed wholeheartedly and slapped me on the shoulder.
“What a pair we are, eh?” He asked.
“Listen,” I said, seriously. “I promised her I wouldn’t say a word about the way she felt and that makes me feel like the most horrible friend right now but after you confessed to that phenomenal crush, I don’t feel as guilty as I probably should. Just, figure it out, will ya’?”
“I’ll try,” he said, readjusting against the trailer.
“You know, Harper’s here for Barcelona. Particularly Please, Don’t Go. Think you could...?”
“Already on it,” he said, standing upright and smoothly walking away from our group.
When Charlie left, Harper walked toward me. I held my breath and with every inch she closed the distance between us, my body began to tremble more and more.
y laughed out loud just as Sam came to stand beside her.