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“If you want, I can swing by tomorrow and pick them up in the truck, so you don’t need to try to get them into your car. Then I’ll do the work and switch the tires on Tuesday.”
“That would probably work for me.”
“I’ll check the schedule at work tomorrow—provided Amelia isn’t still sick—and if it’s not a good time, I’ll let you know.”
Charli stared at him for a moment, then gave him a small smile and a nod. “That would be great. Thanks.”
There wasn’t much Charli needed him for, but making sure her car was running safely was one thing he could do for her and Layla.
He was just glad that she was willing to let him do it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Charli wasn’t sure why she hadn’t fought Janessa harder when she’d made the suggestion to take soup over to Blake and Amelia. During lunch, Layla had mentioned that Amelia wasn’t feeling well. Janessa had immediately latched onto that news, and the next thing Charli knew, they were on their way to Blake’s.
She’d been surprised and worried when Blake had answered the door because he looked like they’d woken him up, so she’d wondered if he wasn’t feeling well either. Also, Amelia had still been sleeping.
But now that Amelia was awake and eating, Charli felt like maybe she really had just been overtired. Layla went through periods where she needed more sleep, and if she didn’t get it, she eventually crashed. It was possible that it was the same for Amelia.
Charli wasn’t sure what to make of Blake’s offer to take care of her car, but she appreciated it. Her car’s maintenance was one of those things that she tended to put off because she hated dealing with it, even though she knew it was necessary. Usually, her dad or one of her brothers prodded her into getting it taken care of.
Once Amelia finished eating her soup, she and Layla went to her room and found a game to play. They set it up on the table while Charli and Blake watched them.
“The Game of Life?” Charli asked.
“Kids’ version,” Blake said. “Amelia loves it.”
Charli watched as the two girls bent over the game board, discussing which mover they wanted to play with. Seeing them together always left her with such mixed feelings.
At first, it had been hard to see Amelia, knowing that she was the result of Blake being with someone else. Amelia was in his life because he had walked away from Charli and the promises he’d made to her.
But now… Now, she struggled with the knowledge only she had about their situation. Well, she and Jackson.
However, as much as she wanted Blake and Amelia to know about that connection, she couldn’t bring herself to reveal it. There was still too much uncertainty in how things were going to develop between her and Blake to make herself and Layla that vulnerable.
The girls’ gameplay was lively enough that she and Blake talked little beyond interacting with them about what was happening as they played. It was nice to be with him without feeling the pressure of having to find things to talk about.
They’d never had a problem with that thirteen years ago when they’d been long-distance. Whether it was voice or video calls or text messages, their conversations had always flowed easily and had lasted more than just a few minutes. Back then, she’d probably talked more than he had, but he’d shared enough that she’d thought she’d known him.
Now, though… she didn’t know what to say to him. There was so much she wanted to say, but she was still worried about sharing too much with him too soon.
He’d had a soft side that she’d only seen when they were alone together, but now he showed it to the world each time he interacted with Amelia. Even right then, Amelia had Blake playing along with her, doing the tasks together that the game required.
Had he shown this softer side to Amelia’s mom?
Charli knew she shouldn’t compare herself to someone who wasn’t part of Blake’s life anymore. Blake had come back to Serenity. Maybe back to… her. Charli wasn’t sure about that yet. However, the more time she spent with him, the more she wanted that to be the case.
When the game ended, Charli decided they should probably leave. Layla protested a little, but she helped Amelia clear up the game, then went with her to her bedroom to put it away.
“Thank you so much for coming and bringing soup for Amelia,” Blake said as he got to his feet.
“Soup for you too,” she told him. “There’s still enough there for both of you.”
He grinned, the skin at the corners of his eyes crinkling. “And cookies too?”
“Plenty of those as well.”
“Well, thanks for all of it, but especially the cookies. We have tried to make them, but sadly, most of what we bake resembles a hockey puck.”
