Page 68 of A Simple Regret

Her eyes narrow just a bit as she adds, “I will say this, however. If you hurt him again, there’ll be hell to pay.”

Part of me wants to smile at her brash statement. Not because I don’t believe her or understand, but simply because I’m happy he has people in his corner, even if it’s his spirited sister who obviously has his back.

“I won’t hurt him, Charli. That’s the very last thing I want to do,” I state, knowing the only person I have to convince of this isn’t the woman standing in front of me. It’s the man she’s vowing to protect from me if she needs to.

She stares at me, most likely trying to assess whether or not she believes me. Before she can reply, Quinn joins us. “Everything all right over here?”

“Of course,” Charli replies, giving her boyfriend a smile as she leans in and kisses his cheek. “Just chattin’.”

He narrows his eyes, obviously not believing her. “If you say so.”

“How’s my June Bug?” he asks, gazing down at the infant in my arms.

“She’s simply perfect,” I assert, unable to take my eyes off the sweet sleeping angel.

“We should probably get home. She’s going to be ready to eat soon,” Quinn tells Charli, who nods in return.

“Yep. I’m glad we could stop by and finally introduce June to you all,” Charli says to the room. Now, we have a few clients joining the party, including my next one.

“Hi, Danielle. Give me one moment, and I’ll be with you,” I say, not wanting to give up the baby but knowing it’s time. “It was wonderful meeting you, Miss June.” I press a kiss to her forehead. “You are the sweetest.”

Just then, a loud fart erupts from her diaper, followed quickly by a smell that could bring a tear to your eye. Suddenly, both Quinn and Charli both proclaim, “Not it!”

“Hahahaha, it’s you, chump,” Charli states, smiling victoriously.

Quinn sighs. “I always get the poopy ones.” Carefully, he takes his daughter from my arms and glances at Charli. “I’m gonna change her in your room.”

After he walks away, grabbing the diaper bag and entering Charli’s massage studio, Charli grins and says, “I’m pretty sure he won that one, but for some reason, that man never complains when it comes to poopy diapers.”

“How do you know who wins?” I ask curiously.

She shrugs her shoulders and says, “We never really established the rules. I just always declare myself the winner.”

I bark out a laugh and shake my head. “Smart.”

She quickly agrees. “Right? Anyway, I know you have to get to work.”

I open my mouth to reply but hesitate.

“Just say it.”

Clearing my throat, I hold her gaze as I say, “It was nice seeing you. I’d love to catch up with you sometime.”

Charli watches me intently for a few seconds. “I’d like that. As long as you don’t hurt my brother again, we’re cool, Maren.”

I hold her blue gaze with mine as I reply, “I have no plans to ever hurt him again.”

She nods. “All right, I better go make sure my massage studio isn’t covered in poop.” I snort a chuckle, feeling a massive dose of relief as she turns to walk away. “Oh, I heard you’re joining everyone next Saturday for paint night.”

“Yeah, my dad is going to keep Theo overnight for me.” After Oaklee invited me last night at the diner, I called my dad once Theo went to bed and asked what he thought. He insisted Theo stay with him overnight for the first time instead of my dad just watching him at my place. When I asked Theo about it this morning, he was thrilled at the plan. He’s rarely spent the night with anyone in the past, except a few times with my mom, and even though I’m nervous to be away from him all night, I know the sleepover at Dad’s house is something they both need. Theo needs to spend a night away from me every now and again, and my dad needs to keep building a relationship with his only grandchild.

“I’m going to skip this month’s paint night, but I’ll be back next month. They’re a lot of fun. Lizzie does a great job with lots of drink specials and snack food.”

“I’ve never done anything like it, so I’m excited,” I tell her.

“All right, I’ll let you get to it. Have a good one.” She walks away, pausing to talk to Jenn and her client for a few seconds before slipping into her studio and closing the door.

Charli was the one I was worried about seeing again, because she’d not bite her tongue to tell me exactly what she thought of me. And honestly, it went much better than I expected it to go. She could have yelled at me and told me how horrible of a person I was, and I wouldn’t have blamed her.