Page 180 of Power Play

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t enjoy it.”

“That’s impossible.”

The smallest laugh slipped out before she sobered.

“My mom came over today.”

I remembered what Charm’s face looked like whenever Crystal’s opinion became too loud inside her head. “What happened?”

“She didn’t even do anything.”

That answer told me more than a list of criticisms would have.

Charm walked toward the window before turning back. “I was in a robe. My hair was a mess. There were coffee cups on the table. The apartment wasn’t even bad, but the second she walked in, I started explaining everything. I was apologizing for the blanket, the cups, and not being dressed, and she hadn’t said anything.”

My jaw tightened.

Charm laughed once without humor. “Then I heard you in my head.”

“That sounds traumatic.”

She ignored me. “You said I’m always waiting for someone to tell me what I did wrong before they even do it.”

“I did.”

“She asked me to lunch.”

I watched her carefully.

“I told her no.”

That made me straighten, and Charm noticed.

“I also told her she should call before showing up.”

A smile tugged at my mouth. “Who are you, and what did you do with Charmagne?”

“Shut up.”

“I’m proud of you.”

That wiped the sarcasm from her face as her eyes turned glossy.

Fuck.

I stepped closer. “I mean it.”

“I almost took it back.”

“But you didn’t.”

“No.”

“Then that matters.”

She swallowed. “That’s when I realized what you meant.”

I waited while Charm looked at me like she was trying to speak without wrapping the truth in enough explanation to make it safe.