Page 42 of Tides and Tidings

“I hadn’t noticed. I was too busy trying not to laugh that she didn’t know what Junie B. Jones was.”

“Have you read any of them?”

Charlie shook his head, “No, but I had friends who did. I was a late bloomer with reading. I started around the time when the Chronicles of Narnia was popular.”

“Oooh, I liked those.”

“Me too.” Charlie reached for his phone before handing it over to me. “I think I found the first bar we should go to tonight.”

“This looks like a college bar.”

“So?” A smirk played on his lips.

“Charlie, we can’t go to a bar with college kids. We’re old now.” I playfully rolled my eyes.

“I say we do it. Unless you don’t think you can hang.” He challenged, a stupid grin spreading across his full lips.

Junie returned with our burgers, “Flag me down if ya need me!”

I looked down at the burger with the cheese dripping down the side and then locked my gaze on Charlie’s. “Let’s do it.”

He held up his sweet tea glass, and I clinked it to mine. “Atta girl!”

Charlie

Watching my girl devour her burger and fries was the best thing. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head with each and every bite. She leaned back in the booth and popped the last fry into her mouth.

“This outfit was not conducive to eating this much food.” She patted her stomach.

“You look hot.” I offered up with a small shrug.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, “I don’t know about all that.”

“It’s the truth. I don’t lie.”

“Bullshit.”

I knew what she was going to bring up.

“You lied earlier when you said you wanted a salad.” Blythe motioned to my long-empty plate. “You’d probably die if you ate a leafy green.”

“I would not.” I was only slightly offended, but I knew it was probably true.

“Why did you lie?” She countered.

Think fast.

“I didn’t.” I’m going against my own code of conduct here.

“You are right now. Tell me why you thought I would believe the salad thing for a minute.”

I had no idea where to go from here. Should I tell her I was planning on proposing tonight, or should I compound it with another lie?

“I’m not a good liar,” I admitted.

Blythe rolled her eyes, “You sure as hell aren’t.” She paused and sipped on the last bit of water in her cup. “You don’t have to tell me why, but just please don’t do it again. That’s what makes you such an amazing guy—being honest.”

The guilt bubbled in my chest, “I won’t.”