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Charlie appeared behind her, giving Wells a knowing look before turning his attention to me. “Glad you made it.”

I smiled, but before I could respond, Blythe was already tugging me inside, her voice bubbling over with excitement about dinner, some new project she’d started, and how we had so much to catch up on.

And for the first time since I stepped into Wells’s truck, I let myself breathe.

Because here, in this house, I could pretend for a little while that nothing was complicated.

That Wells Calloway didn’t still have his eyes on me as I walked through the door.

THE MAN WHO CAN’T BE MOVED

I knew I’d messed up. And I hated myself for it.

Watching Rose now—laughing easily with Blythe, moving through the room like she belonged here—it twisted something deep in my gut. She was at ease with Blythe in a way she hadn’t been with me all day. And judging by the pointed looks Blythe kept shooting in my direction, Rose had told her exactly what happened.

Charlie stepped up beside me, arms crossed as he followed my line of sight. “What’d you do?”

I didn’t take my eyes off Rose. “What do you mean?”

He let out a low chuckle. “Well, my wife is throwing daggers at you with her eyes, so I’m guessing you did something stupid.”

I exhaled sharply. “I screwed up.”

Charlie whistled under his breath. “How bad?”

I finally looked at him. “Probably the biggest mistake of my life.”

His brows lifted. “Bigger than that one time in college when we—”

“Yes.”

His lips pressed together in a low whistle. “Damn. That’s bad. What happened?”

I dragged a hand over my jaw, eyes drifting back to Rose. She didn’t look at me once. Not even in passing. “I agreed to go on another date with Marie.”

Charlie’s eyes went wide and he clapped a hand on my shoulder, shaking his head like he already knew this wasn’t something I could joke my way out of. “You gonna fix it?”

I let out a slow breath, watching Rose as she leaned into Blythe’s side, her head tilting back in laughter. It hit me like a punch to the ribs.

“I don’t know if I can.” The words tasted bitter. “I tried.”

Charlie let out a low hum.

Rose was different here. Lighter. Freer. I used to think I had a hand in that—like maybe I’d helped her settle into this new version of herself. But now, looking at her, I wasn’t so sure. Because that ease? That warmth? She still had it. Just not with me today and probably never again.

Blythe’s gaze cut to me again, sharp as a blade. I didn’t flinch. I deserved it.

Charlie sighed. “You want my advice?”

“Not really.”

“Too bad.” He leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “Fix it, Wells. If you think for one second that woman doesn’t care about you, you’re a bigger idiot than I thought.”

His words landed like a weight on my chest. I let them settle, let the truth of them dig in.

Before I could say anything, Blythe called out from across the room, her voice too sweet to be anything but a warning. “Wells, can I talk to you for a second?”

Charlie smirked, patting me on the back as he stepped away. “Good luck, buddy. You’re gonna need it.”