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“Oh wow! Charlie’s never mentioned you.”
“That’s because-“
“We recently became closer," Charlie said. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Yeah, yeah," Violet said, catching on. “It’s been super boring without Liv and Lewis here.”
“Boring enough for a sleepover?”
Violet looked at him, panic in her eyes. Shit. She must have caught on to what his mother had been hinting at.
“Not like that. Violet’s kind of, uh, a roommate?”
He glanced at Violet, who nodded slowly.
“A roommate?” His mom asked. “Since when do you want to share this house with anyone?”
“Since they raised electrical costs," Charlie answered.
“I’ve never known you to even let anyone come here. She must be special.”
“It was kind of an accident," Violet said, laughing awkwardly. She was totally unaware of how right his mother was. “My apartment flooded, and he was the only one with a space, but rent is high and I’m a teacher in town, so he’s letting me live here more permanently. I’ve got the pink and green room upstairs.”
His mother’s gaze on him was sharp and piercing. He was so screwed. Mara Davis knew better than anyone Charlie didn’t let anyone in that room. That was where he spent his childhood.
“Wow," His mother said, her voice kind even though she was piercing daggers at him. “That’s nice of him.”
Thankfully, the oven timer went off.
“Oh, that’s my cue," she said. “I’ll be … getting those… and maybe disappearing while I’m at it.”
Violet’s exit was so quick, it was almost like she was never there. Charlie cringed, as his mother rounded on him.
“She’s staying here?”
“I don’t think Gigi Ruth would mind," Charlie defended.
“Of course she wouldn’t. She would help anyone. I’m talking about you. I’ve never seen you bring anyone over. You keep this house like a secret.”
“I love this house.”
“I know you do, but you don’t share it. So, I’m wondering why you did with her.”
“It’s like she said - she was in a tough spot.”
“And she’s still here? She’s comfortable? You’re letting her cook without hovering?”
“I mean, I sort of have to if she lives here.”
“No, you don’t. You would have never even let her live here if she wasn’t someone special.”
Charlie didn’t have anything to say to that.
Because it was true.
“Who is she?” His mother asked.
“She’s … it’s like she said, I know her through Lewis and Liv.”
