How (Not) to Fall in Love(12)
“Thanks,” I whispered to Charlie, horrified to feel tears threatening to breach the dam. No way could I break down here. I walked quickly to the door and shoved it open, juggling my hatbox and Toby’s leash. “Thanks for the ride, Lucas,” I said in a voice thick with unshed tears, but I didn’t think he heard me over the loud Halloween laugh.
Charlie caught up to me as I walked quickly down the sidewalk, headed for the coffee shop I’d noticed when Lucas and I had first arrived. I didn’t want to meet someone else tonight, but since Charlie was my ride I didn’t have much choice.
“I’m sorry, Darcy, if we upset you somehow.” Charlie’s voice was soft with concern.
“You didn’t.” I swiped tears off my cheeks with the back of my leash-holding hand. Damn it. I was not going to cry.
Charlie wrapped an arm around my shoulder, and I was stunned at how much he felt like my dad. I let out a long breath.
“Would you like to just go home?” Charlie asked. “You can meet Liz next time.”
Next time? I doubted there’d be one, but I nodded, grateful for the opportunity to leave sooner rather than later.
I followed Charlie around the corner to the alley to an older hybrid car.
“I don’t have a car,” Charlie said, pulling a key ring from his pocket, “but Liz lends me hers whenever I need one.” So that hadn’t changed since Dad’s anti-hippie rant ten years ago when he’d excommunicated my uncle from our lives.
Maybe I could follow my uncle’s example and go car-free. The thought of doing so was agony, but it didn’t look like I was going to be able to spring the Audi from repo jail.
We drove in companionable silence, except for the jazz playing from the car radio. It was like he knew I needed to recharge my batteries and not talk. By the time we got to my house I felt a little better.
“Thank you for sending Lucas to get me,” I said, as the car idled in the driveway. I tugged at my hair. “Sorry you didn’t get any of your boxes unpacked like you planned.”
His smile was mischievous. “That was mostly an excuse to get you out of your house and down to my neck of the woods.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “I’m worried about you.” He glanced at our house, completely dark because I’d forgotten to leave lights on, and Mom wasn’t home yet. Or else she was passed out on the couch. “Looks pretty lonely for a girl by herself.”
I shrugged. “It’s okay.”
“I want you to come back to see me, Darcy. Regularly. Think about it, okay?”
I laughed. “You going to make Lucas my permanent chauffeur?”
“If I have to, yes.”
No way was that happening. “I can figure out the bus route. It’s not rocket science.” I grinned, then impulsively leaned over to hug him. I closed my eyes, inhaling his cinnamon and coffee smell. His answering hug was tight, once again reminding me of my dad.
He pulled away, his expression serious. “I can’t offer you money, Darcy, but I can offer you time. I’m always available to talk, or just listen. I meant what I said about coming to see me. If I’m not around, Lucas is, and he can always track me down.”
Right. Like I’d just waltz into Charlie’s store and hang out with that package of uber-hotness like it was no big deal.
“Want me to come inside with you?”
I shook my head, imagining Mom passed out on the couch. “No thanks.” I opened the car door and Toby leaped outside. I followed him up the driveway, pausing to wave good-bye to Charlie, who waited until I was safely inside.
Tonight had been full of surprises, not least of which was discovering my uncle still cared about me, a lot, and wanted me back in his life. No, he wasn’t a magic wizard. He was better than that, because he was real. He’d given me a lot to think about.
And the sexy chauffeur? I’d definitely be thinking about him, too.
Chapter Six
September 26
BREAKING NEWS FROM TRI!UMPHANT! HARVEST INDUSTRIES—TRIUMPHANT TY MISSING; PARTNER ASSUMES CONTROL OF COMPANY
National Newswire
BREAKING NEWS
J.J. Briggs, acting president of Tri!Umphant! Harvest Industries issued a press release from Denver headquarters today. Tyler Covington, the face of Tri!Umphant! Harvest, has not appeared at any of his scheduled engagements for the past month. Rumors have been swirling that Mr. Covington has abandoned both his business and his family, rumors that J.J. Briggs adamantly denied today at the press conference.
The text of Mr. Briggs’ statement appears below.
“All speaking appearances for Ty Covington have been cancelled for the next two months. Mr. Covington is taking an extended leave of absence for health reasons. Ticket purchasers will be given free tickets to a future engagement upon his return. There is no truth to the rumors that Mr. Covington is missing or that Harvest is in financial distress.”
“Ty is an inspiration to many of us and we know he will return reinvigorated with new words of wisdom to share. In the meantime, I am acting as the interim president of Tri!Umphant! Harvest Industries,” Mr. Briggs stated. He did not respond to questions from the press.
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