Sexy Stranger(37)

Molly and Duke were waiting for us inside, the table already laden with our regular order of fried chicken, green beans, and biscuits. When I walked through the door, my sister gave me the kind of knowing look that made my cheeks warm.

If she'd been there, she would have known there was nothing I could do, though. Not when I had Charlotte so close and willing, sans panties.

Not when our time was almost up.

At least we'd shown up for lunch despite what we could be doing. Church was important, but family was my religion.

Charlotte and I sat on the bench opposite my siblings, and Molly grinned at us before offering us the plates she'd already dished out for us.

"How was church?" Charlotte asked brightly.

"It was wonderful. The sermon was about forgiveness," Molly said, eyeing me.

"Then you won't mind that we're late," I shot back, and Molly shot me another cutting look.

Duke just laughed. "We might, but I don't think Mr. and Mrs. French will." He nodded toward the older couple sitting in the corner of the room with the reverend and his wife.

"My absence was noted?" I raised my eyebrows.

Duke shrugged. "You know how Mrs. French is."

"I don't," Charlotte said, and I winced, wishing my brother would stuff a sock in it.



       
         
       
        

"Mr. and Mrs. French feel strongly that their granddaughter needs to marry a nice boy from a good family," Duke explained.

"And since everyone knows Duke isn't the marrying type-" Molly added.

"Hey, hey, hey." Duke held up his hands. "I tried, if you recall."

"With Dana French?" Molly rolled her eyes. "Good move. No chance in hell."

"Why not?" Charlotte asked.

"She's more Luke's type," Duke said, and when Charlotte raised her eyebrows, Molly rushed in to explain.

"The Frenches just want someone who isn't going to leave Shady Grove. They're very close with Dana, especially now that her father passed."

"I see." Charlotte nodded. "And what do you think of Dana?" she asked me.

I glanced from my brother to my sister, not sure who was more deserving of my glare. "I hardly know her."

"Unless you count every year of school from kindergarten to senior year of high school," Duke said.

"That doesn't mean I know her," I insisted. "She was in my classes, but I can't say I ever really talked to her."

Charlotte laughed. "It's okay, Luke. This isn't a trial. Is Dana pretty?"

I frowned. Why did Charlotte even want to hear about what I thought of another woman? She was leaving and this was all temporary, but on the other hand-

She'd shared my bed with me. Had been with me under the bleachers. Shouldn't some deeper, animal part of her be somewhat jealous? I tried to imagine myself in her shoes, and realized the thought of another guy touching her made me want to punch a hole through the fucking wall.

When I told Charlotte, "Not as pretty as you," she turned her attention to her chicken, eating with even more gusto than she had with her pretzel after the football game.

"Might have to order seconds if you're going to wolf it down like that," Duke teased, and she grinned.

"They don't make it like this where I'm from. So good. I'm trying to preserve the memory of the way this tastes." In a flash, she whipped out her phone and took a picture of the half-empty plate, complete with the orange-and-white What the Cluck wax paper underneath.

"Hashtag too good not to eat," she murmured to herself as she scrolled through the filters.

I laughed, then took a bite of my own chicken just in time for it to turn to dirt in my mouth as I looked up to find Wayne was walking toward us, his hands laden with carryout bags. He stopped at our table and grinned down at Charlotte. 

"Oh. Hey, Wayne," she said with a polite half smile.

"Hey." He lifted the bags a little. "I was gonna call you, wanted to let you know your car should be all set around noon tomorrow. Whenever you're ready to pick it up after, you'll be good to go."

I studied her face, but it remained impassive as she nodded.

"Okay, great. Thanks again for your help."

When Wayne winked and headed for the door, I pushed my plate away, suddenly not hungry anymore. I knew there was an expiration date on my time with Charlotte-I'd reminded myself of that more times than I could count. But now that I knew the real timeline . . . now that I knew tonight was definitely our last night together?

It all felt different.

Wrong, somehow.

A combination of dread, doom, and despair mingled in my stomach. I looked up to catch Duke and Molly exchanging concerned glances, so this fact wasn't lost on them, but Charlotte continued to pick away at her food, seemingly oblivious.