Page 36 of Stopping Short

“Why wouldn’t I date you?” She loops her arms around my neck and toys with my hair. I’ve noticed she loves doing that, and honestly, I do too.

“I don’t know.”

“We already established you’re drool-worthy,” she teases me.

“That is true.”

“Plus, you’re kinda sweet and you make me laugh.”

“All good things,” I murmur. “I swear I'm going to fall asleep if you keep playing with my hair.”

“Owen would be really angry if you fell asleep and didn’t show up at work.”

I glance at the clock and realize we don’t have long before we need to leave. I still need to grab my duffle bag and finish getting ready. But at least I get to bring her with me to work.

Chapter 23

Harper

Watching Jackson practice… it’s like watching a work of art. The way his body moves so effortlessly and gracefully is amazing. I can’t take my eyes off of him.

“Hey! It’s so good to see you!” Charlie moves down the aisle I'm sitting in. After giving me a quick hug, she settles into the seat next to me with a baby in her lap. The little girl is probably a little less than one-year-old and she’s beyond adorable. “How have you been?”

“I'm doing well. I just need to figure out what I'm doing next with my life.” I lift my shoulder in a shrug.

I keep thinking about my finals and what’s going to happen with them, but Dad keeps reassuring me that everything will be fine. He says professors can’t fail me for not showing up with everything that’s going on. I'm really hoping he’s right.

“Ugh, I remember that feeling. I got lucky and Owen offered me a job almost immediately out of school, but I was terrified I wouldn’t be able to find something. I don’t envy you at all.”

“Well, I'm trying to decide if I want to go to law school or not. So, I'm not quite sure if I'm looking for a job or exploring schools. I applied to a few of each and should be hearing back from them soon, but nothing is set in stone yet.”

“That sounds like an even more impossible decision to make.” Charlie flashes me a sympathetic smile.

“Who is this little girl?” I turn my full attention to the baby and grin. She’s so cute. She looks like the perfect mix of Charlie and Wyatt.

“This is Carter. Isn’t she adorable!” Charlie kisses the top of Carter’s head and points at something on the field. I glance up to find Wyatt waving at his family. His face is so animated and I'm sure it’s to get Carter to smile.

Charlie and I chat about people on Mulberry Lane and what everyone is up to. It’s so weird to think about the little kids being in high school or starting college. It doesn’t seem possible, yet it’s happening.

It’s a little odd that we know so many of the same people and yet Charlie and I never really talked much. It’s not that we had an issue with each other, I think it was just the age difference… which is weird since Jackson’s the same age as her and yet our age difference never mattered.

“Are you and Jackson dating yet?”

Her question comes out of the blue and I cough, choking on my own saliva. Charlie grins and arches a brow. She won't be letting this question go, she wants an answer.

“Why would you ask that?” I narrow my eyes on her and take a long drink of my water.

“Well, for starters, you’re here. Not many people get to come and watch the team practice. In fact, I’ve only ever seen wives and girlfriends come here. Even then, it’s not often unless they have a reason to be here. Macy, Liliana, Winnie, and I all work here. And Cici gets away with it since her daddy owns the team, and because her brother and boyfriend are on the team. No one bats an eye when any of us show up… but you don’t work here and you’re not related to Owen so…”

“It’s a long story.”

“Practice is long.” She shrugs, not giving me any sort of wiggle room. “Start talking.”

I spend the next twenty minutes telling her everything. Even though Charlie and I were never close, Sophia, Emma, and Bella always swore she was the best listener and gave the best advice. I'm actually really happy this conversation is happening. I need the input of someone who isn’t emotionally wrapped up in all of this. I know if I talk to Jennifer, she’ll encourage me to date Jackson. Sophia, Emma, and Bella will do the same. They all know how I feel, and have felt, about Jackson. They’ll push me to find my happily ever after with him. As much as I want to do that, I'm not sure if that’s the right move for me.

When I finish, Charlie’s quiet for a few moments. I glance over at her with furrowed brows. Isn’t she going to say something?

“Man, after how often Sophia, Emma, and Bella gushed about the advice you gave them, I really expected some sort of response.” I chuckle uncomfortably.