get to their graduate. When it clears out a little, I head down to where Charlie is with his family—thankfully, in the shade. After saying hello, I offer to snap a few pictures so they can all get in.
“Let me get one of you two together,” Mrs. Salazar insists pushing us together.
Charlie throws his arm around me pulling me in close. I’m hot and sweaty, but instead of feeling uncomfortable, his arm around me feels…right. I smile for the picture and think about baseball. That’s what I do when I don’t want to think about something, I think about baseball so I can wear a game face.
Charlie invites me to go with his family for a celebration lunch. I meet them at the restaurant since I drove in my mom’s SUV.
Lunch is at a fabulous seafood restaurant downtown. I love seeing Charlie interact with his family. They are all so normal. His parents are still married and seem really in love with each other. They hold hands and tease each other. It makes me think of my own parents. Charlie seems to notice immediately that my smile has fallen. “What’s wrong?” he asks with a worried tone.
I smile at him and respond with, “Oh, it’s nothing. Really, I was just thinking of my parents, but it’s silly. I’m fine, really.”
“I might have believed you, but you used the word ‘really’ one too many times.” He gives me a half-smile.
“I’m good, I promise. Your parents are so cute.”
“Yeah, they’re gross. However, I can’t complain, it’s kind of rare to have parents who still like each other twenty years later. I’m going to run to the restroom. You sure you’re good?”
“Yep, go tinkle. I’ll be fine, and while you’re gone, I can get some dirt on you from your mom.” I wink.
He rolls his eyes before heading off to the facilities. The conversation at the table immediately hits a lull as he leaves. I look around and his parents and Lenny are staring at me. Way to make me feel uncomfortable.
His mom breaks the silence. “Brynn, I’m so glad you were able to make it. Charlie has never introduced a girlfriend before.”
“Mrs. Salazar,” I pause trying to decide what to say next. “Charlie and I are really good friends. I adore him, but we’re just friends.” I smile hoping she’s convinced.
“Mmmm, I see,” she replies. Mr. Salazar and Lenny start discussing soccer and Mrs. Salazar leans in. “Brynn, that’s how it starts. Charles, Mr. Salazar and I were ‘just friends’ once, too. I see how Charlie looks at you. That boy is head over heels for you. It reminds me a lot of how Charles and I started.”
I don’t respond because I’m not even sure what to say. Luckily, Charlie comes back and interrupts. “Mom, no embarrassing stories, please.”
“What? I was just telling her about Wooby, you know, the baby blanket you still sleep with to this day.”
“Mom!” Charlie groans.
“Wooby?” I manage through a fit of giggles.
“I don’t sleep with it. It’s just in my room for safekeeping,” Charlie bites out.
“Yeah, of course.” I snort and continue to laugh outright.
We finish up with lunch, and Charlie walks me out to my car. He closes the driver’s door and then makes a ‘roll your window down’ signal. When I roll it down, he tells me about the graduation party at Wyatt’s house tonight. I let him know I will talk to Mel, but I’m pretty certain we’ll be there. We say our goodbyes, and as I drive home, I keep playing Mrs. Salazar’s words over in my head. Why did she think I was his girlfriend? Has he really never introduced a girlfriend to his parents?
* * *
Melanie and I roll up to the same scene at Wyatt’s house as the party a couple weeks ago. We walk through the throng of people who have taken over the house looking for our friends. We find Carrie and the other girls and say hi before heading to the kitchen to get a drink. I grab a bottle of water, since I will probably be the one to drive us home later tonight. Mel mixes a
“Let me get one of you two together,” Mrs. Salazar insists pushing us together.
Charlie throws his arm around me pulling me in close. I’m hot and sweaty, but instead of feeling uncomfortable, his arm around me feels…right. I smile for the picture and think about baseball. That’s what I do when I don’t want to think about something, I think about baseball so I can wear a game face.
Charlie invites me to go with his family for a celebration lunch. I meet them at the restaurant since I drove in my mom’s SUV.
Lunch is at a fabulous seafood restaurant downtown. I love seeing Charlie interact with his family. They are all so normal. His parents are still married and seem really in love with each other. They hold hands and tease each other. It makes me think of my own parents. Charlie seems to notice immediately that my smile has fallen. “What’s wrong?” he asks with a worried tone.
I smile at him and respond with, “Oh, it’s nothing. Really, I was just thinking of my parents, but it’s silly. I’m fine, really.”
“I might have believed you, but you used the word ‘really’ one too many times.” He gives me a half-smile.
“I’m good, I promise. Your parents are so cute.”
“Yeah, they’re gross. However, I can’t complain, it’s kind of rare to have parents who still like each other twenty years later. I’m going to run to the restroom. You sure you’re good?”
“Yep, go tinkle. I’ll be fine, and while you’re gone, I can get some dirt on you from your mom.” I wink.
He rolls his eyes before heading off to the facilities. The conversation at the table immediately hits a lull as he leaves. I look around and his parents and Lenny are staring at me. Way to make me feel uncomfortable.
His mom breaks the silence. “Brynn, I’m so glad you were able to make it. Charlie has never introduced a girlfriend before.”
“Mrs. Salazar,” I pause trying to decide what to say next. “Charlie and I are really good friends. I adore him, but we’re just friends.” I smile hoping she’s convinced.
“Mmmm, I see,” she replies. Mr. Salazar and Lenny start discussing soccer and Mrs. Salazar leans in. “Brynn, that’s how it starts. Charles, Mr. Salazar and I were ‘just friends’ once, too. I see how Charlie looks at you. That boy is head over heels for you. It reminds me a lot of how Charles and I started.”
I don’t respond because I’m not even sure what to say. Luckily, Charlie comes back and interrupts. “Mom, no embarrassing stories, please.”
“What? I was just telling her about Wooby, you know, the baby blanket you still sleep with to this day.”
“Mom!” Charlie groans.
“Wooby?” I manage through a fit of giggles.
“I don’t sleep with it. It’s just in my room for safekeeping,” Charlie bites out.
“Yeah, of course.” I snort and continue to laugh outright.
We finish up with lunch, and Charlie walks me out to my car. He closes the driver’s door and then makes a ‘roll your window down’ signal. When I roll it down, he tells me about the graduation party at Wyatt’s house tonight. I let him know I will talk to Mel, but I’m pretty certain we’ll be there. We say our goodbyes, and as I drive home, I keep playing Mrs. Salazar’s words over in my head. Why did she think I was his girlfriend? Has he really never introduced a girlfriend to his parents?
* * *
Melanie and I roll up to the same scene at Wyatt’s house as the party a couple weeks ago. We walk through the throng of people who have taken over the house looking for our friends. We find Carrie and the other girls and say hi before heading to the kitchen to get a drink. I grab a bottle of water, since I will probably be the one to drive us home later tonight. Mel mixes a
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