Page 45 of The Summer Club

Wordlessly, he allowed her to pull him inside and close the door quickly behind him, hoping no one had seen. “I’ve got a small first aid kit. Sit down, there on the bed.” She rifled through her drawers, searching for the kit. “Here!” She turned and held it up, but he was not sitting on the bed. He stood in the middle of the room dripping rainwater on her floor with that look on his face. “Charley, you’re scaring me.”

“Cora, I think we should get married.”

“Stop that crazy talk and give me your hand.”

Charley watched in silence as she cleaned his hand, applied first aid cream, and tried to affix Band-Aids, but they kept coming off. “Leave it,” he said, finally. “I want to talk to you.”

Cora did not want to talk, nor did she want to hear anything more that came out of Charley Darling’s mouth. Clearly, he was befuddled. Maybe concussed. What she wanted was to bandage him up and get him out of her dorm room. Her head was already full of enough troubles. Frustrated, she tore gauze from a small roll. It was barely long enough to wrap his hand, but it worked. She secured it with medical tape, biting the edge with her teeth.

“You’re a real Florence Nightingale,” he said, examining his hand.

“And you’re a comedian. There.” She checked her work and let go of his hand. “You can go now. If you feel the need to get in any more fights today you should probably use your other hand.”

For the first time since he’d arrived at her door the distraught look on his face lifted and he smiled. “Look who’s the comedian.” Then he did something Cora would never forget. He grasped both of her hands in his and pulled her gently to the bed. “Please, just hear me out. Then I’ll go. I promise you.”

It was the last thing she wanted, but his hands were gentle and his voice desperate. Besides, she was too drained to object.

“I am not marrying you,” she said, withdrawing her hands.

He sat across from her. “Why not?”

Cora laughed out loud. This was insanity. “Because this is crazy! Because we barely know each other! Because, in case you haven’t forgotten, I’m pregnant. With someone else’s baby.”

To her dismay, none of this bothered him. “Well, as Robert’s roommate I’ve gotten to know you. I know you’re smart and funny. And I know that you’re a loyal person and that he treated you terribly.”

“That happens in relationships, sometimes.”

Charley went on. “I know you’re a talented artist; I’ve seen your sketches when you’ve come by between studio classes. Beautiful.”

Cora blinked. All these months Charley was just a person in the background when she visited Robert. A nice guy who held the door for her and asked about her studies, now and then. Had she ever asked him anything about himself?

“I also know you like chamomile tea. With honey. Robert always forgot the honey.” His brows drew together. “I know that bastard never deserved a girl like you.”

Cora listened, realizing with every word that Charley had been paying attention. Careful attention. That he cared.

Still. “Robert and I will figure this out,” she said. “Or I will. Alone.”

Charley appeared amused. “Is that so? Have you told your parents yet?”

Cora looked down at her lap. “Yes.”

“So I take it they aren’t exactly happy to hear the news.”

“They haven’t had time to think about it. But no,” she allowed. “They are not happy at all. I’ve disappointed them.”

Charley’s voice softened. “You could never disappoint anyone.”

She looked away. “I’ll figure out a plan.”

“Well, Robert has made it clear he’s not sticking around. And your parents are not happy. What exactly is your plan, Cora?”

Who did this guy think he was? She’d had enough, from Robert and her family. And now this arrogant roommate of his who seemed to think he could swoop in and tell her what to do and rescue her from all of it. “That’s none of your business,” Cora said, standing. “I’m not a complete idiot. I’ll think of something.”

Charley watched her. “I’m sorry, Cora. I think you’re one of the smartest people I know. I didn’t mean to imply—”

She spun around, suddenly livid. “You think I’m smart? And funny? That I couldn’t disappoint anyone?” She scoffed. “Tell me, since you seem to have all the answers about my life, how do you know these things, Charley?”

Charley looked at her as if deciding something. Then, slowly, he stood up and reached for his coat. Cora watched as he slipped it over his shoulders, preparing to go. “I’m sorry I bothered you. And made you upset.” His eyes were soft with regret as he said it, but she was so angry she could feel her own burning holes into him. “Thank you for bandaging my hand. I’ll leave you alone now.”