Page 296 of The Grand Duel

I smile at him, my eyes dropping down his body. “Morning.”

He walks into the room with a toothbrush in his mouth, his work trousers on but his shirt missing.

I don’t know if it’s intentional on his part, but my body reacts, flushing hot.

He smiles. “You’re beautiful,” he tells me, pulling the brush from his mouth. “But you have twenty minutes before I have to leave. Come in with me today. Please.”

I slept in?Crap. I nod to Charlie.

Pushing back the covers, I take one more mouthful of the pancakes and then stand from the bed, knowing I need a shower before we leave.

As I go to pass him, he steps back a step, blocking me, his hand grasping my waist to steady me.

I place my hands on his torso, pressing a kiss to his chest before twisting away. I miss his touch immediately. “I’m late.”

I hear him sigh, and my heart jars.

Still, I keep on walking towards the bathroom.

“It’s sold already?”

“Yep. They plan to leave for Australia once the sale is complete and they have their visas.”

I look across at Charlie, my eyes dropping to his shirt button and the way he’s left it open, his tie stuffed in the centre console of the car.

“How do you feel about it?”

I contemplate his question, knowing it’s futile. I’ve spent the past twenty-four hours since Jovie called me contemplating it. How am I supposed to feel about my parents selling my childhood home and moving to the other side of the world?

“I don’t know. Disappointed, maybe.” Like they’ll never put their pride aside and face the truth of what they did.

“You and Jovie are okay?”

“Of course we are,” I tell him. “She’s excited to have them there with her. Willow can’t wait.”

I can feel his eyes on me, but I don’t look up at him, knowing he’ll see the pain in my eyes and want to fix everything.

“It’s okay to feel how you’re feeling, Lis.” He reaches over the car, linking our fingers. “It’s normal.”

Peering up at him, I take in his face, the way his focus is on the road.

“And…” He frowns as if being reminded of something. “It’s okay if you’re upset about them selling the house and leaving.”

I pull my bottom lip between my teeth as I watch him, this time to tame the ache in my throat. “I think I am,” I mutter. “Upset that they’re leaving.”

He looks between me and the road, nodding.

“Like, even though we don’t communicate, and I’ve not lived in that house for years, knowing they’ll be gone feels terrifying. Like that little girl I once was all over again. Alone when I know I’m not. I know I have you.”

His hand tightens in mine, jaw rigid.

“I just wish it wasn’t this way between us. That we were a normal family, and all the bad stuff never happened.”

“Me too.” His thumb dusts over my hand. “And if I could change it?—”

“I know you would,” I tell him, cutting him off, quietly admiring the man at my side.

I love you so much, Charlie Aldridge.