Chapter 3

As I walked out, my breath caught. She was kneeling, petting Layla and cooing over her. Oh my God, this girl was beautiful. Her giggles were angelic. Her smile and her perfect teeth. Oh God.

“Hi,” I said quickly. That was not smooth. Charlie looked up at me and her face got serious. She was studying me. I felt my neck getting hot. I looked away from her and I pushed my black-rimmed glasses further up on my nose—my nervous habit. So far my mission to play it cool was not going as planned. I saw my mother’s smile in the corner of my eye. She seemed pleased.

We sat at the table, my mother and father next to each other, Theo and Hannah next to each other, and myself and Charlie at the ends of the table. The adults made small talk and Charlie and I stole glances at each other. Her glances lasted longer than mine were able to, though.

“I was telling your daughter that Charlie goes to the U of A and she can show her around if need be,” Mrs. Bennett said politely to my mother.