Summary: After visiting him at the flower shop, Chris invites MC (Charlotte) on a hike.
Charlotte turned her car onto the main drive through the middle of downtown Hull, still trying to stretch the stiffness out of her neck. Hours spent hunched over her laptop made her feel like she was developing a hunch in her back and she’d decided she had to get out of the house. She glanced sidelong at the various storefronts, thinking she might stop somewhere to buy a postcard or something for Kaitlyn, when she saw The Hull Hole and, beside it, Powell Floral. On impulse, Charlotte pulled her car into the first open spot she saw and parked. She grabbed her phone from the cup holder and, out of habit, looked at the screen. No new messages. She wasn’t surprised, but she felt a little annoyed by how disappointed she felt. James had texted her that morning, a quick “Hey, hope the writing is going well,” and Charlotte felt pathetic for wishing it’d been more. But she knew the wedding was only a month away and he shouldn’t be sending her anything at all. At some point she knew she was going to have to move on, but she just … couldn’t. Not yet, anyway.
Charlotte shoved her phone in her back pocket and climbed out of her car. She could see Chris through the front window and she smiled. He was looking down, concentrating on something she couldn’t see yet. She pulled open the door and a jingle of bells heralded her arrival, causing Christ to look up. He smiled, pleased.
“Hey!” he said. “What brings you here?”
“I had to come check out your shop,” Charlotte said. “See what you look like as a flower guy in your element.”
Chris laughed.
“It’s funny you came in when you did, I was just thinking about you,” he said.
“Really?” she asked as she sidled up to the counter.
Chris held up a book in his hand, the cover bent back around the book. He uncurled it so she could see the cover: The Freshman by Charlotte Ford. “Yup, I got a copy of your book. Started reading it this morning.” He hesitated when he saw her horrified expression. “Is … that not okay?”
“No, it’s fine,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m flattered you bought my book. I just …”
“What?”
“I can’t believe you’re one of those people that bends a book cover back!” she exclaimed in mock disgust. Chris smiled sheepishly.
“Is that … a bad thing?” he asked. “Is it part of the writers’ club that you can no longer talk to me?”
“Yes, that’s exactly it,” Charlotte said with a laugh. “If I’m caught talking to you, they’ll revoke my membership.”
“What if I promise to change my foolish ways?”
“I don’t know … I think the damage might already be done,” she said.
“Okay, how about this,” he said as he reached into the pen cup beside the register. “What if I promise to change my foolish ways and I ask you to sign the book to restore some of its dignity?”
Charlotte blushed as she took the pen from him. No matter how many copies of her book she signed, she still felt so self-conscious and like an imposter masquerading as a real writer.
“I guess that could work” she said as she took the book from him. She flipped to the title page and hesitated for a moment before writing an inscription. “You’re a monster, but at least you’re a cute monster.” She hesitated again before she quickly added her phone number before she could change her mind. Charlotte closed the book and slid it back across the counter to him.
“Thanks,” Chris said with a grin. “Hey, what are you doing tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow? I’m not sure, why?”
“Well, I know you’re here to do some writing, but I figured you’d probably need a break at some point. Maybe a hike?”
“A hike?” Charlotte asked. “I don’t know, I’m not really much of an outdoorsy girl. I’m usually more of a stay-inside-and-read-a-book kind of girl.”
Chris laughed.
“It’s not strenuous, I promise,” he said. “There are some tough trails in the area, but I was thinking of one that’s more like a walk through the woods. There are some really pretty vistas around here. Who knows, maybe they’ll inspire your writing.”
“Okay,” Charlotte said with a smile. “Let’s go on a hike tomorrow.”
“If you give me your number, I can text you where to meet me,” he said. Charlotte raised her eyebrow; the way he asked for her number was almost so smooth, but she was glad to be one step ahead of him. She reached over and tapped the cover of The Freshman with her fingernail.
“Bye, Chris,” she said before she turned and left the flower shop, the bells jingling behind her as she didn’t wait for his reply. Charlotte turned and headed down the street on foot and she hadn’t gone more than thirty feet before she felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She pulled it out and read the text she’d just received from a Maine number she didn’t recognize.
“That was pretty slick ;-)”
Charlotte grinned and put her phone back in her pocket as she continued down the street, a swell of excitement in her chest.
“I take it you don’t go hiking very often.”
Charlotte accepted his hand as he helped her stand after her shoes had slipped on some loose dirt and she’d fallen.
“What makes you say that?” she asked with mock innocence, brushing herself off.
“Well, for one, you’re wearing Chuck Taylors,” Chris said.
“What’s wrong with my shoes? They’re sneakers!”
“Yes, they are,” Chris agreed. “Sneakers with absolutely no tread.”
Charlotte shrugged.
“Maybe this was all part of my devious plan,” she said.
“Your plan to fall down a lot?”
“Yes, because I was banking on you being enough of a gentleman to help me up so I could hold your hand,” Charlotte said. Just as she said this, her foot hit another slick spot and shot out from under her. This time, Chris was faster and he caught her before she fell.
“Thanks,” Charlotte said, her cheeks reddening at her clumsiness. She prepared to step away but Chris didn’t let go, not yet.
“Did you really wear terrible shoes for hiking so you’d fall?” he asked. Charlotte looked up into his eyes, noticing for the first time how clear and blue they were. She’d never stood this close to him before and she could faintly smell the clean scent of his soap.
“Of course not! Give me a little credit,” she said. “Although …”
“Although what?”
“Although, I’m not complaining.” Her eyes flicked down to his lips, then back up again. A slow smile spread across his face. Chris leaned a little closer to her and she could feel his breath on her lips. She closed her eyes, waiting with tightly wound anticipation for his kiss to reach her.
“Come on,” Chris said suddenly as he pulled away from her, a mischievous grin on his face. “That vista I told you about is really close, we’re almost there.”
Charlotte opened her eyes and stared at him in shock.
“Are you … are you serious?” she asked, slightly offended. Chris laughed.
“Come on, Tippy Tumbles, let’s go,” he said, holding out his hand to her. She huffed exasperatedly and took his hand. Chris smiled and laced his fingers in between hers.
They walked through the woods a bit further until the trees began to clear, and then there it was. The vista was even more breathtaking than Chris had described, with a steep drop off and rolling trees and greenery far down below.
“Wow,” Charlotte breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Worth taking a work break for?” Chris asked. He was standing so close behind her that Charlotte could feel the heat of him. She looked back over her shoulder and, this time, instead of waiting, she curled her hand around the back of his neck and pulled him to her. This time, Chris didn’t pull away. His lips were warm and responsive, meeting the curves of her mouth.
When they finally separated, Charlotte’s heart was racing and she found herself trying to catch her breath.
“Thanks for bringing me here,” she said.
“Thanks for coming.”
