Read Online Play It Again, Charlie by R. Cooper - Free Book Online

you're supposed to use wet food.”
    Charlie took a moment to stare at him and then shook his head, trying to regain some of his sanity. “I have that too. Look— ”
    “Do you think he'll like me?” Will was staring with interest at the kitchen table, or maybe the collection of unused cat toys in the corner.
    “I doubt it,” Charlie answered honestly. He couldn't imagine Will sticking around long enough to even meet Sam. But Will instantly turned his fallen face to him, and he heard himself explaining, “He can be cranky.”
    “You got a cranky cat?” Will looked momentarily frozen, half frowning, half smiling, as if uncertain whether to be curious or amused.
    “Yes, I thought a cranky cat would give the place that finishing touch.” Will didn't react to his sarcasm beyond a faint lift of one eyebrow, apparently already used to Charlie griping at him. He twisted for another look at the living room.
    “Books are awfully decorative, don't you think?” From the sudden shift in Will's accent and tone, Charlie had a feeling that this was another reference that only Will understood. Will blithely continued without pause, however, apparently also used to people not understanding his jokes.
    “You know, there aren't any books in Grayson's apartment,” Will continued in his normal voice, back and forth like a breezy, flaming ping-pong ball. Charlie's jaw tightened.
    “We're going to talk about Grayson now?” There was no hiding the irritation in his voice, bordering on outright anger, though he had never had a problem with Grayson as a tenant before.
    The only way he could have embarrassed himself more would have been to actually get naked, scar and all.
    “Oh, Charlie.” Will's voice was soft, and Charlie had to make himself look up, scowling through the heat in his face, in his mind. The other man had his head to one side again and looked puzzled. Charlie wondered briefly if it was genuine, then decided it was when the look didn't disappear right away. “I don't get you at all.”
    Charlie resisted the urge to answer back with a snappy, “Ditto,” and used one of Will's tricks, tried a shrug, something helpless and annoyingly indifferent. “Is that important?”
    “It just makes me want... ,” Will began, then he sucked in a breath and smiled. He glanced around as though he had forgotten where he was too, but he was young and flexible and recovered fast. Charlie curled his fingers into his palms.
    “ Anyway , he doesn't have any books anywhere, just his photographs in frames on the walls and all those plants that need someone to water them. I don't know why he has plants at all, really, since he's never home. I guess he thinks they're pretty.” Will moved away, hopped up to sit on the counter. “You like plants, though, don't you?”
    “Look,” Charlie tried again as Will made himself comfortable, rubbing his perfect ass all over the tiled surface of Charlie's kitchen counter. “You don't have to do this.” He stopped, saw the blank look thrown his way, and pressed grimly on only to instantly regret it. “Pretend you're interested.”
    No, this was far more embarrassing than stripping naked. He lifted his chin, but Will didn't seem to notice, rolling his hand in the air, kicking his legs with too much energy.
    “Well, obviously . You know— ” A tinkling sound from his jeans stopped him, thankfully, and Will pulled his phone from his pocket and started pushing buttons without taking his gaze away.
    Charlie coughed and looked away first. “I'm sure you have things to do, Golightly, so why don't you— ”
    “It's Liam... or Will... and not William. William is my dad's name.” Will sucked in air, glared for a moment at his phone, then tucked it away in his pocket. “And not that other thing. Though I'll take that as a compliment. Audrey's not my Natalie, but she'll do.”
    “Will,” Charlie started again immediately, ignoring whatever the kid was talking about now, only to fall silent when