Read Online Three Wishes (Dreams Come True #3) by Emma Nichols - Free Book Online
Authors: Emma Nichols
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don’t find you pathetic in the least. From what I gathered from your conversations with Professor Morceau, you’re amazing. It hurt me to know what you were going through.”
Her hand shot up and covered her mouth for a moment while she squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. Finally, Charlie moved her hand and muttered, “You pity me. That’s even worse.” With surprising speed, she pushed her chair back and stood, ready to run off again, but my hand captured hers and I pulled her onto my lap instead. “What are you doing?”
I studied her a moment. She didn’t seem mad, just intensely sad. Hugging her close, I forced her to bury her head in my chest. This felt so familiar and then the words spilled forth. “I don’t know why you’re crying,” I whispered. “All I know is I wish I could take your pain away.”
Charlie wrapped her arms around my neck and burrowed into my neck. I could feel my shirt growing damp as her tears flowed. All I could do was hold her, rocking slightly, hoping it was comfort enough. Finally, I was acutely aware of her growing limp against me. She pulled her head back and looked up at me with glassy eyes. “Still?”
I knew what she meant. I’d said those words to her long ago. Nodding, I cupped her cheek. “Always.”
The more time we spent together, the more I realized Charlie was completely worn out. Being a single mom was hard enough. Add in a chronically ill child, and I had no idea how her head hadn’t popped off yet. “Know what else I told you before?” She yawned as she shook her head. “You inspire me. I meant it then, I mean it even more now that I’m getting to know you.” She made a face of sheer disbelief, but I didn’t feel like arguing. “We’re moving to the couch and you’re going to take a nap.”
“Excuse me?” Even as she asked, Charlie let out another yawn.
“Yup. Hang on.” Standing, I felt her hands tighten around my neck.
“I’m perfectly capable of walking,” she grumbled.
I grinned. “This is true, but if you did, I wouldn’t be able to do this.” I pretended she was a giant weight and curled her a few times.
“Put me down! You’ll wreck your back.” She tried to wiggle out of my arms, but I merely held on tighter.
“Nope.” I laughed. “I’m never letting you go.” I think we were both shocked silent then. I didn’t know how to explain it, but for some reason, as impulsive as my words had been, I meant them. I’d searched for her for years. Maybe I’d built her up in my mind, but after half a day spent together, she was everything I’d hoped she’d be and more. Charlie was a keeper and Ollie’s dad was an idiot. I’d never make that same mistake.
As we collapsed on the couch, she wondered, “What about Ollie?”
“What about her?” I frowned, trying to understand her question. Instead she shook her head, wriggled out of my grasp, and curled up on the end of the couch.
Opening one eye, she met my gaze. “Just fifteen minutes, ‘kay?”
“Right.” Leaning down, I planted a kiss on the tip of her pink button nose. I had no intention of waking her. Charlie needed her rest and whether she was ready to admit it or not, she needed me too.
***
Charlie
What the hell was going on between us? I closed my eyes intending to think it through, knowing he wouldn’t bother me if he thought I was resting. The next thing I know, I’m waking up to Ben shushing Ollie. I blinked a few times and stretched before sitting up. “Olls, you really need to rest.” I frowned at her. “Can’t you sleep?”
Olivia and Ben exchanged looks then she giggled. “Mommy, I did sleep.” She rushed over to the table to pick up my cell phone from where I had left it next to the laptop. When she returned, she held it out for my inspection. “Look.”
I glanced at the time and my eyes must’ve bugged out. “Oh my God! How could you let me sleep this long!” I glared at Ben as I leapt from the couch. Immediately, I
Her hand shot up and covered her mouth for a moment while she squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. Finally, Charlie moved her hand and muttered, “You pity me. That’s even worse.” With surprising speed, she pushed her chair back and stood, ready to run off again, but my hand captured hers and I pulled her onto my lap instead. “What are you doing?”
I studied her a moment. She didn’t seem mad, just intensely sad. Hugging her close, I forced her to bury her head in my chest. This felt so familiar and then the words spilled forth. “I don’t know why you’re crying,” I whispered. “All I know is I wish I could take your pain away.”
Charlie wrapped her arms around my neck and burrowed into my neck. I could feel my shirt growing damp as her tears flowed. All I could do was hold her, rocking slightly, hoping it was comfort enough. Finally, I was acutely aware of her growing limp against me. She pulled her head back and looked up at me with glassy eyes. “Still?”
I knew what she meant. I’d said those words to her long ago. Nodding, I cupped her cheek. “Always.”
The more time we spent together, the more I realized Charlie was completely worn out. Being a single mom was hard enough. Add in a chronically ill child, and I had no idea how her head hadn’t popped off yet. “Know what else I told you before?” She yawned as she shook her head. “You inspire me. I meant it then, I mean it even more now that I’m getting to know you.” She made a face of sheer disbelief, but I didn’t feel like arguing. “We’re moving to the couch and you’re going to take a nap.”
“Excuse me?” Even as she asked, Charlie let out another yawn.
“Yup. Hang on.” Standing, I felt her hands tighten around my neck.
“I’m perfectly capable of walking,” she grumbled.
I grinned. “This is true, but if you did, I wouldn’t be able to do this.” I pretended she was a giant weight and curled her a few times.
“Put me down! You’ll wreck your back.” She tried to wiggle out of my arms, but I merely held on tighter.
“Nope.” I laughed. “I’m never letting you go.” I think we were both shocked silent then. I didn’t know how to explain it, but for some reason, as impulsive as my words had been, I meant them. I’d searched for her for years. Maybe I’d built her up in my mind, but after half a day spent together, she was everything I’d hoped she’d be and more. Charlie was a keeper and Ollie’s dad was an idiot. I’d never make that same mistake.
As we collapsed on the couch, she wondered, “What about Ollie?”
“What about her?” I frowned, trying to understand her question. Instead she shook her head, wriggled out of my grasp, and curled up on the end of the couch.
Opening one eye, she met my gaze. “Just fifteen minutes, ‘kay?”
“Right.” Leaning down, I planted a kiss on the tip of her pink button nose. I had no intention of waking her. Charlie needed her rest and whether she was ready to admit it or not, she needed me too.
***
Charlie
What the hell was going on between us? I closed my eyes intending to think it through, knowing he wouldn’t bother me if he thought I was resting. The next thing I know, I’m waking up to Ben shushing Ollie. I blinked a few times and stretched before sitting up. “Olls, you really need to rest.” I frowned at her. “Can’t you sleep?”
Olivia and Ben exchanged looks then she giggled. “Mommy, I did sleep.” She rushed over to the table to pick up my cell phone from where I had left it next to the laptop. When she returned, she held it out for my inspection. “Look.”
I glanced at the time and my eyes must’ve bugged out. “Oh my God! How could you let me sleep this long!” I glared at Ben as I leapt from the couch. Immediately, I
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