That night after dinner, the house had an unfamiliar calm. Laura had left just before the meal, her mom insisting she come along to some party in Brentwood. That left only three adults in the house, and one very tired child.
Lily was already fast asleep in what had once been Alan's bedroom. That room didn't look anything like it used to. The floral curtains, the hand-me-down dresser, the sad single bed—all gone. Charlie had gutted the space a few weeks back. The old junk got sold off, and in its place, he built a simple but cozy room with new furniture.
Lisa had been the first to suggest giving Kate and Charlie some breathing room. She smiled after dessert, stretched, and said, "I think I'll bunk with Lily tonight. She might wake up and want some company. Besides, you two never get enough time together."
Kate had looked at her, almost guilty. "Are you sure? You don't have to—"
Lisa waved her off. "Trust me, I'm fine. Go. Spend time with him. He's less annoying when he's focused on one woman." She winked at Charlie and disappeared down the hallway.
That left Charlie and Kate standing in the living room.
Charlie rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, that was… suspiciously generous of Lisa."
Kate smirked. "She's a good friend. She knows we don't get to do this much."
Charlie grinned. "Do what? I need some quick details?"
Kate nudged him in the ribs. "Don't start."
A few minutes later...
They ended up on the couch, a bottle of wine open between them, and Charlie switched off the lights, except for the warm glow of the night lamp by the piano and around the TV.
Kate curled her legs under her and sipped her glass slowly. "You know, Lily really loves being here. She told me once she thinks your house feels safe."
Charlie tilted his head. "Safe? That's a new one. Usually people used to describe this place as a bar with a mortgage."
"She's a kid. She doesn't see the chaos. She just sees you being… gentle with her. Playing games, baking cookies. She doesn't get that from everyone."
Charlie looked down at his glass. "She's easy to like. Doesn't judge. Doesn't ask for much, except more cookies than humanly possible."
Kate smiled softly. "Still. You're good with her."
Charlie glanced at her and softly grabbed her right hand, "Well, I know what it's like to grow up without a father figure. So, I try my best to make sure that she doesn't have to go through the same thing."
Kate smiled as she leaned on his shoulder, "I love you, Charlie."
Charlie squeezed her hand, his voice lower. "I love you too." He kissed her head.
The room went quiet for a moment, not awkward, just weighted. Kate shifted closer, setting her wine down on the table.
"Charlie," she said softly, "sometimes I wonder how we make this work. You've got Lisa and Laura here. I've got Lily and my job. We don't exactly live next door to each other."
Charlie studied her face. "And yet here we are, stealing hours in between everything else."
She gave a little laugh. "Yeah. Hours. Sometimes I wish it was more than that."
He set his glass down, leaned in. "So do I."
Their lips met, not hurried, not casual, but with a weight that had been building for weeks. Kate let herself sink against him, his arm wrapping around her as if it belonged there. Their hearts were beating faster as their lips and tongues crashed against each other, slowly.
'God! I missed him so much,' Kate thought as she wrapped her arms around his neck and continued to kiss him.
They broke apart only when she needed to breathe.
Kate's eyes lingered on his, her voice low. "You ever think about how strange this is? You and me, here, like this."
Charlie tilted his head. "Strange good, or strange bad?"
"Strange… unexpected," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "If someone told me a year ago I'd be sitting in your arms, I'd have laughed."
"Guess I'm full of surprises," he replied, brushing his thumb along her jaw.
Kate leaned closer again but stopped just shy of kissing him. "Surprises don't usually last. Most men get boring fast. Casual dating, emotionless sex, a couple of meet-ups... that's it."
Charlie smirked. "So what's the verdict? Am I boring yet?"
Her lips finally met his again, softer this time, lingering. She bit his lower lip softly. When she pulled back, she whispered, "Not even close."
...Minutes passed like that, quiet touches, lingering kisses, the kind of intimacy that didn't need fireworks. Kate finally leaned back, her head against the couch cushion, and sighed.
"God, I'm tired. Today was brutal."
Charlie shifted, tucking her closer. "Twelve-hour shift, photo shoot, managing a kid? You deserve a medal."
She rested her head on his shoulder. "I'd settle for a weekend without responsibilities."
Charlie smiled down at her. "What if I offered you two?"
"Two weekends?" she asked, amused.
"Two arms. They're free. Unlimited weekend cuddling package."
Kate chuckled, eyes closing. "That's enticing as hell. I'll take it."
For a while, they just sat like that, the silence only broken by the faint crash of waves outside and the occasional creak of the house.
Charlie finally spoke. "You know, Lisa's right. We don't get enough of this. And every time you leave, it feels like I just got the first taste. So, I've been thinking of moving to NY. Maybe buy a big penthouse with a nice view..."
Kate shifted, tilting her head up to look at him. "Move to New York?"
He shrugged, trying to play it casual. "Yeah. Maybe. Be closer to you, closer to Lily. Penthouse, skyline, room for everyone. I mean, I can write music anywhere."
Kate studied him, her hand brushing over his chest. "That's sweet. But what if I told you there's another option?"
Charlie narrowed his eyes, half-smiling. "What are you scheming?"
She hesitated for a beat, then said it plainly. "What if Lily and I moved in here?"
Charlie blinked, caught off guard. "Here. With me."
"Yes," she said, her voice steady. "You already made that room for her. She loves it. I love being here. And honestly, Charlie… sometimes when I leave, I feel like I'm pulling myself away from something that already feels like home."
Charlie leaned back against the couch, silent for a moment. "Kate, are you sure? I mean, this isn't exactly the white-picket-fence setup. You'd be moving in with me, Lisa, Laura, the occasional paparazzi outside the gate…"
"I know what it is," she cut in gently. "And I'm not afraid of it. Lisa and Laura have been nothing but kind to me. They care about you, and they care about Lily too. This doesn't feel like chaos to me. It feels like a family, just… a little unconventional."
She kissed him once more before whispering, "I want this. I want you."
Charlie swallowed, his usual jokes suddenly gone. "You're serious... serious?"
"I've never been more serious," she said, her eyes locked on his.
He let out a slow breath, shaking his head as if he still couldn't believe it. "Kate, moving in with me is a big deal. You're talking about blending lives, not just dropping a suitcase on my floor."
"Good," she said with a small smile. "Because I don't want to drop a suitcase. I want to unpack it."
Charlie laughed, the tension breaking. "That's dangerously romantic."
"Deal with it," she teased, leaning closer again.
Their lips brushed, soft and warm, and Charlie held her tighter. The kiss was deep, full of the kind of quiet certainty that came with decisions already made in the heart.
When they broke apart, Kate rested her forehead against his. "So… is that a yes?"
Charlie smiled, eyes still closed. "That's a hell of a yes."
Another couple of minutes of silence passed...
Charlie stood up and slid his arms under Kate, scooping her off the couch in a full-on bridal carry.
Kate gasped, half laughing. "Charlie! What the hell are you doing?"
"Carrying you to bed like a gentleman," he said, wobbling dramatically. "Except, Jesus, what are you eating lately? Cinder blocks?!"
Kate smacked his shoulder. "Excuse me? I weigh less than Lisa's purse."
Charlie groaned loudly, staggering a step toward the stairs like a man hauling a refrigerator. "My spine would like to file a different report. I think I just heard it scream."
"Put me down before you rupture something," Kate said, giggling.
"Too late. Something's already ruptured," Charlie muttered, shifting her in his arms. "Either my disc or my dignity. Could go either way."
They reached the first stair and Charlie paused for breath, huffing like he was scaling Everest. "Okay, seriously, can we install an elevator in this house? Or maybe a ski lift?"
Kate rolled her eyes, laughing so hard she nearly slipped from his grip. "You are such a drama queen. I should've just carried you."
"Not unless you've got a forklift license," Charlie shot back, taking another step, groaning louder for effect.
Kate tucked her face into his neck, still laughing. "You're ridiculous."
"Ridiculously strong," Charlie corrected between fake gasps, "and possibly about five seconds away from a hernia."
By the time he pushed into his bedroom, he dropped her gently onto the bed with a heavy sigh, collapsing beside her. "There. Mission complete. Soldier down."
Kate shook her head, breathless with laughter. "You're unbelievable."
Charlie turned his head toward her, grinning. "And yet… somehow still lovable."
Kate smirked, brushing his hair back. "Barely. But I'll allow it."
Charlie closed his eyes, smiling smugly. "See? Worth every slipped disc."
---
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