Free Everything Nice by Mari Carr Page A

obviously missed a few details in her list of the day’s events.
    “I figured why not?” Allie replied. “I mean, Jim left me a hell of a lot of money, but I’m only twenty-eight years old. I don’t wanna spend my days prancing around like Paris fucking Hilton. I’d be bored after ten minutes. So I’m going to take a few classes and try to get a job doing something I enjoy.”
    “You’d be good at interior design,” Charlie added, looking around his living room. During the course of the week, she’d moved all the furniture and hung up a few pictures. He couldn’t believe the difference it made. “I’m glad you had a productive day, Allie, but I think maybe we should have a little discussion about cell phones and what they’re used for.”
    “Cell phones?” she asked.
    “You’re two and half hours late. Did it never occur to you to flip open your cell and give us a call?” He was too relieved by her arrival to really be angry and he wondered for a moment how long it would take him to get over the constant fear that she could leave at any minute.
    “Oh well, yeah, I did think about it, but I forgot to charge the battery. I mean, between trying to register for classes and with the lack of water at the townhouse, I just didn’t think about it.”
    “No worries, hellion,” Alex said, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind and placing his chin on her shoulder. Charlie sucked in a breath, awestruck by how good they looked together, how right. “You’re here now and that’s all that matters. I hope the size of that duffel means you packed enough stuff to stay awhile. More than just tonight, maybe?”
    “I can’t exactly stay in a townhouse with no water. I was sort of hoping I could shack up here with you guys ’til it’s fixed. If that’s a problem, I’m sure Ginny would let me—”
    “You’re staying here,” Charlie interrupted, picking up her duffel bag and leading the way back to his bedroom. “Indefinitely,” he added gruffly, annoyed that she thought she even had to ask and definitely not caring if the plumber ever got the water running.
    Allie giggled. “Oh my, someone sounds grumpy.”
    “Charlie’s not exactly the most patient man. He was worried about you, hellion.”
    “I wasn’t worried. I was merely concerned.”
    Allie and Alex laughed at his comment and he couldn’t help but join in.
    “If you two are finished having fun at my expense, I’ve got dinner ready to go. We’ll be lucky if the lasagna isn’t dry as hell at this point.”
    * * * * *
    After dinner, they watched a movie on the big-screen television in Alex’s living room. Charlie grinned, looking down at his friends sprawled out on the oversized sectional couch. Allie’s head was resting on his lap while his feet were propped up on a soft ottoman. Alex was stretched out on one elbow and spooning Allie from behind, his head just barely grazing Charlie’s shoulder.
    “You sure do know how to live in comfort,” Allie teased, and Charlie was surprised to find her thoughts mirroring his so closely. “Amazing shower, super-sized TV and bed, the softest couch on the planet.”
    “What can I say? I’ve been a bachelor for too long. Too much money and not enough practical stuff to spend it on. Besides, I like to be comfortable,” Alex replied.
    Allie giggled. “And what do you consider practical stuff, if not furniture?”
    “I should be spending all my money on spoiling a wife.”
    Charlie glanced over at his friend to see if he was joking. Never in all their years of friendship had Alex ever mentioned marriage. Allie seemed discomfited by his comment as well and Charlie wondered where she thought this cozy little triangle of theirs was headed.
    She surprised him by responding matter-of-factly. “I’ve never really pictured myself getting married.”
    “What?” Alex asked. “You gotta be kidding me. You’d be an amazing wife.”
    Allie laughed at his words. “Oh my God, shut up, Alex. I would