Chasing Charlie by Linda McLaughlan Read Free Book Online

that mean Charlie could see right through me last night and see how desperately excited I was to see him? And wouldn’t that send him running?
    My phone. A text.
    â€˜See? That’s probably Mara now, just confirming that when she looked in your eyes this morning, she could tell you’d been with Charlie the night before.’
    I laughed and swiped my screen.
    â€˜I didn’t see her—’
    I stopped. My heart stopped. It was him.
    Â 
    Thanks for a great night. It was gorgeous seeing u again. Hope we can do it again soon Cx
    Â 
    â€˜Nice!’ Claudia pronounced. She had leant over and read it upside down.
    My heart was racing and my finger was so shaky it could barely make contact with the screen to press reply.
    â€˜Uh-uh,’ Claudia said. ‘Not yet.’
    I withdrew my finger. ‘Not yet?’
    â€˜Make him wait until you’ve finished breakfast.’
    â€˜After breakfast,’ I murmured. I read it one more time. OK, five times.
    It was gorgeous seeing you again.
    BANG! BANG! BANG! went my heart.
    But Claudia was right; she was the mistress of this stuff. So reluctantly I flipped the cover on the phone shut.
    Claudia’s breakfast arrived, pancakes with blueberries and maple syrup. I stared at it.
    â€˜What? A girl can’t have a little comfort now and then?’ Claudia asked me, sounding slightly defensive, something she never is. Strange.
    â€˜I wasn’t thinking about your food, Claud,’ I said. ‘I just don’t know what to do about Charlie.’
    â€˜What do you mean do? Just enjoy it.’
    â€˜But what will my Mum and Dad think? They weren’t exactly devastated when we broke up.’
    Claudia laughed. ‘What’s there to tell? You’re not about to walk down the aisle – you’re just having a little fun. God, Sam, lighten up.’
    â€˜I’m not uptight!’ I resented that.
    â€˜Well, maybe not compared to your sister or Mara but, babe, you could just let yourself go and have a bit of fun without worrying about the future.’ Claudia waggled a finger at me.
    Rebecca. I grimaced. That mincing, eyelash-batting minx of a sister. When Charlie used to visit, Rebecca was nine and known as Becky. She would watch out for him arriving and rush upstairs to put on her prettiest dress, a pink tutu. She would then make her grand entrance, twirling into the room and ending, without fail, on Charlie’s lap, her famous eyelashes going nineteen to the dozen. Those damn eyelashes – I ground my teeth – have remained the only generous thing about her. What would Rebecca do these days around Charlie? And then I smiled. Actually telling Rebecca about who I was seeing again could be fun. If indeed I was seeing him, of course . . . But even to casually mention I had been out on a date, implying there had been smooching, would be very satisfying indeed. Have some fun, Claudia said. Oh yes, I thought, I think that could just be possible.
    A little later, Claudia put her knife and fork regretfully onto her plate.
    â€˜You haven’t finished!’ I was shocked.
    â€˜I know.’ For a moment, Claudia looked almost . . . well, you could only describe it as sad. And Claudia was never sad.
    â€˜Are you OK, Claud?’
    Claudia took a deep breath and she straightened her shoulders.
    â€˜Of course I am,’ she said quickly, ‘I just haven’t got my usual appetite at the moment. Now how was Mara yesterday?’ She was changing the subject.
    â€˜Mara?’ I asked. ‘She was still jumpy yesterday. I don’t know what’s going on. Actually I was wondering if she isn’t well and that’s why Ed’s home early?’ I suggested, remembering the brainwave I’d had in the shower.
    Claudia frowned. ‘It doesn’t sound right to me. I think it’s Ed she’s worried about.’
    â€˜Yes, I thought that too but now I’m not so sure.’ I pictured