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

?” He blindly grabbed some pasta and some canned goods before moving quickly toward the checkout. He didn't slow down until he was in line.
    “I'm going to write their corporate offices,” Katia went on, while he struggled to shift the weight of the basket to his other arm without hanging up.
    “That sounds like a good idea,” he agreed, bumping into the guy behind him, then quietly apologizing while Katia pushed out another long breath. She was ready to a make a scene already, as though Charlie was the culprit and not the one trying to be sympathetic. “Katia, I'm in line at the store... .”
    “You have something planned for dinner?” The fact that she was surprised enough to snap out of her rant wasn't flattering. Charlie hunched over the phone as best as he could, not that it could keep her from sharing his business with the world. He dropped his voice.
    “No.”
    “Are you sure?” Charlie imagined her pulling the phone from her ear to study it. “Because Ann says you've been ignoring her, and I didn't think you were that busy right now.”
    “I'm not ignoring Ann.” He inched forward in line, just to move. He shifted the basket again, and pain spiked down from his hip. “I've been busy.” He spoke through gritted teeth, but of all his sisters, Katia was the one who always noticed when he was hiding something.
    “What's wrong, Charlie? Are you in pain?”
    “I'm fine,” he insisted, the way he always insisted when those traces of fear would start to creep into his sisters’ voices. “I just didn't sleep well last night. Don't worry.”
    “It's Ann, isn't it?” Katia rolled over his explanation. “I knew it. Every time she gets dumped she gets like this. Everyone in the family who is single has to date along with her. Well, we won't let that abusona — ”
    “She's not a bully, and can you keep it down?” Charlie opted for another diversion when he felt his face get hot. His voice rose before he took a deep breath to control himself. “Little girl, is this why you called me? To talk about Ann?”
    “What?” Katia barely slowed down. “So, are you okay? If you aren't I can be out there in forty minutes, so don't... .” She swallowed whatever else she'd been going to say. “I was going to ask you to babysit again this weekend, but you sound like you need a break. And I miss you. Maybe you ought to come out to the city soon, get away even if it's only across the bay. You wouldn't even have to drive, and just the other day Alicia asked me when you were coming over to play dolls with her again.”
    Charlie stared at the cashier, who had obviously heard that last part. Charlie scowled at him.
    “Katia, I'm at the checkout.”
    “I'm going, I'm going! You're so bossy!” she exclaimed, and Charlie swallowed, reminding himself that Katia was the baby and she got carried away sometimes. “I'll get Missy to watch Alicia, even if Alicia does like her Tio Lito better.” It was just a hint of guilt this time, but it was there. “I'll call you later, Lito.” Her voice softened, but he could still hear the worry she was pretending not to feel. “Get some sleep.” She made a kissing sound, and Charlie closed his phone before she could call him back, then turned to the smirking cashier.
    “Paper,” he said when his few items were rung up, before the kid could say a word about anything else. He had to get home, and soon, so he could sit down and put the last twenty-four hours behind him.

    * * * *

    Though it might have been tempting fate, Charlie was sure there was no way his day could get any more exhausting short of his new tenant turning the complex into a crime scene. It was just possible. The kid had been surprised to learn his friend was high but not surprised to see the drugs on him, and that said a lot.
    As tired as Charlie was, he was also too awake, like he might have to find something to occupy his mind tonight until he finally fell asleep, something other than the exam booklets he