Charming Like Us (Like Us, #7)

by Krista Ritchie

“You kissed me back,” he says in a smile, as if that’d even be a doubt. “So we can officially say that we’re dating, right?” I’m so fucking happy. “Come on, dude,” he breathes, his eyes sparkling with the light that I feel illuminate inside me. “Oh yeah, I’m dating the hell out of you.”

I’m in for the long-haul, Highland.

He has me. Undoubtedly.

I’m dating Jack Highland. I’m with Jack Highland. Every phrase in every dictionary that means, he’s it for me.

“Meu raio de sol,

Jack smiles more. “Come on, it’s catchy. Homewr⁠—” I cup my hand over his mouth. “Muted, meu raio de sol.” I love my dramatic-ass nickname that is too damn accurate for Jack.

I hated Oslie stans before, but now that they’re physically attacking the guy who has my heart, I almost can’t even withstand them.

“How’s flirting with the cameraman going for you?” He mimes checking a watch that he’s not wearing. “Too early to tell, but so far, so good. I’ll let you know more when I have him naked and in my arms.”

tehe

“The brightest light shining during the darkest hour,” I smile. “That’s pretty good.” “I’m only doing my best work with you, Long Beach.” I smile, but my lips fall gradually. “What happens when the light dims? You’ll still be interested then?” “Oh yeah.” Oscar nods. “I’m every star circling around you. You need a spark, I’m there.” He says it like a promise.

My chest against his back, my arm around his arms. Thrusting and bringing him with the movement. We are on a ride together, and I might be at the helm but it’d be nothing without him.

“Yeah”—I keep nodding—“you’re my frat bro, happy-go-lucky boyfriend.” “Maybe cross out the lucky part.” Our fingers toy with catching hold of each other’s hand. I shake my head. “At the very least, when all else fails, you’re lucky that you have me.” Jack laughs, a lighter sound, but the noise fades. “I’m grateful you hired Gabe, you know, but if you’re not willing to let me pay everything, then let’s just split the cost. It’ll make me feel better.” I only agree because of that last declaration.

A Secret about Akara Kitsuwon: my college-friend raved about Akara for four weeks after they hooked up. He restrained her to a headboard with rope and made her come five times.

A Secret about Charlie Cobalt: He told me that he’s the one who introduced Beckett to cocaine, and he’s regretted it ever since.

“How many times did it roll?” Donnelly asks more quietly. He means the golf cart. “I couldn’t tell.” Alright, I do steal a Pringle. Sweet, heavenly food.

OSCAR IS A CUTIE

When Jo focuses on her phone, Jack mouths to me knowing I can read lips, two peas in a pod. He motions to me and him. Not because we like the same music—we don’t always—but because he’ll join my lonely pea pod. What the fuck, I sound like a twelve-year-old dork with a crush. My mouth curves upward.

She throws up her hands. “It’s an honest question, Oscar. There is no door! We’re in a fucking studio.” Jack tips his head like, she has a point. He stands off the bed. “I’m a filmmaker,” he tells Jo. “I know how to get creative.”

“Tell me a secret that you’ve never told anyone else.” We have a short window of time. Joana is at the door, but I take advantage of every single second. Holding his waist, I lean in and whisper, “Estou apaixonado por voçê.” I translate, “I’m in love with you.”

“I have a question,” Jack breathes in. “How long have you been keeping that secret?” “That I’m in love with you?” “Yeah.” He nods. My pulse speeds. “A while.” I pause. “You don’t have to say it back if it’s…” I taper off, and I grin at his emerging smile. “What’s so hilarious, Long Beach?” “You really think I don’t love you?” Jack says with a laugh. “Oscar.” He shakes his head, and then his face contorts in seriously bad emotions. Ones that’ve been plaguing him lately. “Your love is one of the only things keeping me afloat right now. I feel like I’m…” He sighs out heavy tension. “Hey.” I curve an arm around his shoulders. We hug tight and sway to the tempo of our breath and pulse.

“Protect him, will you?” I feel myself smiling. This is new. I’m so used to my mom telling me to protect whoever I’m dating, and I did not think she’d switch that up. “No doubt, always,” he promises.

“He’s not what I expected for you, but I can see you love him.” Love. I feel it,

“Did Jane’s mom design all the dresses?” He nods. “All ten options.” We’re only on option 3.

Being in Oscar’s presence isn’t even a want at this point. It’s a need. I need him.

“Man, lots of people had crushes on me.”

“It’s inherited money. I have a trust fund. My parents are real estate developers.” “Millionaires?” I ask. “Billionaires.”

I pop a chip into my mouth, and he pulls the basket closer to his chest. I reach out for it. “Whoa! Uh-huh…these stay near me, meu raio de sol.” His eyes soften at the nickname, letting go of the chips too easily. “What does that mean exactly?” I toss another chip in my mouth. “My sunshine.” He laughs into a brighter smile. There it is. “Fits well.”

Jack laughs and nods as he tries to put the straw into his mouth with a sucker still between his lips. So drunk. So cute.

Charlie pats the ground. “Lie down, Oscar. Watch the clouds move.” Oscar’s brows furrow and he squats down beside his client. I keep the camera rolling. “What’d you take?” he whispers. “Just a couple booms.” “When?” “Hotel.” “You have a bad trip, you tell me right away.” “Always.”

“I’m sorry you have to wait for me.” To make a decision, are the unsaid words. “For you, I don’t mind waiting,”

We’re curled up together. Limbs threaded. Neither of us bother getting underneath the covers. “Oscar,” Jack breathes. But that’s all he says. That’s all he needs to say. We just made love, and emotion still strings between us like a lit flame. His head buries against the crook of my neck. I am so in love with him. And I’m so fucking scared of losing him.

YUM. So when Oscar’s done with Charlie and Jack? Can I get a bite of that?

“There’s one more thing. I have an idea, but I might need your help.” There’s something I need to do for Jack. Like all the other options, he might not take it. But I won’t stop myself from at least trying to patch-up the holes in his boat of dreams and right it back to shore. “I’m listening.” Charlie moves his queen and it’s staring down my king. “Checkmate,” he says. I’m not even that mad about it. Honestly, I love playing chess against Charlie. He’s the only person who’s ever been able to beat me.

“We have fans,” I tell him into a bite of cookie. While his eyes sweep the theatre, he whispers, “Just don’t forget I’m still your number one fan, Highland.” “Don’t forget I’m yours, Os.”

I hear whistling from the audience, and I’m almost positive it’s Jane Cobalt and Daisy Calloway.

“Love that shirt,” Oscar says, motioning to the white button-down I wear. His button-down. Everyone is in formal attire. “How many more are you going to steal from me, Long Beach?” “Probably all of them,” I smile widely, sucker up against my cheek. “You want it back?” “I have a feeling that even if I say yes, I won’t see it again.” “That’s not true,” I say with a bigger breath. I pull the sucker out of my mouth, and Oscar takes it. He slips the sucker between his lips. I smile more. That was hot. Nerves start to subside. “Why is that not true?” “We’re together, Oscar. You’ll see your clothes again.” His grin softens to something more serious. Which is funny because he has a sucker in his mouth, and suckers aren’t really an Oscar Oliveira thing. I add, “They’re just half-mine now.”

Jesse waves to me from one of the emerald couches. My mom already removes her tissues from her Louis Vuitton purse. The Oliveira family turns more to view us in the middle. Farrow, Maximoff, Ripley, and Jane and Thatcher have stopped talking, programs in their hands as they face us. Even the Calloway sisters and their husbands watch. Oscar’s brows furrow. He notices. He’s too observant for this charade to last long. And when his confused eyes land on me, I tell him, “Oscar.” “Jack?” The sucker is still in his mouth. I smile like the next words exist deep inside me and have wanted to be set free for so, so long. “I was never rewriting my life when I met you. There was no rewrite, Oscar, because this is how it was always supposed to be written. I am supposed to be with you. You are supposed to be with me. Nothing else makes sense.” His eyes glass. I continue on, “I love you. I love run-around-the-world Oscar. I love flirty Oscar, tactical bodyguard Oscar, snack monster Oscar”—everyone laughs, but I hold onto his laughter, his joyful tears that stream like mine—“my number one fan Oscar, sexy Oscar, intelligent as a motherfucker Oscar, a ride-or-die friend Oscar, a good brother Oscar, kiss me when the sun rises Oscar, my one and only Oscar…the love of my life Oscar.” He’s nodding, overwhelmed, our cheeks wet with emotion. “You’re my everything Oscar.” He expels a, “Fuck, Highland.” He takes out the sucker, about to bring me closer, but I drop to my knee. I hear sniffling from ...

I receive top-marks from the Cobalts on my delivery and speech. “Flawless,” Audrey says.

Happiness. We hear the laughter of our families and friends,