Chapter 217

“What did you just say?” Kenneth stared at her, sure he must have misheard.
Lottie wanted a shirtless photo of him? He knew he looked good, but it’s not like he’d ever wanted to be a flasher in front of Charlotte.
Anthony put down his glass of milk and reached for a napkin. He wiped his fingers, those dark eyes of his suddenly intense, and a quiet laugh slipped out. “Lottie, are you sure you know what you’re asking for?” Just last night she’d seen all of him, and now, right here, she was asking another man for a shirtless pic. Was she not impressed by what she’d seen?
“It’s not for me, it’s for a friend.” Charlotte sounded totally unbothered as she picked up another bite of cake. “Keep it PG. Just the top half is enough.”
There was something in her voice, like she was saying only his face and upper body were worth a second glance.
Kenneth’s heart just sank. He’d honestly thought this was his chance to outshine Anthony, maybe even get Lottie’s attention for once. Turns out, he was wrong.
He chugged half a glass of cold water just to pull himself together. Then he looked at her and said, trying to sound casual, “Alright, I’ll send you the photos. But you have to answer a question for me. And promise me one thing.”
“Go ahead.” Charlotte barely glanced at him, still eating at her own pace. If she didn’t need his autograph, she could probably find plenty of embarrassing photos of him online anyway.
“Who has the better body? Me or Anthony?” Kenneth said it with a pointed look at Anthony. “Better think it over, Lottie. If you hurt my feelings, there’s no photo.”
Charlotte froze, her fork in midair. The blush she’d worked so hard to hide crept right back up her face.
“You’re just asking to embarrass yourself, aren’t you?” Anthony handed Charlotte some water, a confident little smirk on his lips.
Kenneth’s face twisted in annoyance. “Lottie, seriously. Tell him.”
Charlotte pressed her lips together, trying to play it cool even as her
cheeks burned “I haven’t seene
she
said, a terrible liat content belongs
Kenneth picked up on it right away. He grinned, leaning in closer. “If you haven’t, then why are you blushing?”
Charlotte could have thrown her fork at him.
Anthony watched her, then seemed to figure it out. She must remember something
from last night, but probably thought it was just a dream.
He cleared his throat, covering his mouth, then leaned over and whispered something soft in Charlotte’s ear.
Her eyes lit up right away. She turned to Kenneth. “Yeah, you’re just embarrassing yourself.”
“Lottie, you’re supposed to be on my side!” Kenneth protested, looking wounded. “Anthony, that’s cheating!”
Anthony just smiled, picked up an apple, and started peeling it with a kind of lazy elegance. “If you think it’s unfair, we could always take our shirts off and settle it right now.”
Kenneth seowled, but he gave in., “Fine, whatever.” Then he looked at Charlotte, his expression softening. “I’m performing at the National Theater on Monday afternoon.
saved you a ticket.”
to’
The National Theater? Wasn’t that where Laura wanted to meet her too?
“Ten shirtless photos and an autograph,” Charlotte said, her voice cool and steady.
“No problem.” Kenneth jumped up and started unbuttoning his shirt right then and there.