How to get out of this without Royce thinking TOTALLY wrong things OR her looking too much like an idiot? She bit her lip, glancing away. How much to tell? What to tell? Daaaaaaammit!
"Look, of course I don't want... I mean... grrr, drat fingers," she hissed under her breath, coming to a decision. She didn't like it one bit, but... Rosemary owes me a truckload of cookie dough for this.
Charlie took a deep breath and looked at Royce, forcing her face to stay blush-free through sheer will-power as her hands braced on her hips. "Alright, look. I'm certain it's fairly obvious by now, but I like you. Like, like like you. Got it? But unfortunately for me, I happen to like your sister too, and she's made it clear that her approval of me is strictly conditional on the fact that she doesn't get ignored by you in the same way you've sort of been doing lately. All because of...you know, this job." Or... you know... me? Maybe? I hope?
But then she had to get to the really important stuff, and without meaning to, her expression softened. "Having a really nice person as your family isn't something you should take for granted, you know. And maybe it's a little bit like meddling, but you are both important to me in your own ways, and I won't let either of you take each other for granted if I can help it."
"So," she concluded briskly, "with that being said, as much as I would really like it for you to stay and hang out without my over-bearing chaperone.." Boy, would I really REALLY like it, she thought wistfully. But before she could change her mind, she took Royce's arm, dragged him to the door, and gently shoved him out the door. When he looked back at her, startled, she smiled. "... I think you need to go and spend the day with someone else. Okay?"