“Thank you,” I say before I walk back out to Beth, who’s playing a game on her phone.
“Well?” she asks as she tosses it into her purse.
“It went well,” I say, clutching the pamphlets and papers. “I think you’d like her, too.”
“Good.” Beth breathes a sigh of relief and stands up from her seat. “I’ll make an appointment with her, too,” she says as she walks toward the receptionist’s desk.
I wait off to the side as she speaks with the receptionist. Beth pulls out her phone again and quickly types in her own appointment before she turns to me.
“Ready?” she asks.
I nod.
The elevator ride is quiet and I feel lighter once we reach the parking lot. I bask in the sunshine as we walk to the car and think that for once, it feels like the sun is shining on my life again.
Chapter Eleven
Charlie and I haven’t had time to discuss how we left things before he busted that party on the Fourth of July, and I’m anxious to continue the conversation. The last week and a half has been awful with my delivery truck getting off-schedule, recovering from my cold, the aftermath of my fight with Thea, and trying to make her appointments. He’s understood that whatever we are is on the back-burner right now.
I just dropped Thea off at another therapy appointment. I venture back out to the car while I wait and text Charlie, asking him to meet me in the parking lot if he isn’t busy.
I’m sitting in the car, anxiously scanning the lot for any sign of him. I watch as his squad car pulls in and he looks around, searchingfor my vehicle. He catches sight of me and slowly drives over to park beside me. He cuts the engine and then tentatively gets out. Shutting the door behind him, he leans against the car. I get out of mine and do the same.
The sky above us is overcast. The weather forecast is calling for a thunderstorm this morning and it seems to be making its way across Driftbay. I can smell it. When you’ve lived here as long as I have, you can just tell when trouble is rolling in.
“Hey,” Charlie says quietly, breaking the silence between us.
“Hi.” I fidget with the hem of my shirt, avoiding his eyes. “Thanks for meeting me. Life has just been crazy lately.”
From Raquel’s report, he hasn’t been in the diner for a couple of days, giving me space.
“Of course.” He pauses before approaching the next subject. “How’s Thea doing?”
I sigh. “She’s better than when you last saw her.” It’s a lame attempt to make him laugh. “Thank you, for bringing her home that night, by the way. She started seeing a therapist last week.”
“Good, good.” His eyes travel across the parking lot and he clears his throat. We both stand there awkwardly, unsure of how to carry on. We’ve been dancing around this line for years.
“So, you wanted to talk?” Charlie asks, taking the lead like he always does.
“Yes,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest, trying to hug myself in comfort. “No,” I sigh, “I don’t know.” I let out an awkward laugh in an effort to ease the newfound tension between us.
He laughs, but it’s strained. “Beth Ann…” he trails off.
“I know.” I shake my head in agreement. “We need to.” I shuffle my feet. I don’t know why this is so hard. This is Charlie, my best friend. I can talk to him about anything.
So why can’t I tell him I’ve loved him for years?
“How about I start?” He reaches for my hand and I uncross my arms. He takes my hand in his and runs his thumb over my knuckles. The contact makes my skin tingle under his touch.
Charlie stands tall and proud against his squad car; if he’s anxious, he’s not showing it. I, on the other hand, can’t quit squirming under his gaze.
“You lied to me,” he says, his voice gravelly, “numerous times.”
“I did. I own that and I’m sorry.” I feel like I’ll be saying that a lot during this conversation.
He clears his throat again before he asks, “Why did you lie about being upset that I was going on a date?”
“I think you know why,” I say. I’ve already admitted that I love him; it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why I’d be upset that he went on a date with someone else.
