AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She scrunched her nose. “So he was six years older than you? I remember some dear sister telling me once upon a time that the six-year age gap between Drake and me was too big.”
“And I wasn’t wrong.” I gave her a hint of a smile.
“If you say so, hypocrite,” she said lightheartedly.
“Oh, Char.” I tossed the pillow to the side and turned into her.
Even though I was taller than her, she wrapped her thin, yet toned, arms around me and patted my back. “Izzy, it’s okay.”
“I don’t know if it is. You don’t know how much I’ve regretted that I never even called him. I was too chicken to tell him I got engaged. Nina, of course, told him. He told her I’d made a mistake and Jared would break my heart. She said he was really upset about it; he said, I was the one,” my voice cracked.
“But he got married.”
“To Nina.”
Charlotte leaned away from me. “What? How did that happen?”
“I don’t know; after we graduated, she cut off all contact. But she did send me a wedding announcement not too long before Jared and I got married. They were so beautiful together. She begged me not to come. I think she just wanted me to know.”
“I bet with her insecurities it wasn’t easy for her to know how Patrick once felt about you,” Charlotte said wisely.
“You’re probably right, but I’m sure Patrick loved her. He probably forgot about me.”
Charlotte pressed her lips together. “Maybe ... or ...”
“Or what?”
She let out a heavy breath. “I know you don’t believe in soul mates and the magic that happens at the inn, but maybe fate is trying to give you a second chance.”
“I can’t think like that.”
“Why not?”
“Because, for all I know, what we had was just a holiday fling. And we both married other people. He’s more than likely still mourning Nina’s death.” Which reminded me I needed to find out how she died. She may have been shallow, but I loved her. She was a good friend. The best roommate I had in college.
“Maybe.” Charlotte tugged on one of my wild curls. “But I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that he needs to stay here.”
“I don’t know about that. I’m thinking George might have broken some pipes.”
Charlotte laughed. “George can hardly stand up straight.”
That was true. “Regardless, I can’t see him again.”
“You’re afraid you made a mistake marrying Jared,” she said so bluntly my jaw dropped.
“I loved Jared,” I said defensively.
“I’m not saying you didn’t. But didn’t you tell me that just because you love someone doesn’t mean you’re supposed to marry them?”
“You didn’t listen to me.”
Charlotte smiled. “I know Drake is who I’m meant to be with.”
I knew that too, but I wasn’t going to confirm it now. Maybe on her wedding day if I hadn’t lost my ish by then.
“And you yourself admitted you never felt for Jared the way I feel about Drake.”
“I know.” I sank into her. “It doesn’t mean Patrick was my person.”
