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Oliver sighed and walked over to me, bridging the gap. He put his arms around me and pulled me in for a hug. I returned it, and he smacked my back before releasing me. “I’m right here. We can be more than this.”
“I know. I’d like that.”
“Me too,” he said. “And it’s not just me, you know. You don’t let anyone in.”
His words stung given my current predicament. “Are you talking about Charlie?”
He nodded. “She means something to you. I can tell.”
“She doesn’t want to see me anymore,” I muttered.
“Because you fucked up. You picked your job over her. Why?”
“It’s everything to me?” It came out as a question. In reality I had come to resent my work and the way it ran my life.What was I doing all this for?
“Is it?” Oliver pressed.
I found myself reflecting on Charlie's laughter and the warmth of her pressed against my side. Her genuine interest in what I had to say and the way she chose to be with me, despite all my shortcomings.
“My job is nothing to me anymore,” I finally confessed.
He smacked my shoulder. “Then go fix this and get your girl.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
CHARLIE
“Getyour butt up and stop wallowing. Only one week is appropriate under these circumstances.” I shielded my face as Lila hurled a pillow in my direction.
“I’m not wallowing,” I insisted, although the empty snack wrappers and bottle of wine surrounding my couch said otherwise.
Ever since I quit, any moment not spent working had been spent lying on my couch, watching rom-coms, and feeling sorry for myself. I wished I could say Nathan was all but a distant memory, but he haunted me daily still—even after two weeks.
“Yes, you are,” Lila said. “Now get up and help me pack the gift bags for tomorrow.”
Peeling myself off the couch, I joined her at my small dining table. Tomorrow we were hosting a member party. There would be games, prizes, and good food. To our surprise, almost everyone had RSVP’d yes. Our community was expanding rapidly, and now we had all the time in the world to dedicate to it. Lila’s last day was yesterday, and we’d gone out to dinner to celebrate.
See?We went out. I wasn’t completely wasting away on my couch thinking of Nathan.
Stuffing each gift bag with a shirt, my thoughts drifted to him. I still couldn’t believe he hadn’t tried harder to win me back.
Would I have let him?With my weak resolve, probably. Maybe it was for the best he had given me the space to move on.
Regardless, I had thought we had something special. And despite my numerous fantasies of him showing up at my doorstep and proclaiming his love, I had to face reality. And the reality was that we were over. He had made his choice, and I had made mine.
I’d be alright, though. I had a thriving business and, in a way, it felt like my life had just begun. Lila was right. No more wallowing. It was time to start enjoying this chapter.
Every morning, I found myself on the brink of happy tears, relieved that my thoughts were no longer consumed by my previous job. I could start each day savoring my first cup of coffee instead of chugging it. I could take the few extra minutes to snuggle with Edward. I could go to a café in the middle of the day to get some work done. I cherished my new schedule, and I absolutely loved my new life.
I just wished I could stop thinking about how much I’d enjoy it even more if Nathan were still in the picture.
“I can’t believe this turnout.”
“Right?” Lila squeezed my arm as we surveyed the event space we had rented for the party. Champagne flowed, members laughed and talked, and vision boards were even being crafted in the back corner. It really was everything we’d ever dreamedof. And we were about to go even bigger. We had hired a new developer and had high hopes this one would be better than the last. Although, given his low hourly wage we still had our reservations.
Lila and I mingled and continued to work the event for the next few hours. I made sure everyone’s glasses were full and they were enjoying themselves. A few people had talked about getting their friends to sign up. Two girls even told us that because of the group they had become best friends. Lila and I continued to glance over at each other, beaming the entire time.
“We did this,” she said.
