by Kayla, Mia
He lifted my chin to meet his eyes. “You sold over six thousand dollars’ worth of paintings tonight.”
I’d missed it.
Then, without warning, I started to cry.
“Where’s my mom?” I extracted myself from Connor’s arms and walked around in circles.
“What?”
“Where did she go?”
“She just left. She insisted that she stay, but I told her I drove you here and that you’d stay with me tonight.”
“Why would you do that?” I snapped.
He took a step back and blinked. One hand was on his hip, and he rubbed at his jawline with the other hand. “Charlie, what is this?”
“What is what?” I paced the room, walking back to the couch, looking for my purse. Where the hell is my purse?
He reached for my arm and jerked me to face him. “Charlie, what is this—us?” His voice was hard this time.
But I pulled my arm from his grasp, searching for my purse. “Where is my purse?” Full-blown emotions rushed through me like a volcano ready to explode.
“Charlie!” he yelled, causing me to pause. The muscle in his jaw twitched. “What is this—us? Where is this”—he motioned between me and him—“going?”
“You’re going to do this here … now? Really?” My expression pinched. “How selfish can you be right now? I’ve worked for months leading up to this one day, and I basically missed it all.” I was too far gone and over-the-top frustrated to stop now. “You dated Sandy?” My voice didn’t even sound like my own.
How could someone like him date someone like her and then date me?
He reeled back, his facial features falling. “That was forever ago. It was a time in my life I don’t even remember.”
I tore my eyes from his and went on my knees, looking under the couch for my purse. I couldn’t think clearly in his vicinity, and I needed to leave. “What are the chances, right? Yep, this is my life.”
“I couldn’t care less about Sandy. This is about me and you. Charlie … I’m trying to talk to you here. Answer my question.”
I stood then.
“What’s going on between us?”
I straightened to my full height, that volcano of emotion spilling over in a gigantic eruption. “Nothing. How can this”—I motioned between us—“be anything when you’re leaving?” I snapped.
He took a healthy step back as though I’d slapped him. “I asked you to move in with me. To come with me to New York.”
“And I said I’m not going to.” I needed my purse. I needed to get away from him. All this news was too much for me to take—the bombshell news of Sandy and Connor, my wasted exhibit, his freaking-out moment.
“You’re a grown-ass woman who can function on her own and without your mother, whom you didn’t even introduce me as your—”
“As what? As my boyfriend?” I threw up both hands, screaming at this point. “Because you’re not. Why the hell would I introduce her to someone who was not going to be here in a month anyway?”
“I asked …”
He was like a never-ending broken record on repeat.
“I know, and I said no.” I shoved a finger into his chest. “I know I’m a grown-ass woman, but contrary to your belief, it’s my choice to stay here because I want to. Because I love my life here and my friends and my mom. Because being in the same state as my mom is important to me. Because I want to be with her and have her watch my kids and watch her grow old and happy with Richard. Just because you don’t want to be by your family and you’re not close doesn’t mean that I’m the same way because I’m not. You’re not winning this one, Connor. And I’m not choosing my mom or my life here over you. I’m choosing me. This is my decision.”
Between the corner of the couch and the wall, I saw a sliver of silver—my purse.
I rushed toward it, chucked the strap over my shoulder, and headed toward the door. “I’m calling an Uber.” It was probably too late to call my mom.
“Charlie …” He followed me outside.
Shit. I had to lock up.
I walked back in toward the light panel, shut off all the lights, and walked outside again to lock up.
When he reached for my arm because I wouldn’t respond to him, I jerked back. “Stop. I want to go home.”
Both of his hands were up. “Fine. Please, just let me drive you.”
“I’ll catch an Uber.” I pulled out my phone, but then he grabbed it from me. “Connor! You’re such an ass. Give it back!”
His whole demeanor flipped like a coin, and he bent down, his facial features softening. “I’m sorry. Okay?” He reached for my hand, but I pulled back, stubborn. “I’m sorry for saying such shitty things in there. I didn’t mean it. I just want more. I get it … I get that you’re not willing to give me what I want. And I respect that. I have to. Just please … Charlie, let me drive you home.”
We held each other’s stare for a few good solid seconds before I nodded and crossed my arms over my chest.
Connor
The ride home was silent. I wanted her to come over. I wanted us to stop fighting and maybe talk things through at my apartment because, right now, talking was not happening, just a lot of narrowed glares and blank stares into the highway in front of us. I was afraid that anything I said, I’d regret. I didn’t want to let emotions lead our conversations. I was usually composed. It was one of my qualities that I valued the most.
But with Charlie, that all flew out the door.
Normally, I would have pushed it but not tonight.
We didn’t even discuss the subject of Sandy, which, in my opinion, was a nonissue because it felt like years and years ago when we had been together.
What I wanted to concentrate on was the here and now and the future, but right now, our future looked bleak.
Maybe I could ask her if we could try long distance—but how would that work? She would never move, and neither would I. So, we were at a stalemate.
I parked in front of her house, a house that Richard had bought—my ex-girlfriend’s father. How was this even a possibility? How could I have predicted this?
When she reached for the door handle, I grabbed her other hand.
“Hey.”
Her eyes were tired, sad even, and shit, it hit me directly in the chest.
“Charlie, you did an amazing job today. Your exhibit was a great success. Nui said she’d be reaching out to you within the next few days to feature you on her blog.”
She nodded, but there was a blank expression in her eyes. “Thanks for driving me home.”
She pushed the door open, but I wasn’t ready to let her go … not yet.
“Charlie.”
She turned toward me, one foot already on the pavement.
“I love you.” Wasn’t that the truth though?
After today, I knew that everything would change between us, and she had to know that above all things. That was one thing I wanted her to remember. The one thing that I wanted to highlight was that I loved her.
She leaned back in the car and pressed her lips to mine.
It was a long, lingering kiss, but my stomach dropped, and it kept on going.
Because it wasn’t a kiss good night. It felt like a kiss good-bye.
Charlie
I thought things couldn’t get any worse, but as I stomped back to the pool house, I saw Sandy sitting on a bench by the pool.
I raised a hand and walked past her. “I don’t want to hear it. Not fucking today, okay?”
I couldn’t take anymore, not without breaking down any further.
Just as I inserted the key into the door, she said, “He’ll never stay for you. As much as he loves you or says he does, he won’t stay. I should know. Years ago, I was where you are.”
I gritted my teeth, having enough of her bullying bullshit.
“What happens between me and Connor is none of your business. None of it.” I lifted my chin to the sky and placed my hands on my hips. A full moon shone brig
htly above us. “Of all the luck in the world, you’re the ex.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm this anger within me that wouldn’t let up.
“I’m not in love with him or anything like that. I don’t want him back. I’m just here because I feel sorry for you.”
Her words hit me so hard that it was as though she had physically struck me.
I flipped to face her, eyes narrowed, jaw clenched. “Why do you hate me so fucking much? What have I ever done to you?” I was practically screaming at this point, and I wouldn’t doubt it if my mother could hear me in the main house. “I mean, to even throw away my paintings in the garbage like they were trash is the ultimate low, even for you.”
She reeled back, and her eyebrows rose to her hairline. “What are you even talking about?”
My hands fisted at my sides. “My paintings. I found them ruined in the rain, thrown out like trash.”
She threw up both hands. “For the love of God, really? Why the hell would I do that? Maybe it was the construction workers who had renovated the pool house for you. They threw out a ton of stuff. I don’t have the time or the energy to do such a thing.” Her eyes widened just a tad, and she stood, the arrogance back. “You know what? I’m leaving. I came here to do you a favor. I don’t need to listen to you berate me for it.” She slipped her designer purse over her shoulder.
“Me? A favor? When have you ever done anything nice for me? Ever!”
Maybe she hadn’t thrown out my paintings. Fine. But God only knew that she’d hated me from the very first time we met.
She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Well, this is the first time and last time I do you any favors. That’s for sure.” She turned to leave but paused for a bit before facing me fully again. “You walk around like you have it so hard when your life is practically perfect.”
Wait, what? I scrunched my face, struck into silence.
“With your perfect mom and your perfect life and your perfect friends and your perfect talent.”
For a moment, vulnerability shone heavily in her eyes as her tone softened. “I don’t have any of that. My mom left us when I was thirteen for another man and never looked back. Nannies and my grandma raised me, not my own father.” Her jaw clenched, and she tore her gaze away from mine. “Shit, my father even sold my childhood home to give everything up for you and your mom. He would never offer to renovate the pool house for me.” She waved a hand in the air. “I have my own place, so whatever … I don’t even care, but he’d never do for me what he’s doing for you guys.” Her jaw clenched, and she shook her head to erase the vulnerability that had been in her eyes moments ago. “So, don’t go moping like you have a sucky life because you don’t, okay? I hate people like you who have everything, yet you think you got dealt the wrong cards. Do you think I want to be around that all the time? Subconsciously comparing myself to you.”
“Perfect life?” I spread my arms out wide. “My whole life was upended from Wisconsin to move here. My father is dead. At least yours is alive. And I just missed my whole exhibit because I fainted.”
My laugh was cynical, but hers was worse.
“Who the fuck cares, Charlie? Who cares! You left your life in Wisconsin but then adjusted here like it never fazed you—new job, new friends, new boyfriend. My girlfriends only call me if they need something, and I’ve known them forever.” She took a step toward me, getting into my line of sight. “And I’m sorry about your dad, okay? That’s shitty that he’s not here anymore. But let me tell you a secret.” Her voice was strong and firm, which matched her gaze. “Your father was more of a father to you in the short time that he was alive than my father will ever be to me in his lifetime. So, you think about that, okay? You just think about that.”
I blinked, realization slapping me in the face through the fog of anger, sobering me up real quick.
She was right.
Lately, I’d been looking at my glass as half-empty when, in reality, it was half-full. I’d adjusted to my move, making new friends who were true friends, friends to last forever. And, yes, she was absolutely right about my father. The amount of love and support I’d felt from him could last me a lifetime. I was lucky to have such a father, a father who loved me unconditionally, whose support was unwavering, all until the very end.
As I stared at Sandy, I realized her looks, her job, her overall demeanor were a facade, and I’d judged her for it. I had known about her real mother, that she’d left, but I hadn’t gotten the full story. Although Richard seemed like an okay father, I’d never known he was never around for Sandy.
“I came here to check on you ’cause I know firsthand about how Connor feels about here and his parents. Ironically, we’re more similar in that our parents were never around, growing up.” She waved a hand. “But whatever. Check mark my good deed for the year.” The sass was heavy and back in her tone.
As she turned her back toward me, walking out toward the exit, I called out to her, “Sandy …”
Our eyes locked, and I realized, in some ways, we were similar, where we were still both a little lost in our lives, still trying to find our way.
“Thanks.”
After a beat, she tipped her chin, and in Sandy-like fashion, she said, “We’re not best friends after this. Just so you know.”
I nodded. I doubted we’d ever be that. “I know. It’s worse than that … we’re sisters.”
Her face softened at my words, and a smirk emerged. It was small but visibly there. “I don’t know if that’s better or worse.”
“Me either. All I know is that it’s for life now.”
Because judging by how much Richard and my mother loved each other, they would be together for the long run.
“Do me a favor, Charlie? I know how it is. I’ve been where you are right now. Just don’t have hope, okay? That’s what killed me before.”
She walked away before I even had a chance to respond.
I’d heard her but not really because even if I didn’t want to have hope that Connor would decide to stay here, I did.
Chapter 28
Charlie
To say that tensions were high between Connor and me was an understatement. Luckily, we were overwhelmingly busy with preparations for the presentation for the board that we hadn’t had much time to talk about us. But I knew that the conversation would happen—and happen soon—and the inevitable would come. I wanted to come out of this semi-intact. I knew that I couldn’t come out of this fully unscathed, but I’d try to minimize any damage to my fragile heart to protect myself.
We sat in the boardroom. Funny enough, it was where everything had started what seemed like forever ago—brainstorming over Chinese food. My chest tightened because I was already cataloging the good times, the times we’d shared, as though I was thinking about us as a breakup.
But wasn’t that how this would end?
Mr. Colby’s tone was serious. No emotion showed on his face as he watched the commercials play in front of us. But the rest of the board, enthusiasm showed on their features.
Music sounded in the background as the first clip played of Connor, placing the chocolates and the flowers on the porch before wiping his palms down his slacks, picking them up again, and ringing the doorbell.
Someone in the room said, “Aw.”
I couldn’t help but smile because Connor was such a good actor. My cheeks reddened when the door opened, and there I was. Sweating occurred as I shifted in my seat, seeing myself on the overhead screen.
No one’s eyes made it my way because everyone was so fixated on the screen.
The commercial played, and so many emotions poured out of me. It felt so real, so heartfelt. Living through the motions on-screen brought so many feelings bubbling up to the surface.
The first date.
The slow dance.
Him on bended knee.
Me in the silk white dress on the wedding day.
And a slew of scenes danced in my head—the scenes not seen.
Endless laughter.
Connor making love to me.
Connor telling me he loved me.
Connor asking me to move in with him.
A lump formed in the back of my throat.
Why couldn’t he stay? Why did it have to be like this between us, just when I felt like I’d found the man of my dreams?
Why wasn’t I good enough?
In a hot two seconds, full-on tears would flow down my face, in front of everyone.
The room was dark, and I didn’t look to see if Connor was looking at me, but I knew he was watching me when I stood, quietly opened the door, and stepped out.
And I speed-walked to the restroom before the first tear fell.
Connor
A big part of me wanted to go after Charlie, just to see if she was okay, but the commercial hadn’t finished yet.
The wedding scene brought so much emotion to the surface, seeing her in that wedding dress—a dress I still had at my apartment. She’d left it there after the day of filming, and I’d placed it in a garment bag in my closet, unsure of what to do with it but knowing I wasn’t going to throw it away or sell it.
I still remembered the way she’d looked that day, her hair up and flowing with endless curls, her light-pink makeup as though she had been kissed by the sun.
Seeing her on the big screen brought back the day where I’d gotten down on one knee and told her I loved her for the first time.
My feet tapped on the floor, as I was impatient, needing to check on her.
Finally, when the commercial was done, which included me dipping Charlie and kissing her, the board started clapping.
My mother’s smile was big and wide as she clapped along with the others in the boardroom. “I love it, Connor. It’s exactly what we need.”
The corners of my mouth turned up in response, and I stood, flipped the lights on, and walked to the whiteboard in the front of the room.
“The vision that we want to portray going forward is family, and when people think of Colby Chocolates and Candies, we want them to have our product as their go-to for every event. From first dates to weddings to kids’ parties to school parties to baby showers.” My smile widened as I went in for the killer selling point. “We want Colby’s to be at the forefront of their minds when it comes to bringing families together.”