Page 145 of Unexpected Forever
I hold up a hand, still seething. “And I know you warned me, Megan. And I did a shitty job heeding your warning. But I thought at the very least, he’d give me a heads-up before making a decision that impacts our future.”
My voice cracks on the last word. Megan reaches out and takes my hand. “I know he did, and he really screwed up. Trust me, he’s suffering.”
I swipe at a tear. “You saw him?”
“Yeah, that’s where I went last week.”
“H-how is he?”
I hate my voice wobbles. I hate I even asked.
“Miserable. Grumpy. He asked about you. Wants to know how you’re feeling.”
I sniff and lift my chin. “Well, I hope you told him I’m perfectly fine. Feeling just fine.”
Emma crosses her arms over her chest. “Charley, did I ever tell you about how things went down between Shane and me?”
I shake my head.
“I don’t know how much you remember about my mom and dad, but my childhood wasn’t stellar. Your mom and dad were more like my parents than my own. But even with all their love and support, I ended up becoming an addict like my dad. Just a different vice.”
She’s quiet a moment before continuing. “I thought it would be easier if I kept everyone at arm’s length, never letting anyone in.” She shrugged. “I mean, our situations aren’t the same. But trauma is still trauma.”
Looking down, she shakes her head. “It took me losing everything before I realized if I was ever going to move forward in any part of my life, I was going to need to let my past go.”
“How did you do it?”
“It wasn’t easy, I’m not going to lie. My sobriety was tested. My reputation was questioned. My heart was broken.”
She raises her eyes to mine and smiles. “I threw Shane out of my house and out of my life. But he wouldn’t let me get away so easily.”
Intrigued, I tilt my head. “What’d he do?”
Her laughter fills my office. “He tore up my resignation letter, told me he couldn’t live without me, and without getting mired in details, made me a deal I couldn’t refuse. So I didn’t. He loved me despite all my flaws. And in the end, it was all I needed to know.”
I sit back in my chair. I thought I had let my guard down with Nate. But the truth is, I didn’t let him in all the way. I made sure to learn about him and what made him tick, but I never reciprocated the way he did.
And I made sure I left him before he could leave me. I trusted him and yet I stuck to the pattern I’d set up for myself a long time ago.
And I’m in the same place I’m always in.
Alone.
Except this time I don’t want to be.
I drop my head into my hands. “Oh my God. I totally screwed this all up.”
“Well, in fairness,” Megan says, “it’s not all on you. Nate did his fair share of screwing this all up too. But I think you guys can get through it.”
“How?” I cry, lifting up and looking at her. “He’s in Florida, and I’m here.” I swipe at another tear that rolls down my cheek.
“Charley,” Darcy says, scooting to the edge of her chair, “what if there was a way I could help?”
I furrow my brow. “What do you mean? You plan to move the team to Madison Ridge? Make Nate’s contract null and void?”
A smile plays on her lips. “What if I offered you a job?”
Is she crazy? My eyes widen and I tilt my head at her, trying to convey the message, “My boss is standing right there!” with my eyes.
