Page 63 of A Night To Remember

Jake sat motionless. His emotions were in turmoil. He was still pissed but he and Steve had been best friends for eighteen years. Steve’s behavior was still reprehensible but Jake at least understood.

“Steve, wait,” Jake called out as Steve was walking out the door. Steve turned around. “I appreciate the apology.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes. Have a seat.” When Steve did so Jake continued. “I should have set you straight from the beginning, so I’m just as much to blame in this whole fiasco as you are.” Jake sighed as he rubbed his throbbing temples.

“So how is Charlie taking all this?” Steve asked curiously.

“Surprisingly well actually. I’m more upset about this whole thing than she is. She said it would all blow over.”

“That’s really classy of her. I knew she was a special lady when I first saw her, unlike that puta, Laura, she calls a friend. That’s one of the reasons I guess I was so attracted to her. She’s not like the other women I’ve dated,” Steve explained.

“She is pretty extraordinary,” Jake agreed, choosing to ignore Steve’s comment about Laura. Those two would have to work out their own issues.

“So where do you two stand? When are you going to pop the question and when do I get to meet your little girl?”

“I’m sure you’ll get to meet Kristy eventually. She’s a great kid. As for Charlie, I already asked her last night.”

“And?”

“She said no.”

“What?” Steve asked incredulously.

Jake shrugged. “She doesn’t feel the same. She’s still in love with her husband,” he said more calmly than he actually felt. It was painful to talk about it.

“Isn’t he dead?”

“Yes, and he has been for some time now. I can’t compete with a ghost, but I swear, if that bastard was alive, I would punch his heart out,” Jake said, fiercely jealous of the man who Charlie still loved above all else.

“Whoa, you don’t need to go beating any more people up.” Steve shook his head.

“Don’t worry. I’ve hung up my boxing gloves.”

“So you’re just going to give up? On Charlie, I mean.”

“Short of kidnapping her, what do you suggest I do? She’d rather have a physical relationship with me than be my wife. Do you know how degrading that feels?”

Steve thought for a moment. “There has to be some reason for that. She doesn’t seem like the type to sleep around, unlike that friend of hers.” Steve shook his head.

“Don’t start that again.”

“Start what?” Steve asked innocently.

“You know, but look, Charlie has made her decision and I have to accept it. It hurts like hell but I’m going to have to let go of the dream,” Jake said raggedly.

“I’m sorry, man. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Yes, actually there is. I’m going out of town for a few days. I’ll be back to the office on Monday but I want you to take care of any fires that pop up. I’ll keep my cell phone on if you need to reach me.”

“Where are you going?”

“I think I’ll head to my condo at the shore. I need some time to think.”

“Okay. No problem. I’ll hold the fort down for you.”

“Thank you. Well, I really do have to get some of this stuff done before I leave today. By the way, what will you tell people when they ask what happened to your face?” Jake grinned for the first time that day.

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