Page 69 of A Night To Remember

“I’m sorry, Jake. I wish things could be different.”

“No you don’t because if you did, you’d tell the truth. I know that you love me and deep down you know it too, but I can’t keep doing this to myself. It hurts too much. Don’t worry, I won’t pull any more stunts like I did today. I just hope your memories of the past keep you warm at night.”

And with that, he walked away.

Chapter Eighteen

The next couple weeks were stressful for Charlie. Although the office gossip had cooled considerably, she was still miserable. Jake no longer pursed her, but Charlie couldn’t help feeling something was missing. When he’d dropped Kristy off that first weekend, she’d invited him in for coffee, but he’d declined. The only thing he wanted to talk about was arranging for Kristy’s next visit with him.

It shouldn’t have hurt, but it did. But she only had herself to blame. She couldn’t get that look of pain in his eyes out of her mind. At their last encounter when they’d had a quick fuck on her couch, she’d wanted to call him back, but her fear wouldn’t allow her to.

Charlie picked at her lunch, not really feeling up to eating.

“Okay. Spill it. What’s wrong, Charlie?” Laura demanded. She’d invited Charlie to lunch because they’d both been busy at work lately. This was the first time in a couple weeks when their schedules actually meshed.

“What’s there to tell? I’ve been keeping busy.”

“How’s the grand love affair?”

Charlie groaned inwardly knowing her friend was going to bring the subject up when she had invited her to lunch, but she still wasn’t prepared for it. “Can we not talk about it?”

“I think we do need to talk about it. I hope you don’t take what I say next the wrong way, but you look horrible. You look like you’ve lost weight and you’re wearing a miserable expression on your face. Please tell me what the matter is. Does it have anything to do with the grand love affair?”

Charlie sighed, knowing how Laura could be relentless when she wanted to be. “There is no grand love affair.”

Laura frowned. “What do you mean? I thought you’d decided to have an affair with Jake.”

Charlie shrugged. “When I made him aware of the plan he wasn’t of the same mind.”

“What happened?”

“Jake asked me to marry him and I turned him down. I told him I’d rather have a no-strings-attached affair.”

Laura, who had been in the middle of taking a sip of her soda, spit it out on the table. “What? Did I just hear you correctly?” She grabbed her napkin and blotted the mess she’d made.

“Yes, you heard me correctly.”

“Are you insane? You turned down a marriage proposal from Jake Fox. Wow, you are officially bonkers.”

“Please stop. You’re not making me feel any better.”

“I’m sorry, but I just don’t get it. Jake’s a great guy who’s apparently crazy about you and Kristy. That you could turn him down is beyond me.”

“I think it’s for the best.”

Laura shook her head in obvious disbelief. “How is it for the best when you’re obviously miserable and you’re depriving your child of a full time father?” She took a deep breath. “I’m not trying to judge you but—”

“Well, you’re doing a pretty good job of it,” Charlie snapped, losing her patience. When she’d agreed to have lunch with Laura it wasn’t to be beaten over the head with the foolishness of her rash decision.

“Don’t play the injured party here. I’m your friend, and as your friend it’s my job to tell you when you’re being a butthead. What did Jake say about your grand scheme?”

“He was angry.”

“Justifiably so I would say.”

“He hasn’t said a word to me since, that wasn’t related to Kristy. As a matter of fact, he’s supposed to be picking her up tonight. He’s taking her to the circus. She’s looking forward to it,” Charlie babbled to stop from breaking down.

“It hurts, doesn’t it?”

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