Page 78 of Wicked and Ruthless

“No.” Her friend’s voice was thick and warbling, setting off alarm bells. “I’m s-sorry to bother you at this hour, but I didn’t know what else to do.”

“It’s okay. You can always call me.” Haisley glanced Nash’s way, finding him staring. “What’s going on? You sound upset?”

A muffled sniffle came through the line. “I d-don’t know what to do, Hais. Daniel and I… I think it might be over for good.”

Haisley’s chest constricted at the naked anguish in her friend’s voice. Charli had admitted when they’d had brunch a few days ago that she and Daniel had been having marital troubles. But divorce? After barely a year of marriage?

This was yet another reason she didn’t dare succumb to her impulse to truly try a forever something with Nash.

“Oh, honey… I’m so sorry. Tell me what happened?”

“We had lunch earlier today. I wanted to surprise him, so I told him I’d made plans for us to go away for the weekend to spend time together. Rekindle our spark. I have prepaid reservations at this cute little bed-and-breakfast about two hours away, and I splurged on some new lingerie. When I told him I packed him a bag because we needed to leave right after work and that we were going to spend the weekend together in our romantic cocoon, guess what he did?”

“He refused.”

“Worse than that. Not only did he say he wouldn’t go because he’d volunteered for overtime this weekend and the money was too good to pass up, but when he found out I’d already put everything on our credit cards, he flipped. He was seriously pissed off that I’d spent a few hundred dollars without consulting him. I pointed out that he’d volunteered for more work without consulting me, after promising that he wouldn’t.”

She hurt for Charli. “Oh, sweetie…”

“I organized a surprise for him, you know? A mini vacay because we’ve been working so hard, and we needed some us time. But he just lost his shit even more. Then I lost mine. He’s working so many hours. I only see him when he finally drags his ass home about nine each night. We barely speak before bed, and he’s gone before I even get up the next morning. He swears he’s just t-trying to save up enough for our dream house and eventually have kids. But at the rate we’re saving, we’ll never get there. I’ll be in menopause before he’s home enough to get me pregnant. I can’t even remember the last time we had sex.”

Charli dissolved into muffled sobs, and the sound tore at Haisley’s heart. As cynical as Haisley had always been about love and relationships, she knew how much her friend had pinned her hopes and dreams of till death do us part on Daniel.

“Breathe. Okay? Just take some deep breaths,” Haisley murmured softly. “Have you two considered marriage counseling? Maybe if a third party?—”

“Counseling?!” Charli’s voice hitched up an octave on a wild laugh. “Since our insurance is shit, that costs money, too, and he won’t part with it. He says that in five years we might be able to swing a down payment if we’re really frugal, but how can a marriage survive if I never see the man? If he invests in our bank account, but not in us? What am I going to do? I love him so much, but…but I can’t keep living like this, as his perpetual last priority!”

“You’re right. You should be his first priority—always. I’m so sorry…”

A soft curse made Haisley glance up. Nash regarded her with a concerned glance. She turned away for some privacy. Charli wouldn’t appreciate Nash knowing all her business. And the way he stared… Haisley felt too seen.

“What do I do?” Charli sniffled.

Haisley didn’t know what advice to give her friend. How could she when her own love life was spiraling out of control and falling apart? Love—the forever kind—wasn’t in the cards for her. Coming to that conclusion had been bitter as hell, but facts were facts. True devotion was for the lucky few, and she wasn’t one of them.

Last year, when Charli and Daniel had gotten hitched she’d hoped her friend would be different, but…sadly, they were like most everyone else.

Doomed.

“Help me,” Charli sobbed in her ear.

“I wish I knew what to say. I’m probably the worst person to give romantic advice. Maybe you should pack a bag and go to the bed-and-breakfast this weekend. Use the time and distance to decide what’s best for you. And if you really think it’s over, then you have to do whatever serves your heart and your happiness. Don’t let fear keep you trapped in a situation that’s only hurting you more each day.”

There was a heavy pause on the line, punctuated by Charli’s occasional hiccups and sniffling wails.

When her friend finally spoke, her voice was subdued but resigned. “You’re right. I need to think. I need to figure out what comes next. It’s just…this wasn’t how our marriage was supposed to go, you know? We were going to grow old together, gray and wrinkled like two adorable prunes spoiling all our adorable grandkids.” She exhaled a shuddering sigh. “But it doesn’t look like that will ever happen. Some happily ever after, huh?”

The bitter disappointment in Charli’s tone lanced straight through Haisley’s chest. Because she understood. Deep down, Haisley feared that shattering disillusionment—the slow, agonizing death of a dream she pinned her hopes and happiness on. If she gave into her heart’s desire to try love and forever with Nash, they’d end up destroyed, too.

Shoving aside her melancholy, she mustered a gentle tone. “Oh, sweetie. I just want to reach through the phone and hug you.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t make any rash decisions, okay? Take the weekend. Get some space. Really think about what you want and what divorcing Daniel would mean. And I’m always here if you want to talk or vent or cry.”

“Yeah. I think you might be right. I’m going to pack a bag and head out first thing in the morning, consider my options and just…try to figure everything out over the weekend.” Another weighted pause. “Thanks. I love you, girl. You’re the best.”

“I love you, too. Chin up, okay? You’ll figure it out. Ring me if you need an ear.”

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