Page 196 of The Charlie Method

“Slow down,” I plead. “I don’t know, okay? I don’t have all the answers.”

She quits pacing. “You don’t know? You’re telling me you’re in love withtwo guys, and you don’t know how any of this is going to work?”

I rub my temples, feeling a headache coming on. “I don’t know how to navigate this. It’s not like there’s a handbook for being in a relationship with two people.”

Faith plops down next to me, staring at me like she’s trying to solve a puzzle. “Okay, but what happens when it gets serious? You can’t just keep dating both of them forever, right? Eventually, someone’s going to want something more. What if one of them wants to get married?”

A knot forms in my stomach. I’ve thought about it, of course, but not too deeply. It’s been this distant, abstract thing. But now that she’s quizzing me about it, I can’t keep my head in the sand anymore.

She’s right. What happens if or when it gets serious?

“I don’t know. I really don’t. I don’t want to choose, and neither of them has asked me to. But yeah, I have no idea what happens down the line.”

“Okay, fine. Let’s say you don’t have to choose. You’re all fine with that. What happens if people start noticing? You can’t exactly keep this a secret forever.”

I stare at my hands, twisting my fingers together. “I don’t know,” I reiterate, all the unknowns pressing down on my chest. “I haven’t figured that part out yet. All I know is that I love them.”

“Love isn’t always enough, Charlotte. You need to think about the practical stuff too. You can’t just float along forever.”

I slump against her and rest my head on her shoulder. “I know. Trust me, I know. I’m trying to take things one step at a time, but then I get overwhelmed by all the stuff I don’t have answers for. What if one of them wants more and the other doesn’t? What if I want more, and I’m the one who messes everything up?”

“You’re not going to mess it up. But you do have to start thinking about this stuff. If you’re going to make this work—reallymake it work—you have to figure out what the future looks like for all three of you.”

I nod, but inside, I’m still spinning.

Because the truth is, I have absolutely no idea how to make this work.

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

WILL

Fathers and sons

ONWEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, ISTAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE KITCHEN, staring at my phone, debating whether to make this call. I can practically hear my father’s voice in my head, barking orders, dismissing my thoughts and feelings like they’re nothing. But this job offer Tessa brought me is too big to ignore. I’ve spent the past four days researching every last detail about Harper Wozniak, the would-be congresswoman.

And Tessa was right.

I love her politics.

Finally, with a deep breath, I tap my dad’s contact name. The phone rings once, twice, and then his voice comes on the line, clipped and businesslike as always. A part of me is surprised he didn’t send me to voicemail the way he usually does.

“William,” he says. No hello, no small talk. Just straight to the point. “What is it?”

I mimic his approach, not bothering with pleasantries either.

“I got a job offer. From Pamela Kerry, the campaign manager for Harper Wozniak. She wants me to join the campaign.”

There’s a pause on the other end of the line.

I can practically feel the temperature drop.

When my father finally speaks, his voice is like ice. “Wozniak is a piece of shit, William. You can’t be serious.”

“I am serious. I’m considering accepting.”

“Absolutely not.” He laughs in amazement. “Absolutely fuckingnot. Do you hear me?”

“Loud and clear.” Resentment climbs up my throat. “But you don’t have a say in this, Dad. This is my decision to make.”

---