Page 144 of The One I Hate
She tilts her head at me, clearly knowing my answer was bullshit.
“Fine. We settled on it being a gift because it was the only way I could live with taking that kind of help from him.”
“And there lies the true problem in all of this.”
“What?”
“You’re so stubborn and hate asking for help so much that you’re going to let it ruin the true love of your life.”
“I…” my words trail off.
Shit…she’s right.
For years I’ve been the one hung up over the money. Not him. I’ve made it an issue at every point I could. Not him.
And they’re both right. I would’ve run.
I would’ve run so fucking fast.
“Dammit!” I moan, throwing my head back. “Okay. Fine. But…I’m still mad.”
“As you should be.
“And I love him.”
“I figured you did.”
“So where does that leave me?”
“Only you know that answer,” she says. “Should he have told you? Absolutely. And for the methods he used, you should make him grovel and beg for forgiveness and accept nothing less than him changing every three a.m. diaper. But maybe give him a pass on the outcome. Because at the end of the day, the man helped you achieve your dream. The key word there is helped. Yes, he might have thrown in a few bucks that you wouldn’t have been able to afford, but this place is still your vision. Your food. Yourvision. Simon had nothing to do with that. This is all you. Simon just was your Fairy God Daddy behind the scenes.”
I laugh as I feel a few tears bubbling up. “He’ll love that.”
“I figured he would.” Mellie stands up and gives me a hug as I let this whole conversation start running through my mind. “You’ve in love, Charlie. The kind of love people like me dream about. You’re about to have a baby and start a family. So you have to ask yourself, is this one mistake worth losing a lifetime of happiness?”
She leaves the office, leaving me to sit with my own thoughts.
She’s right. I can be mad and am mad. That doesn’t change.
She’s also right that I’m living my dream, and I don’t know if I would be if it weren’t for Simon.
Chapter 34
Simon
Simon: Everyone. My house. One hour.
Wes: Can I ask why or am I going to regret it?
Simon: Just come. I have beer, and I need help.
Shane: Simon Banks is asking for help? What did you do?
Oliver: Who’s the new number? Why isn’t this in the regular group chat?
Emmett: Simon, I have strong feelings about group texts. Actually, just one. I hate them. Why did you add me to this?
Simon: Everyone, Emmett is now in the chat. Because he’s in this.
