Page 32 of The One I Hate
I knew nothing was perfect.
“Yes Whitley, it does sound great. But I don’t think?—”
“Charlie, please.” Her eyes turn pleading. “Just come look at it. I know how much you hate things at Napoli’s, and I think this would be great. Please? Just come and look to say you did.”
“I can’t.”
“And why not?”
“Because—” I stop before I say anymore. She doesn’t know about my history with Simon. Yes, it was at her wedding when I saw him for the first time in years. But I wasn’t about to stop herin the middle of the happiest day of her life to explain why I had to suddenly leave. After that, I never thought I’d see him again, so why tell her?
And as for our…encounter…last week? No one knows about that. Not even Mellie knows everything that happened.
No. I can’t go to Rolling Hills, even to look. I can’t imagine having to see Simon every day. Especially now that I know the man has a master’s degree in orgasms and a PhD in pussy licking.
“I just can’t.”
“I don’t accept that.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” Whitley says, her demeanor now a little tougher. It’s the tone she uses when she needs to get vendors in line. “I’m not asking you to sign a lease. Or put down first month’s rent. Just come and look. Actually, come down tonight so you don’t have to deal with morning Nashville traffic. We can hang out, which we never get to do. I have an impromptu engagement party for my sister-in-law, but the more the merrier.”
A party Simon will definitely be at since I’ve met the fiancé of her sister-in-law, and I know they’re friends.
“I’m not going to go to a party of strangers.”
“Fine,” she groans. “But please come down and look. This place means a lot to this town. I know myself, my husband, and every other resident of Rolling Hills would feel much better knowing that the person who moved into this place wasn't only going to make it theirs, but also make it part of the community. Somewhere people can go for a treat for their kids. An affordable family night out. Breakfast with friends on weekends. A place for kids to study while grabbing a burger. Maybe where a book club comes to meet up.”
I start to tear up as Whitley describes my exact vision. I told her that once, and now she’s using my own words against me.
How dare she.
“And you think my restaurant fits that bill?”
“You’re the only one.”
This woman is good. Also, like she said, I don’t have to sign anything. And there has to be something wrong with it. That will be my out, and I can put this option, and Rolling Hills, behind me.
“Fine,” I groan. “But no promises.”
I don’t know if Whitley heard that over the squeals she’s making on the other end of the call.
“Whitley? Did you hear me? No promises.”
“Sure, sure,” she says. “Whatever you say.”
Chapter 8
Simon
There are some places in the world that just make me feel at peace.
The steam room at the gym.
A golf course in the morning.
A quiet cigar lounge with a good glass of scotch.
