“You told him you weren’t looking for anything. Maybe you both just said it to protect yourselves, you know? Just go with it, and don’t overthink it. See where it goes. Stop with the games, and just tell the man how you feel.”
“I did not call for rational advice, Monny. I called for you to tell me to pull my head out of my ass and walk away now. I’m just confusinglust with feelings. I’m attracted to him. I can’t like a man who irritates me all the time.” I got up and headed to the bedroom to get dressed.
“That’s not true. Myles irritates me all the time,” she said before loud laughter bellowed from her. “But I love that man like crazy. I think it’s good that you’re feeling things. You’ve had this guard up around you for so long, and I’m happy to see it come down for someone.”
“What if he rejects me?” I whispered.
Because at the end of the day, that was what I was afraid of.
I’d had a lifetime of rejection from my own father.
I wouldn’t allow anyone to make me feel like I wasn’t good enough ever again.
“Violet,” she said, her voice wobbling as she said my name, “you can’t spend your whole life protecting yourself from heartache. Look at what happened with Myles. I put myself out there, and it hurt like hell when he left. But he came back to me, and everything worked out. Had I not put myself out there, we wouldn’t be together now. Sometimes you’ll get hurt, but you’ve got to take risks to get what you want. It’s part of life.”
“I don’t think I can go there,” I said, my voice low as I swiped at the single tear streaming down my face. “The thought of him not feeling the same way about me would be too much. And we’re friends. I love Harper, and I want to keep her in my life. I don’t have it in me to hate Charlie Huxley, and if he rejected me I would have no choice.”
“Because you have actual feelings for the man. The fact that we’re even talking about this is huge for you. You’ve always been one foot out the door in every relationship you’ve been in. Just enjoy this right now and see where it goes. Don’t decide anything yet, okay?”
“Well, I don’t have time to decide anything anyway. I’ve got a Pinkalicious party to set up, and I think Harper’s mom might be coming to the party, so for all I know, they still have feelings for one another.” I pulled on a pair of jeans and a pink blouse before moving to the bathroom.
“I don’t even know his ex, and no one in town has ever mentioned her. It’s weird that she just comes to town once a year, right?” she asked.
“It’s very bizarre. I want to see how the dynamic is. So I’m shaking it off, and your job is to forget this conversation ever happened. I’m already over it.” I put a few curls in my hair before pulling it into a low ponytail.
“Good luck with that,” she chuckled. “Unfortunately, feelings are not something you can just decide to get over. But I know you’re in party mode now, and I can’t wait to see you work your magic. We’ll see you at the party in a few hours. Call me if you need me. Love you.”
“Love you,” I said before ending the call.
I put on some lip gloss and mascara and stared into the mirror. “You don’t like Charlie Huxley. Shake it the hell off.”
And that’s exactly what I intended to do.
Chapter Sixteen
Charlie
I’d never experienced anything like the whirlwind that was Violet Beaumont in party mode. Harper was still floating on air after waking up to a roomful of balloons and dancing around the house that the birthday fairy had come to visit her.
I personally was still floating on air that the birthday fairy and I had shared a hot kiss in the kitchen this morning.
I didn’t know what to make of it.
She was so hot and cold with me, and I couldn’t read her.
Violet had insisted that I take Harper to the Brown Bear Diner for pancakes so she could get the inside set up for the party, as she wanted to surprise my daughter with the decor.
I normally bought some paper plates and cups and a cake, but this year, I’d agreed to let her do all the shopping for the party and take over the whole thing.
When we pulled up to the house, I sent her a text, per her instructions.
She was a bossy little thing.
Harper unbuckled and climbed into the front seat once we were parked in the driveway.
Me: We’re home. Can we come inside now?
“What did she say, Daddy?” Harper asked.
