Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Kate pinches the bridge of his nose. “Okay, okay. So have you two patched things up yet? You and Nolan?”
“We always do,” I say. “I told him he was a fucking asshole and he said I was, too. We hugged it out and moved on. Bro code.”
Cleo rolls her eyes. “Men are so simple. Neither of you are holding a grudge? Really?”
“I saw my first pair of boobs on TV with Nolan right by my side, Cleo. Cinemax at night in his parent’s basement. That’s not the kind of shit you throw away over a little squabble over a girl. We’re brothers for life.”
Now Kate rolls her eyes. “Men really are stupid. But if you’ve patched things up, you really should have Nolan talk to her. Have him vouch for you. Maybe it won’t be enough on its own, but that’s why you’re going to figure out how to do the rest of the convincing.”
“Wait. What? I already told you she said it’s over. She’s probably already dating someone else.” That thought is like a hundred little knives sliding through my veins. It has crossed my mind a few times now and it tears me up every single time. I can’t stand the idea of Charli with someone else. Someone else’s hands on her body. It’s too much, and I’ll never admit to my sisters it’s part of why I’ve kept my distance. I’m too scared I’ll find out she has already moved on. After all, I sort of taught her the best way to get back at a shitty ex was to date someone new, didn’t I?
“Then win her back,” Cleo says. “Make a romantic gesture. Embarrass yourself. Prove you understand how badly you screwed up and that you’ve changed and won’t do it again. Make it good. From your heart.”
Kate folds her arms, nodding. “When you’ve got a plan, run it by us and we’ll help you workshop it until it doesn’t suck.”
I clasp my hands between my knees, nodding my head. “I’ll think about it. But I’ve never been the type to plan things out. I fly by the seat of my pants. You guys know me.”
“Then prove you’re willing to change and get out of your comfort zone for her. Be different because you believe it’s what you have to do to earn her trust back,” Kate says.
I nod again, hating that I think she’s right. It’s a testament to how fucked up this whole ordeal has me. My sisters have given me advice in the past, but this is another level of guidance. Usually, I’m the one steering the ship. I guess I feel like I’ve driven my own ship into the rocks this time, and maybe I needed someone else’s help to undo my mistake.
Because I see it now. The plan I hatched with Nolan was a mistake, but it was only the first mistake. The latest and biggest mistake was thinking letting Charli go without a fight was the right move.
Fuck that.
I want her back, and I’m going to make sure she knows it. Maybe she has moved on. Maybe she doesn’t want anything to do with me now. Maybe. But I’m not about to give up because of a “maybe”.
23
JAMESON
I’m in uncharted territory here. I borrowed (or stole, depending who you ask) one of Nolan’s infamous white boards, snuck it into my office, and began scheming.
Today is step one.
I need to make first contact, which became more difficult when I realized Charli blocked my number. It’s fine, though.
I’m standing outside her building with a bundle of flowers. I know, I know. Cleo and Kate gave me shit for not being dramatic enough, but I told them this is just phase one. I’ve decided a good apology is like a rocket launch. It comes in stages. Some of those stages are fiery disasters and some of them are great. Or something like that.
On my whiteboard, the plan goes something like this: I wait outside her building with flowers all dressed up in my nice suit and tie. I silently give them to her. They are gray, which is an odd choice, so she will ask me why I chose gray. I’ll tell her I looked up what every flower color symbolizes, and that gray means new beginnings, hope, and also everlasting love. I may leave off that last bit, depending on whether she’s going all lovey eyed or looking a little mad still. A good plan leaves room for improvisation and adaptation, after all.
So far, so good.
I’m in my suit and I’ve got the gray flowers. I’m in front of her building.
And then it starts raining. At first, I’m annoyed, but I decide I probably deserve a little misery. I decide to just grin and bear it. I wait in the rain as the hours tick by. Yes, hours.