Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Yes, this was juvenile.
Wendy could stand back and look at her behavior and see it for what it was.
Did that ability change the fact that her heart was broken?
Nope.
Did it change the fact that it wasn’t her own dang fault?
Still no.
Did it mean that she was going to get the courage to do something about it any time soon?
Also no.
Seeing Tripp with that woman had brought back every fear, every insecurity, and every single thing she’d disliked about Tripp, only now it warred with everything she loved about him.
She could see the potential he had when he was with her. She’d witnessed what it was about him that had made Olivia like him so much. And stupidly, she’d believed that he’d change for her.
Stupid.
Yep, that was what she’d been. Na?ve and ridiculously hopeful. What had she expected would happen when she insisted on keeping Tripp at arms’ length? That he’d eventually fall to his knees and beg her to change her mind so they could give whatever this was a go?
That would have been nice.
And she hated the way her heart leaped in her chest at the thought of him laying it all out to her like that.
The truth of the matter was that her heart was too tender right now to see him face to face and tell him she needed to end their strange friendship. She couldn’t look him in the eye, knowing that he wanted to see other women.
Because she was selfish and she wanted him all for herself.
A little voice told her she should just tell him that so he could be the bad guy when he inevitably got that look on his face. The one that said he was interested but not that interested.
She groaned and let her forehead fall atop the desk in her office. She’d seen Tripp’s truck before he climbed out and hurried into the shop. Thankfully, he hadn’t cornered her anywhere too public. Nor had he tried to get to her at home.
It was only a matter of time. She had to remind herself of that fact daily.
Each day only got worse. She continued to imagine him taking girls out just for the fun of it. Sure, they might not even kiss or hold hands, but that didn’t prevent her stomach from going rogue on her and churning like it wanted to upend everything she’d eaten in the last couple of days.
The shop would be closing down soon and if she managed to stay put in the office until Serenity hung the closed sign in the door, she’d be able to slip out of here without risking seeing anyone.
Her office door opened then footsteps shuffled inside. Then the door closed. That was what had her lifting her head because why would her door need to be shut if the only two people in the shop were in this room?
Only she wasn’t with just Serenity. Hallie stood by her side and the pair of them looked almost livid.
“Spill.” Hallie’s stern one-word statement made Wendy want to shrink back in her chair and slither away like the vermin she related to lately.
“I don’t—”
“Oh, enough.” Hallie glanced to Serenity who gave her a short nod.
“We know you’re upset with Tripp and honestly, we’ve known him long enough to believe that he’s at fault.
But you’re not talking to us about it and that means you’re letting whatever this problem is fester.
So out with it. Tell us what the idiot did, and we can go on attack mode. ”
Wendy glanced from Serenity to Hallie and back. “He’s not the idiot.”
Hallie snorted but Serenity’s expression remained unchanged.
“I mean it. I’m the dumb one. I’m the person who messed up.”
Hallie rolled her eyes and plopped down in one of the two chairs on her side of the desk. “Okay, so tell us what you did that made you think it was a good idea to hide. We’re on your side, sweetie. You don’t have to be the one to go dark.”
Serenity took a seat as well but remained quiet.
She was like that. She didn’t demand to know things like Hallie did.
She was the type of person who liked to look at things from every angle before she made a decision.
It was one of her best qualities. But then it did mean she overthought about a lot of stuff as well.
Wendy blew out an exasperated breath. “Fine. I’ll tell you.” Honestly, she didn’t like the idea of her friends judging her on the way her ‘more than friendship thing without strings’ had come to be. Would they look at her differently? Probably.
Keeping her eyes trained on her desk, she fiddled with her hands in her lap. “He dated my best friend several years ago.”
Neither of the woman seemed surprised. Perhaps they’d overheard conversations. Perhaps they knew of Olivia. Either way it didn’t matter.
“It didn’t end well, and it left a sour taste in my mouth. I hated him when we were paired up for the wedding.”
Serenity smiled knowingly and Hallie snorted. Of course they’d caught on to that.
“But things changed.” The room seemed to drop in temperature at her confession. “I don’t know how to explain it, but he got to me somehow. He was funny and we got along. He could be really sweet, too.” Wendy peeked at her friends. “And he’s a really good kisser.”
Hallie blanched and made a face. Serenity snickered at their friend’s reaction. But Wendy only grew warmer.
“So I told him that we could be friends. Hang out. Kiss. Spend time together, but under no circumstances were we to date.”
Hallie seemed understanding but Serenity frowned at that. She leaned forward. “Why?”
Wendy shrugged. “He doesn’t do relationships. You guys know that. I knew—know that.” She shut her eyes. “It was my way of keeping my heart safe.”
“Smart,” Hallie murmured, earning a sharp look from Serenity.
“No, not smart. That sounds like a recipe for disaster.”
Wendy glanced between the two.
“What? Why? Like Wendy said. Tripp has a habit of losing interest. I can’t remember if he ever had a girlfriend that lasted more than a month. He’s always bouncing from one to the next.”
Wendy returned her attention to her hands. This right here was why she’d made that decision. She knew all about his habits. And yet she’d still managed to fall for the guy.
“So what happened?” Serenity whispered.
Flushing deeper, Wendy refused to meet their gazes. “I realized that I wanted to try for something more. So, I was going to tell him.” She glanced briefly at Hallie. “That day we were going to have lunch.”
Hallie scowled. “The day you said you suddenly didn’t feel good after we caught sight of him?” There was an edge in her voice. “I knew he’d done something. What happened?”
Wendy flinched. “He was with someone else at that coffee shop.”
Hallie muttered something under her breath. Serenity seemed thoughtful but she didn’t lift her gaze to Wendy.
“Anyway, I realized I’d made a mistake. I couldn’t believe I was stupid enough to fall for his charms—”
Hallie shot forward and placed a hand on the desk, causing Wendy to glance up at her.
“You’re not stupid. He’s the idiot. If he can’t see that you’re worth it, then that’s on him.
He’s probably not cut out for something long term.
Some guys just aren’t built for that.” Her eyes seemed to lose focus for a moment.
But then clarity returned. “I say good riddance and you’re well within your rights to ghost him.
It’s not like you were dating. Just tell him to leave you alone. ”
Wendy only got a short nod in when Serenity spoke up. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Both Wendy and Hallie stared at her, surprised.
Serenity shifted in her seat and a small blush filled her cheeks. “Take it from someone who has been lucky enough to fall in love twice in her life. You don’t want to make any rash decisions right away. You still need to have a conversation with him. Maybe you should tell him—”
“Tell him what?” Hallie scoffed. “I mean, I like Tripp as much as the next person. He’s my family for heaven’s sake. But when it comes to dating my friends, he’s not good enough.”
“You don’t know that,” Serenity said firmly. “You don’t know what he’s going through. Heck, if you didn’t go into that coffee shop to confront him, how do you even know if that was a date? What if it was a business meeting?”
Wendy contemplated Serenity’s words. That was an excellent point. She’d made a similar mistake earlier. And when she’d realized it, she’d been embarrassed. Suddenly, she felt a little dizzy. She had the worst habit of overreacting to things she shouldn’t.
“Don’t listen to her, Wendy. Tripp is a serial dater.
That’s how he’s always been since college.
I don’t know if something happened to him down in Georgia or whatever, but that’s how it is.
The fact that he even agreed to this whole relationship thing that isn’t a relationship thing tells me everything I need to know.
I’m sorry, but a guy who wants more isn’t going to settle for less. ”
Serenity stood suddenly, making the other two jump. “And what if he does? How do you know?”
Wendy gaped at Serenity who had never acted so brash with them before.
“He’s been coming into the shop, trying to track her down. What if he wants more but he doesn’t know how to put it into words?” She turned to Wendy. “Or what if he’s scared to admit it?”
Hallie’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you on his side?”
Serenity paled and slowly lowered into her seat.
“This intervention was all your idea,” Hallie reminded her.
Wendy’s eyes ping-ponged from one friend to the other. Intervention? She stifled a groan.
“I’m not taking any sides,” Serenity insisted. “I just think that it isn’t smart to make assumptions. We don’t know what’s going through his head because Wendy has been avoiding him for days.”
If Wendy could, she’d shrink into her seat and drain into the floor.
“She’s allowed to take time to figure things out,” Hallie shot back.
“I know.” Serenity was clearly uncomfortable with pointing out her side. This conversation was really beginning to resemble the whole devil and angel on the shoulder thing.
“Well, I think that she should just let Tripp deal with the consequences of seeing other women. If he doesn’t like that Wendy shut him out, then that’s his problem.”
Serenity’s disgruntled and yet exasperated sound echoed through the room as she set her firm expression on Wendy. “And I think that you can’t keep running.”
Wendy flinched again.
“Because he’s trying, Wendy. It’s been a little over a week, right? He’s been trying to reach you. He hasn’t given up. That has to count for something.”
“He just wants what he can’t have,” Hallie grumbled.
“Maybe not.”
This little intervention seemed to be a complete failure. Wendy stared at each of her friends as they stared right back. It was as if she were expected to choose a side right here and right now. They both had good points.
Wendy couldn’t deny that Hallie’s opinion struck a chord. If Tripp had wanted her bad enough, he wouldn’t have accepted her request for no strings. But Serenity was more level-headed when it came to opening up a dialogue.
Digging her hands into her hair, she closed her eyes and pushed out all the voices in her head telling her that it would be easier if she just hid away and waited for Tripp to lose interest. Because there was one low argument that demanded to be heard.
He hadn’t given up yet. That didn’t mean he’d want more. But it did mean he valued her to a degree.
“You know what I think?” Hallie finally broke the silence. Wendy didn’t bother opening her eyes. “You should go on a date with someone else. Someone who isn’t Tripp.”
At that, Wendy’s eyes flew open and she stared with surprise at her friend.
“What?” Hallie shrugged, almost looking sheepish. “You said yourself that both of you were allowed to see other people. Have you done that yet?”
“No,” Wendy whispered.
“There, see? Whether or not you decide to talk to him doesn’t matter right now.
Go out with someone else and see if you feel anything.
That way you’ll know one way or the other.
If all you can think about his Tripp, then give him a chance.
If not…” Hallie shrugged again. “Then you have your answer.”
“Maybe,” Wendy murmured, though that single word tasted vile and bitter. She hadn’t dated anyone else because Tripp fulfilled her in every way. She’d fallen for him. How was she supposed to go out on a date with someone else and not think about him?
“You don’t have to,” Serenity murmured. “You can talk to Tripp first.”
Hallie rolled her eyes, but she didn’t argue.
“I’ll think about it,” Wendy said quietly.
Both of her friends nodded at that. It was the closest she’d been able to come to placating both of them. A line had been drawn in the dirt. She’d have to make a clear decision eventually. She just hoped she’d be brave enough to do the right thing.