Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
F OUR YEARS LATER
CHARLIE
A sharp rapping on my door startles me out of my stupor seconds before Trina lets herself into my home. I don’t want to go to this tonight, and thinking about that led me down an Emily Flynn sized “what if” rabbit hole.
I’d rather stay home and wallow.
“Wow,” Trina says as she spins in a slow circle, taking in the main living area of my house. I watch her as she peruses the new cedar I’ve installed on the vaulted ceilings. “Between this and you finishing that wraparound porch, I’m thinking maybe you should have been a carpenter instead of a firefighter.”
“Nah, doing it as a job would take the fun out of it,” I tell her.
“Seriously, though. You’re making this place look stunning. I hope you took some photos of what you started with when you bought it.”
I chuckle, remembering what a dump the main house was when I purchased it. But it’s nestled on ten gorgeous acres in the woods, with a small, stocked lake a short walk from the house. Once I saw the property, the house could have been a lean-to and I would have still wanted it. There aren’t many properties within Elladine city limits that have this much land attached.
“You know, now that I’ve finished the porch, we could stay here tonight and listen to music and have some drinks out on the rockers instead of going to the bar…”
“Sorry, but that’s why I came to pick you up. There’s no way you’re ditching me tonight. I know it doesn’t thrill either of us that Emily gave Teddy another chance, but she’s been back with him for three years now. And, as much as I hate to defend him after he broke her heart four years ago, he has been the doting boyfriend since they got back together. He invited me to celebrate with them and, as my best friend, you’re obligated to go with me.”
“What are we even celebrating? It’s not her birthday. She’s at the same job.”
Trina shrugs. “I assume we’re celebrating her nomination for teacher of the year. I guess I should have asked him, but I didn’t bother. I’m always gonna show up when it involves my little sister and I know you will, too. Now let’s go before you make us late.”
Twenty-five minutes later, when Trina and I step over the threshold into O’Riley’s bar, I groan when the off-key singing that assaults my ears makes it glaringly obvious it’s karaoke night. An odd choice for a celebration for Emily, if you ask me. She hates karaoke because she doesn’t like to be the center of attention—something we have in common. It being karaoke night coupled with people being packed in here like sardines causes it to be uncomfortably warm, making me wish I had refused to come.
My eyes immediately find Emily. She’s sitting at a table with Teddy, his arm slung casually over the back of her chair. Her best friend Shayna and Jack Donley, a firefighter at Station One and Shayna’s older brother, are at the table with her.
I don’t know Jack well since I’ve been at Station Three my entire tenure with the Elladine Fire Department. But Trina worked with him since she started out at Station One and just transferred to Station Three in December to take a captain position on A shift. She says Jack is good people, and I know he has a reputation for being a great firefighter.
I watch their group as Trina and I weave through the crowd making our way over to their table. Teddy is talking animatedly and, just as we approach the table, they all bust out in laughter at whatever he said.
“Trina! Charlie!” Emily says, noticing us. “What are you guys doing here?”
Trina shoots Teddy a questioning look, but he gives her a subtle shake of his head and she seems to get the hint that he didn’t tell her we were coming.
“Excuse me for a minute, everyone. I need to use the restroom,” Teddy says. His voice shakes and I get a little kick out of it.
I swear that since Trina became his shift captain last month, he’s even more afraid of her than he always had been because of her being Emily’s protective older sister. I know Trina wouldn’t harm a fly, but if a little bit of healthy fear keeps him from hurting Emily again, I’m not going to let him in on that secret.
Before anyone can say anything, he’s up and gone from the table in a flash.
I give Emily and Shayna hugs, and Trina formally introduces me to Jack. I shake his hand before heading up to the bar to get Trina and me drinks.
A few minutes later, just as I turn away from the bar to return to the table, Teddy’s voice echoes from the microphone. I follow the sound to see him standing on the stage. As I walk back toward the table, I keep my eyes on Teddy, and weird warning bells are going off in my head.
“Hi everyone. Tonight, I’ve chosen a special song to sing, and I’d like to dedicate it to my girl, Emily Flynn.” Teddy points over to our table and Emily’s cheeks flush a rosy red at all the heads turning to look at her. “If you know the chorus, please sing along with me.”
I hand Trina her beer and lift the cool amber bottle toward my mouth to take a sip but, when the music starts, my hand freezes midway to my mouth. Time stands still. Emily’s eyes widen and Trina’s mouth gapes open.
All three of us know this song because Emily sang it incessantly one summer during her college years, when she was on a Bruno Mars kick.
I sidle up next to Trina and practically whisper, “Is he doing what I think he’s doing? And, if so, did you know about this?”
“Hell no, I didn’t,” she hisses back, making sure Emily can’t hear us.
Teddy is singing Bruno Mars’ “Marry You.” To Emily.
We stand in shock and watch as Teddy sings. Then, on the last refrain, he steps off the stage, still singing, and makes his way to the table. I glance over at Emily and shock radiates from her, eyes wide, her grip on Shayna’s hand causing her knuckles to whiten.
When the music stops, Teddy drops to one knee in front of Emily.
Still speaking into the microphone, he says, “I’ve loved you since I was in high school, Em. And, if you’ll let me, I want to love you for the rest of our days. So, can I? Marry you, I mean?” He pulls a ring out of his pocket and extends it to her.
Bile races up my throat, threatening to force its way out of my body. As I turn to rush to the restroom, out of the corner of my eye, I catch sight of Trina as she grabs the microphone from Teddy’s hand and turns it off. At least someone’s giving Emily some semblance of privacy.
Once I make it inside the restroom, I lose the contents of my stomach into the trash can just as I hear cheers break out from the main barroom. I guess I know what my sunshine’s response was. I knew this day would come, whether with Teddy or someone else. But, fuck, I didn’t want to be front and center to watch it as it happened.
I wish things could have been different and she could have been mine, but they’re not, and so I just have to accept this.
* * *
EMILY
My hands are shaking as our friends and strangers I’ve never met congratulate Teddy and me.
“Are you okay, sweetie?” Shayna whispers in my ear.
“What? S-sure, I’m okay. Just shocked, is all,” I answer her.
“You sure?” Shayna’s narrowed eyes remind me that, no matter what I might say, my best friend knows that I’m not one for having everyone’s attention on me. She hesitates, then grabs my hand, pulls me off my high-top chair, and guides me down the hall toward the bathrooms. When she’s sure no one is around, she places one hand on each of my shoulders and peers into my eyes, like she can see into my soul.
“Emily, you’ve been my best friend for forever. And you’ve gotten me through some pretty tough shit. So, I’ll support you in whatever you do. You know that, right?”
I nod.
“Okay, I’m only gonna say this once, and I’ll trust your answer. If you’re sure this is what you want, then I’ll be right beside you as you plan the wedding of your dreams. But… but if this isn’t what you want, and you felt pressured to say ‘yes’ because of the setting, I’ll help you take it back. The only thing that matters is your happiness.”
I don’t answer for several long seconds, and Shayna waits patiently for me.
“I mean, I love Teddy. And we’ve been together for so long except for—well, you know when. We have so much history and I’m comfortable with him. And since he got help, things have been a lot more even keeled. So, yeah. I think this is what I want.”
“You think ?” she asks.
I don’t get to answer right away because we’re interrupted.
“Excuse me, ladies. Can I get past?”
Glancing up, Charlie’s hazel eyes bore into mine. He breaks our eye contact first, glancing down at my left hand.
An insane urge overwhelms me to flip my hand so he can’t see the ring that now adorns my finger—I ignore it. I don’t miss that a muscle in his jaw tics when his gaze lands on the engagement ring.
“I guess congratulations are in order.” Charlie’s voice is rough, gravelly, and he doesn’t look at me when he says it. I don’t miss that his jaw is clenched.
I clear my throat.
“Thanks.” Even on that one word, my voice quivers.
He simply nods and walks away.
“What was that about, Ems?” Shayna asks.
Confusion radiates off her and I don’t blame her. I never told her about my kiss with Charlie… or just how strong my one-sided juvenile crush on him was. She may have guessed at it, but she’ll never know the extent I felt it. Or that I waited over a year after that Thanksgiving kiss hoping Charlie might change his mind.
“Nothing. He’s probably just being protective on behalf of Trina. I don’t think either of them has forgiven Teddy for what he did.”
“Well, screw everyone else. If you’re happy, then that’s all that matters. Now let’s get you back out there so I can buy you a congratulatory shot.”
I smile at my best friend, my ride or die, and let her lead me back out to the main barroom.
And if I had any question about whether Charlie Fitzgerald cares about me as anything more than a friend, I get my answer—no—as I watch him say something to Trina, then grab his jacket and leave, without so much as a glance back at me.