Chapter 28
C harlotte leaned against Gregory, savoring how nice it was to be able to do something so simple and how much she liked having him to lean on. She hadn’t known how much she was craving that. They sat on a bench by the hotel’s porte cochere, waiting for the shuttle that would take Gregory to the airport. Charlotte sighed, not ready for him to leave. She was more bummed than anyone should be when they were this close to Dreamland, but she wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Gregory—no, more accurately she wasn’t ready to let go of this trip with Gregory, this moment when they’d discovered their feelings for each other. And also spent hours exploring each other’s bodies. She’d see him tomorrow, sure, but it would be back in Ohio and back to work and all that came with it—including her family and how they would tell them about their new relationship, and if they would care. Also Charlotte lived in her parents’ basement and as private as the space was, she felt weird about inviting Gregory over.
It was all going to be different, Charlotte thought, but maybe in a good way. They were both committed to seeing where things went. Changes were afoot, and historically speaking, she had a hard time with change.
As if sensing her distress, Gregory squeezed her hand. “I realized I didn’t ask what you and Melanie have planned for today.”
Thinking about her time with Melanie was the perfect topic to reanimate Charlotte.
“So much! Let me open the list on my phone.” She swiped and tapped, pulling up her beloved list-making app. “First, we’re going on a roller-coaster crawl to hit all our favorites in the parks. Mel doesn’t care for Wonder World’s coasters but over here at Dreamland, most of the coasters aren’t too bananas.”
“Still,” Gregory said, “now I see why you didn’t eat much breakfast.”
“That and . . . well, we were kinda otherwise occupied,” Charlotte admitted.
Gregory kissed her cheek. “True. Sorry for interrupting, please continue.”
Charlotte glanced at the app. “Then we’re taking a break from the parks to drive out of town a bit to get some perfect, giant cookies. I’ll bring some back with me, don’t worry. And to wrap up the day, we’ll come back here and use the monorail to stop at hotels with the best bars on property.”
“That’s a lot to do in one day,” Gregory said. “Even for someone as efficient as you. I’m impressed.”
“Melanie and I are pros at this point. Our visits always end up being shorter than we’d like so we’ve learned to optimize our schedules and also do activities that give us plenty of time to catch up and talk,” Charlotte explained. As much as she texted and chatted with Melanie, nothing compared to spending time in person with her best friend. Excitement for spending the whole day with her best friend quickly overrode any glum thoughts she had about Gregory leaving.
The shuttle arrived and they stood up.
“Any big plans after you get home today?” she asked.
“I’m going to go to the park after I drop off my things and unpack. I have some ideas I want to put into my models and have them ready to share with you when you’re back.”
“You could take the rest of the day off, you know. Do some exploring around Columbus, maybe?” Charlotte suggested.
“I have a better idea. How about I come pick you up at the airport tomorrow so you don’t have to deal with that and then we can go to Stauf’s and The Book Loft?”
Gregory had been paying attention to Charlotte all along. She’d only mentioned those places to him a couple of times. Thoughtfulness like that was definitely one of Charlotte’s love languages.
“That sounds perfect,” she said. “I’ll see you then.” They kissed and she waved goodbye, then returned to the empty hotel room, maybe lingering over the pillow Gregory had used and breathing in the woodsy smell. It had been beyond satisfying to wrap herself in that scent—and in his arms. Charlotte shook her whole body, as if to expel the heady emotions inside her. It was time to finish getting ready for her day with Mel.
* * *
Charlotte carried two iced coffees in the largest possible size to a bench next to the entrance for Canyon Frontier Railroad, its large pastel rocks reminiscent of the hoodoos in Bryce Canyon National Park reaching into the sky behind her. This early in the day the line wasn’t too long, so they’d need to finish their coffees before they entered the queue since the drinks could not ride the coaster with them.
Melanie strolled into view, a paper bag with her half of their first snack: a Flaky Delight. Leave it to DreamUs chefs to concoct the best version of the croissant-doughnut treat that Charlotte had ever eaten.
Charlotte stood and when Melanie got close enough, she pulled her friend into a hug.
“You know you could have put the coffee down first,” Melanie chuckled. Charlotte still had one cup in each hand.
“Put the coffee down ? Never,” Charlotte said.
Settling on the bench and swapping an iced coffee for a cronut, Melanie took a loud sip of her drink. “Ah, that’s better. Okay. Now, Charlotte. Tell me everything.”
Charlotte grinned as she filled in her friend on everything that had happened since she and Gregory kissed during the fireworks.
“I knew it would happen,” Melanie insisted. “I didn’t bring it up too much since you’ve been kind of busy and also kind of frequently annoyed with him, but it was only a matter of time.”
Charlotte raised her eyebrows. “Ha! You brought it up enough!”
“I just want you to be happy; it’s what you deserve after stupid Chad. You need some more nonwork joy in your life—though I guess Gregory is extremely connected to your work. How’s that going? Or how’s it gonna go? Especially with your DreamUs application out there.”
As usual, Melanie had homed in on Charlotte’s biggest anxieties about all of it. Charlotte took the lid off her cup and took a fortifying gulp of chilled coffee.
“That’s a good question.” Charlotte talked it out, working through it with herself as much as with Melanie. “Everything about our relationship or whatever you want to call it has been entwined with Lands and will be for a little while. He’s been receptive to a lot of my suggestions and he takes his work seriously. The pressure he puts on himself for his family, mostly his brother Ian, is really something. Family baggage. Always a thing.”
“That sounds familiar. Your family is the best except for Emily, but Lands and all the expectations that come with it and all your memories of it, that all counts as baggage, too. ‘Baggage’ isn’t always negative. It’s the accumulation of memories and obligations and things you carry around with you.”
“When you put it that way,” Charlotte acknowledged, “I can’t argue with that. Gregory’s brother has a lot of similar traits to Emily’s—for example, I already told you they both went to the same business school. Gregory’s trying to do his best for Ever Fund, even if he doesn’t want to stay there and I can see he cares for Lands. I think working at Lands has given him back a part of himself he locked away. He wants Lands to succeed for his company and for my aunt and uncle—”
“And for you,” Melanie added.
“Okay, and for me. I do worry he’ll see appeal in this Peak Fusion offer, and maybe I’m wrong to question it if Frank and Marianne are still considering it.”
“It’s not like IPs are automatically bad. Think about all the cool rides we love that exist because of IPs.”
“I know, but I can’t tell if anyone wants it for Lands beyond money reasons. Which are potentially valid. But if an addition like a whole Heroic Patrol area is what it takes to make Lands long-lasting, would it even be Lands anymore? I wish they’d wait for Under the Waves to open and then evaluate things before making a decision like this,” Charlotte said.
“So if Gregory were to get on board with Peak Fusion, what happens with you two continuing to do whatever you’re doing?”
“I don’t know,” Charlotte admitted. “It’s so new, like brand-new, we haven’t put any labels on anything, but we’ve said we both want to see where it goes.”
That implied a relationship, didn’t it? Charlotte thought so. Certainly more than only being friends and coworkers with benefits. But Melanie had a point. If her working relationship with Gregory faced any roadblocks, it could all implode. She said as much to her friend.
“Yeah, it might,” Melanie said. “But it might not. Mostly what I wanted to get at is to tell you to try not to let your fear get in the way, and to remember that relationships need dedication and attention.”
Charlotte looked away, remembering how she’d let her obsession with her work get in the way of so many relationships with friends and family in the past. Thought about her lack of friends in Los Angeles despite her years there. How she’d worked hard since she met Melanie to give Mel the attention and love she deserved but still failed sometimes. How Melanie had experience in a relationship with a partner who thought working with her in a kitchen counted as spending time with her.
“I appreciate the advice and the reminder,” she told Melanie. “I know you’ve lived that with Riley. Speaking of! He’s opening a restaurant here and he didn’t bother to tell you?”
“Eh, he might have tried. I’ve had his number blocked.” Melanie shrugged.
“Blocked? I didn’t realize the most recent break-up was that bad.”
Her friend studied her cup’s paper straw like it was the only thing in the world. “It wasn’t, not really, but I didn’t trust myself not to reach back out, and we both needed a break from that cycle. We always ended up in the same place: me heartbroken, him still focused on his career in Italy.”
Charlotte touched Melanie’s knee. “Do you think that cycle could change with him opening a place here?”
Melanie leaned her head back to rest it on the top of the bench. “I don’t know, Charlotte. I can’t seem to keep my head straight when it comes to anything involving Riley. I guess I could start with unblocking his number and sending him a message. Maybe.”
“Only if you feel like it, Mel.”
“I know, I know.” Melanie drained the rest of her coffee. “I think I’d rather that than somehow run into him somewhere. I’m going to think about it.”
“I’m here for whatever you decide, and if you need backup, okay?”
Melanie nodded. “Thank you.”
“Now, how about we get in the line for Canyon Frontier Railroad and start our day while you catch me up on all things Mel. I want to hear about your consulting gig for that theme park in Tennessee.”
“Oh, that. This line isn’t long enough to cover it.” Melanie laughed and grimaced at the same time. “But let’s see how far I can get.”
* * *
Working around lines and occasionally using the park’s paid LinePass system meant Charlotte and Melanie made it through their roller-coaster crawl in record time, even with posing for increasingly ridiculous photos with the signs in front of every coaster. High-fiving after their last ride and plopping onto a bench in the shade, Charlotte and Melanie sprawled their limbs dramatically.
“We did it!” Melanie exclaimed.
“We sure did. I hate admitting it, but I feel like maybe my body doesn’t process riding that many roller coasters in a row as well anymore,” Charlotte said. Even with breaks between the coasters to walk, wait in line, and travel between parks to get to the next one, her bones had had enough high-speed twists and turns and hills for the day.
“Honestly, same,” Melanie replied. “None of these coasters were as intense as Cosmic Catastrophe Coaster—that’s the only reason I could do a whole roller-coaster crawl with you—but all of them together add up. Maybe next time we do a chill-ride crawl and only go on . . . I’m thinking gentle boat rides. ”
“Yes, one thousand percent, yes,” Charlotte said. “Still, if I’m gonna be this exhausted and very mildly nauseated, I’m glad it’s with you.”
“Likewise, friend,” Melanie said.
Charlotte glanced at her watch to check her step count, so she could be unreasonably proud of herself for it, and saw she’d missed a text from Gregory letting her know he’d landed safely. He’d sent her dozens of texts and emails as a work friend, usually nitpicking over some small detail or maybe sharing a font he thought would be perfect for a sign in Under the Waves, but this was the first text during this next stage—whatever it was—for them and it made Charlotte unexpectedly swoony. She sighed happily.
“You okay over there?” Melanie asked.
Charlotte pulled out her phone in response and showed her the text. Melanie looked at her questioningly. “And you’re happy he made it back?”
Charlotte explained why the message touched her and Melanie widened her eyes and patted Charlotte’s hand. “Oh babes, you’re in for it, aren’t you?”
Charlotte shook her head no. She was in denial, reluctant to give what she was feeling power by acknowledging it, but she knew Melanie was right. As usual. Charlotte told her as much. The feelings she’d had for Chad could be called fondness with some intense attraction. Their relationship had never kindled anything like this.
Melanie nodded and said without a trace of arrogance, “I know I’m right. You deserve happiness and only the best. Just do your best to keep your love for Lands of Legend separate from your whatever for Gregory. Business, family, dating all wrapped together should come with a warning sign, so that’s what I’m being: a talking warning sign, telling you to guard your heart above all, okay?”
Charlotte turned Melanie’s advice over in her mind and thought she could manage everything, or at least try to. She leaned in to hug her friend, grateful to have someone at her side who would always tell her what’s what—even if it wasn’t something she wanted to hear.
“Why are you the best, Mel?”
“I am pretty terrific, aren’t I? And I’ll continue being terrific by driving us to get obscenely massive cookies. Sound good?”
“Absolutely yes,” Charlotte answered and interlocked her arm with Melanie’s as they walked out of the park. Today, she would enjoy hanging out with her friend. Tomorrow, she would return to a reality balancing the new, dazzling thing developing between her and Gregory, the nonstop to-dos for Under the Waves, and her possible return to DreamUs—a return she was starting to feel less sure about the more she considered this new thing with Gregory.