17. Chapter Seventeen #2
But I don’t budge. And my friends, God bless them, don’t question any of it. Not here. Not in front of these two. I know they’ll want answers later, and I owe them that. After I deal with this.
“Well, I’m glad we didn’t become anything because you and Charlotte seem pretty cozy. You know what? It’s almost like you’ve been cozy for a lot longer than you’d like to admit.”
Charlotte clears her throat and looks over at me.
“Lizzie, I’m sorry. It’s not his fault. When I found out he was interested in you, I tried telling him how I felt, but he was set on you.
I didn’t mean to cause any problems. I’ve always liked him.
I was scared to say something. But he and I have been friends for a while, and I’m twenty-seven years old.
I’m not a kid anymore. The dating pool in Selah Falls is small.
I’m not waiting around for a guy I like to like me back.
I just went for it and asked him out, and here we are. ”
“We’re the same age, Charlotte, and you don’t see me asking out guys when they’re dating so-called friends.”
“Lizzie, this isn’t personal. If we really are friends, I need you to try and understand.”
“Oh, I understand,” I say.
It dawns on me that I understand now that Charlotte and I are no longer friends. We had our season back in college, but since then we have been more like friendly acquaintances. We chat and text every so often, but we don’t hang out or really talk about anything meaningful anymore.
Maybe I was the one holding on to a friendship that was already over.
Just like I was holding on to a crush on George that I should have left back in high school.
But I don’t want to guilt them about their relationship when I’m over here lying about having a boyfriend.
It feels wrong, so I take this in stride.
I was blind to what was going on but I’m not anymore.
“Just be careful, Charlotte. He’s not who you think he is.”
I take a breath and walk away. I will not stand outside confronting a guy I don’t even want anymore because I saw him with a girl who used to be my friend.
“I don’t need your blessing, Lizzie,” Charlotte says bitterly.
I pause. What did she just say to me? I was trying to be the bigger person. To walk away and let it be. But she wants trouble, doesn’t she? I turn back around and look at her. I never thought she was the type to act like this.
She was a friend at one point. We weren’t super close, but we were always kind and respectful toward each other over the years. I didn’t think there was any bad blood between us. And here we are, in the middle of a heated conversation about a guy who isn’t even worth it.
Nic and Jane each take one of my hands, holding on tightly, reminding me that they’re here for me.
I also know we aren’t the fighting type.
Well, I’ve been delivered from my old ways, and I refuse to go back to throwing punches like I was known to do in my schoolgirl days whenever someone got smart with me.
I consider my next words carefully before speaking.
“You know what, Charlotte? I saw you two over here, and I wanted to say something. To warn you about him. To confront George about being a creep who goes hunting on the local college campus for his next prey. But let me make one thing clear: I don’t want your man.
Or an apology for his disgusting behavior.
Or your friendship, Charlotte. I just wanted to tell you to be careful and to tell him to leave the good women in this town alone until he figures out what he actually wants. Have a good night.”
With that, I turn, and Nic, Jane, and I walk away arm in arm, heading back across the street.
“We aren’t coming to that wedding either,” George calls after us.
I blink, realizing Charlotte had been invited and was planning to bring Wickham, of all people.
“Ignore them. But I think we need a bonfire chat tonight,” Jane says, knowing that some of our best and most comforting conversations have happened around the bonfire in my backyard since Nic moved back to town. “We’ve got some debriefing to do.”
“We’ve definitely got some things to discuss,” Nic agrees, adding, “Things like Lizzie having a new boyfriend and not telling us, and how that new boyfriend is Will Darcy. Oh yeah…I know. Jay texted me tonight since Will told the guys.”
Jane adds, “Also, Lizzie…you never confirmed or denied what Mrs. Caraway texted Nic about when she saw you and Will walking close together in the town square.”
***
We gather in my backyard after the sun has finally set. We’re cozy beneath the night sky, with stars twinkling overhead, and I’m grateful that we can actually see them in Selah Falls since we’re far enough away from the city.
But the calm sky, with not a cloud in sight, is deceiving. The sky might be calm, but tonight is anything but.
Mama is already texting me, asking what’s going on at our house tonight.
I ask Lydia to call her and let her know we’re just hanging out with friends. I also ask her to please tell Mama not to come over tonight since she got curious after hearing the music and chatter drifting from our backyard. Our houses are close enough that she can hear everything.