Chapter 45 - Spencer
Chapter Forty-Five - Spencer
“Charlie, hold up,” I call, rushing to reach him before he leaves.
I’m not sure how this conversation will go, but I can’t idly sit by and let Andie handle this.
Maybe this will be the olive branch we need.
I may not have the best plan in mind, but it’s the only one I have, surely, he can be reasonable.
Swinging open the door to his truck, he pauses when he hears me hollering.
For a moment I’m worried he’s going to ignore me, but he slowly turns to look at me.
The look of utter aversion on his face doesn’t go unnoticed.
I step a little closer, showing him I’m not going to back down.
Shaking his head, he fights his disdain for me.
“What do you want?” His voice is cold, dismissive.
“That’s a loaded question right there,” I reply, “but let’s start with what I want right now. I want you to come back and talk with me and Andie.”
It’s obvious he’s done listening as he starts to turn to climb in his truck. The only thing that stops him is my hand on the door, preventing it from shutting.
“Look, I don’t give a shit what you think of me, but Andie does. You’re one of her best friends, and your opinion and support mean the world to her. You’re breaking her heart leaving like this.”
His jaw clenches, but I keep going.
“I don’t know what I did to you. I don’t know why you hate me.
And honestly, I don’t give a shit.” I take a breath, reining in my anger.
“I love Andie, and I’m not going anywhere, but I can’t be the reason she loses you too.
So, talk to us, fix this, because I swear to god, if you tear her down, break her again, I will hunt you down and hurt you. ”
Probably not the most diplomatic approach, but sometimes you have to speak a language the other person understands.
I’ve said my piece. What he does with my words is out of my hands now. I release my grip from his door and start to back away before his words stop me cold.
“You really love her, don’t you?”
I look up seeing Andie through the window as she stands on the porch nervously biting her nails. “Yes, more than anything.”
Charlie’s shoulders slump slightly, the hard edge fading from his posture.
“Look, I don’t hate you. Fuck, I don’t even know you.
” He could have fooled me, he always looks like he wants to make me disappear.
“Cody was my best friend, and he messed up. I wanted to tell Andie so many times, but I just couldn’t betray him. ”
His voice grows quieter, more vulnerable. “I watched him as he spent months lying to her. I watched her mourn the husband she thought he was. I was there for the depression, and I just can’t see that again. It almost killed me the first time.”
He runs a hand through his hair, looking suddenly exhausted. “I don’t hate you, but I’m scared that if it doesn’t work out, I will have to watch her go through that pain again. Only this time I’ll have to help take care of her and a kid.” His voice cracks slightly.
“And if I’m being honest . . . it kills me to think about someone else raising Cody’s son. That little boy is all that’s left of my best friend, and I’m supposed to just watch you step into his father’s place?”
I’m floored by his confession. I’d been trying to figure out why he seemed to resent me so much, and I considered everything from territorial friendship to . . . well, other feelings. But he isn’t leaving because he hates me. He’s leaving because of the fear of watching her lose everything again.
“What if it does work out? I have no intention of leaving her or that child. Charlie, I love her, and I will do everything in my power to make this work with her. But she needs you in her life. She needs her friends.”
Charlie studies me for a long moment, sizing me up. I can almost see him weighing my words, trying to determine if I’m full of shit or truly sincere.
“I’ll talk with her,” he finally says. “But do me a favor? Don’t break her heart.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I tell him as I take his hand, shaking it to cement a promise that I plan to keep. I step away from his truck so we can head back to the house.
“Can I tell you the worst part?”
I look up at Andie in the window, still giving me the wide eyes. I hold up a finger indicating to give us a moment. “I’m sorry?” I don’t understand where he’s going with this, but it’s obvious he needs to get out whatever he’s holding in.
“Look man, I need to tell someone, and maybe you can help me figure out how to tell Andie.”
He’s struggling, fighting this internal demon that has been eating away at him.
“Cody begged me to keep Brittany and the baby a secret. He promised he’d tell Andie but obviously never did. But what’s really eating at me is I haven’t told her I’ve been giving Brittany money to help with Henry since he died. I’ve been lying to Andie for months by helping take care of his son.”
I was not expecting him to confide in me. I’m not Dr. Phil so I really don’t know how to handle this.
“I can’t tell you what to do. But you’re going to keep hurting like this unless you tell her. Come back to the house, talk to Andie. Tell her everything.”
“But she’ll be pissed at me. She’ll never forgive me.” He’s scared to lose the relationship they built.
“No shit, she’ll be pissed. You’ve been lying to her—I’d be pissed too.
But give her a little credit. She loves you and eventually she will come around and forgive you.
It might involve groveling, but she’ll always need you to be in her life.
” I rest my hand on his shoulder giving a compassionate look that says I’m here for you.
“Talk to her, Charlie.”
He offers me a curt nod, and we make our way back to the house. Andie’s staring at me on pins and needles awaiting the results. As we approach her, I lean in, giving her a kiss on her forehead, before leaving Charlie on the porch with her.
I go inside, knowing Andie and Charlie need their moment to talk. I feel something settle inside me. We’re going to be okay, all of us. It won’t be easy, and there will be more obstacles ahead, but the foundation is solid. That’s all we need to build something that lasts.