that?”
“I don’t know why I believed him, Max. There were all these mystical things in his store, and I guess I became entranced by all of it. He seemed to know right away what was wrong with me. I really wanted to believe he could help.” She moves back farther on the bed, curling her knees to her chest. “I found out yesterday that my ex knocked up the girl he cheated on me with, and that the two of them are engaged. They’re getting married in our hometown, where we all grew up together. It was a low point for me. Believe me, I’m not proud of myself.”
She’s staring at me as if she’s hoping I can relate, her huge blue eyes watery and intense. I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. This is unfamiliar territory for me. I’ve never been around someone who wears all their emotions on their sleeve. It’s unsettling.
I sit down beside Charlotte on her bed. She keeps watching me, warily. I reach for her hand, linking my fingers through hers. “Sorry if that came out harsh.”
She shrugs it off. “It’s okay. I deserved it.”
“No, you didn’t. For the record, I don’t think you’re stupid. Just…promise me you won’t go to any more botánicas.”
A shadow of a smile pulls at her mouth. “I promise.”
There’s color in her cheeks again, making her resemble her former healthy, buoyant self. She looks down at our entwined hands, staring at them. “I’m so used to being the Type A personality with a mile long to-do list. Being here and not doing anything is driving me a little crazy.”
“A little?”
She swats at me playfully with her other hand, taking the joke in stride. “I’m trying to confide in you, Max.”
“Another thing friends do?”
“Yeah.”
She’s not budging on this friend thing. I’m not fighting that hard to prevent it either. In this moment, I feel myself giving in. I’m not completely comfortable doing it, but part of me feels like I have no choice.
“Confide away then.”
“Really?”
“If you must.”
“Well…I know I’m not that person anymore. My life will never be the same; I get it. But I can’t be this person either. I just can’t.”
“So be someone else. Someone you want to be.”
She looks at me as if I’ve said something really important, steeling her features as if she’s trying to find strength. It amazes me how beautiful I think she is right now, when only ten minutes ago she was puking her guts out.
I let go of her hand, suddenly remembering that Batman is out in the hall waiting for me. Shit—Piper.
“I have to go.”
“Go?” Charlotte says, her face dropping.
“Uh, yeah. Batman and I have an appointment.”
“Oh…okay.”
“How are you feeling? Do you think you’ll be all right?” Leaving her alone doesn’t seem like a good idea. It doesn’t feel right.
“Still a little nauseous, but it’s getting better. I think you made a good call. I just needed to get everything out of my stomach.”
“You should probably eat something too.”
“I will. Thanks for your help, Max. I’m glad you were here.” She smiles at me. I can’t help but notice that it’s the sad kind of smile. It feels like a blow to my stomach.
Don’t do it.
Don’t do it.
Don’t do it.
“Do you, uh, want to come with us today?”
Fucking great.
Her eyes light up right away. “You don’t mind?”
“Yeah. Batman would enjoy the extra company. Are you feeling well enough to tag along?”
“I think so,” she says, nodding. “Do you mind waiting for me to take a quick shower?”
I look at my watch, knowing I’m already running late. If I told her that, she’d probably tell me just to go ahead without her. She seems like that kind of person. I should definitely tell her I’m running late.
“Yeah, I have some time.”
“I’ll be quick,” she promises.
“Make sure you brush your teeth,” I say, crinkling my nose. “And use plenty of mouthwash.”
She throws a pillow at me, but misses.
“I’ll wait downstairs,” I
“I don’t know why I believed him, Max. There were all these mystical things in his store, and I guess I became entranced by all of it. He seemed to know right away what was wrong with me. I really wanted to believe he could help.” She moves back farther on the bed, curling her knees to her chest. “I found out yesterday that my ex knocked up the girl he cheated on me with, and that the two of them are engaged. They’re getting married in our hometown, where we all grew up together. It was a low point for me. Believe me, I’m not proud of myself.”
She’s staring at me as if she’s hoping I can relate, her huge blue eyes watery and intense. I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. This is unfamiliar territory for me. I’ve never been around someone who wears all their emotions on their sleeve. It’s unsettling.
I sit down beside Charlotte on her bed. She keeps watching me, warily. I reach for her hand, linking my fingers through hers. “Sorry if that came out harsh.”
She shrugs it off. “It’s okay. I deserved it.”
“No, you didn’t. For the record, I don’t think you’re stupid. Just…promise me you won’t go to any more botánicas.”
A shadow of a smile pulls at her mouth. “I promise.”
There’s color in her cheeks again, making her resemble her former healthy, buoyant self. She looks down at our entwined hands, staring at them. “I’m so used to being the Type A personality with a mile long to-do list. Being here and not doing anything is driving me a little crazy.”
“A little?”
She swats at me playfully with her other hand, taking the joke in stride. “I’m trying to confide in you, Max.”
“Another thing friends do?”
“Yeah.”
She’s not budging on this friend thing. I’m not fighting that hard to prevent it either. In this moment, I feel myself giving in. I’m not completely comfortable doing it, but part of me feels like I have no choice.
“Confide away then.”
“Really?”
“If you must.”
“Well…I know I’m not that person anymore. My life will never be the same; I get it. But I can’t be this person either. I just can’t.”
“So be someone else. Someone you want to be.”
She looks at me as if I’ve said something really important, steeling her features as if she’s trying to find strength. It amazes me how beautiful I think she is right now, when only ten minutes ago she was puking her guts out.
I let go of her hand, suddenly remembering that Batman is out in the hall waiting for me. Shit—Piper.
“I have to go.”
“Go?” Charlotte says, her face dropping.
“Uh, yeah. Batman and I have an appointment.”
“Oh…okay.”
“How are you feeling? Do you think you’ll be all right?” Leaving her alone doesn’t seem like a good idea. It doesn’t feel right.
“Still a little nauseous, but it’s getting better. I think you made a good call. I just needed to get everything out of my stomach.”
“You should probably eat something too.”
“I will. Thanks for your help, Max. I’m glad you were here.” She smiles at me. I can’t help but notice that it’s the sad kind of smile. It feels like a blow to my stomach.
Don’t do it.
Don’t do it.
Don’t do it.
“Do you, uh, want to come with us today?”
Fucking great.
Her eyes light up right away. “You don’t mind?”
“Yeah. Batman would enjoy the extra company. Are you feeling well enough to tag along?”
“I think so,” she says, nodding. “Do you mind waiting for me to take a quick shower?”
I look at my watch, knowing I’m already running late. If I told her that, she’d probably tell me just to go ahead without her. She seems like that kind of person. I should definitely tell her I’m running late.
“Yeah, I have some time.”
“I’ll be quick,” she promises.
“Make sure you brush your teeth,” I say, crinkling my nose. “And use plenty of mouthwash.”
She throws a pillow at me, but misses.
“I’ll wait downstairs,” I
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