The Proposal (Forever Bound Book 2) by Bree Callahan Page B

her own phone, and Ana looked at her. 
    “What are you doing?” Ana asked.
    Charity laughed.  “Ordering in Chinese.”  She looked up as Ana started to argue.  “You’re a nervous wreck and at this rate, we’ll be eating at midnight.”  Ana put down the supplies and reluctantly stood back while Charity called in an order and was informed it would take twenty minutes.  She hung up the phone and glanced at Ana.  She opened her mouth to mention something about the phone calls when Ana’s phone rang again.  “He’s persistent,” Charity replied with a slight chuckle.
    Ana shook his head.  “He’s overbearing, egotistical, selfish, and completely out of his mind if he thinks I’m going to talk to him.”  She crossed her arms and looked away from Charity’s wandering eyes.
    Charity didn’t want to believe this had anything to do with her and Derek, but she knew the truth.  This had everything to do with them.  “He’s also the first person I ever heard you talk about like a woman that was in love.  He’s the one man that made you feel special.”
    “Whatever!” Ana mumbled.  The phone stopped ringing, and Charity waited as she wanted to see if he left another voicemail.  A minute later, her phone chimed proving he had.  Ana yanked her phone from the counter and typed in some information into the phone, then put it back down.  “I don’t want to hear what he has to say.”
    Charity shook her head.  “So, you’re choosing to just ignore it.  You’re erasing his messages, because you know if you will hear his voice then you’ll question why you’re so angry.”
    Ana’s mouth opened, and she glared at Charity.  “I know why I’m angry.  He helped to make a fool out of my best friend.”
    Charity rolled her eyes.  “Come on, Ana…you wanted me to forgive Derek so maybe you should do the same for Jesse.”
    Ana crossed her arms.  “But you haven’t forgiven Derek,” she stated, raising an eyebrow.
    “That’s different,” Charity mumbled.
    “It’s a double standard…that’s what it is,” Ana argued.
    Ana had a point, but she wasn’t going to worry about her own life when Ana’s life was falling apart before her eyes.  “You should talk to him.  Nothing happened to you.  It happened to me, and I’m going to sit back and watch you suffering over something that has nothing to do with you.”  Ana opened her mouth as another phone call came through and then the doorbell rang for the Chinese delivery.  “I know you think you’re protecting me, but I would feel awful if you didn’t talk to him just because of me.”  She picked up Ana’s phone and held it out to her.  “Answer the phone.”
    Ana rolled her eyes but then did as Charity said.  “Hello?”
    Charity slipped out of the kitchen so she could go get the door and give Ana some privacy.  She paid for the Chinese, thanked the delivery man, then slowly carried the food back into the kitchen.  Ana’s voices were in hushed tones, and she went about her own business and did her best not to listen to closely to the conversation.  Yet, words kept sneaking back in.  “I know…I realize that…We can try…” Charity smiled to herself as things appeared to be going smoother between the two of them.  “She’s doing fine…” Her words caught Charity off guard.  She glanced at Ana and found she was staring right at her.  “I’ll tell her.  Alright.  See you tomorrow night.  Bye.”  She hung up the call and for a moment Charity and Ana just looked at one another, until Ana casually mentioned part of the conversation.  “Derek misses you.”  Charity opened her mouth, but no words came out.  “I’m starved.”  Ana got up from the table as if nothing happened.
    Charity remained motionless until she could finally gain some words.  “He misses me?”
    Ana shrugged.  “It sounds like he’s completely at a loss without you.”  She started unloading bags, while Charity processed her