I blinked as I realized she was right. We’d been staring at the same page for ages, and I hadn’t even actuallyseenthe flowers. “These are nice,” I said in a pathetic attempt to appear interested.
“Theyarenice.” My friend raised her brow and sat back in her chair. “I’m actually surprised you think so, though. I didn’t think they’d be your style at all.”
For the first time, I looked at the photos in front of me. She was right. Although the flowers were gorgeous, because of course they were—all of Charli’s flower arrangements were amazing—the soft, subtle style with sprigs of baby’s breath tucked in everywhere wasdefinitelynot my style.
“Umm…you’re not wrong, Charli.”
“I know.” She reached forward and slapped the binder closed. “Now, maybe you want to tell me what’s going on before we waste any more time.” Her tone softened as sheasked, “Is everything okay? I thought Trevor was going to come with you today?”
At the mention of his name, my shoulders stiffened. I sucked in a breath, working hard to keep the pleasant mask on my face. “He had a last-minute meeting in the city.” My voice was light and airy.Toolight. Judging by Charli’s expression, she didn’t buy it any more than I would have. Still, I doubled down. “He really wanted to be here,” I continued, hating myself for the lies that were slipping so easily off my tongue. “He’s just so?—”
“We could reschedule for another time when he’s free, if that works better?”
I bit my bottom lip, willing myself not to cry as I looked at Charli. She wasn’t stupid, and she knew me well enough to know there was more going on than I was saying. Fortunately, she was a good enough friend not to push.
I blew out a breath and shook my head. “No. I’ll take care of it myself.”
For a moment, I was sure she was going to say something more. I knew if she did, it might just be enough for me to crack and tell her everything that was on my heart and the concerns and questions that had been building up.
Instead, she reached forward and squeezed my hand. “Why don’t I make us a cup of tea?”
Before I could respond, she slipped away from the table and moved to the back room, giving me a much-needed moment to pull myself together.
By the time she returned, I was no longer feeling like I might burst into tears. “Thank you.” I accepted the mug of tea gratefully and wrapped my hands around it. “Do you remember when Noa ran out on her wedding?” I blurted the question before I could talk myself out of it.
Charli froze for a moment before taking the seat acrossfrom me again. “Of course I do,” she said slowly. “It was a pretty big deal.”
I nodded. “I remember hearing about it at the time, but honestly, I didn’t really think much of it since I didn’t know her back then.” I looked down into my tea. “Do you knowwhyshe did it? I mean, I know she wasn’t in love with her friend who she was going to marry, but even so, it all seemed kind of dramatic.”
Charli laughed. “Running out on your weddingisdramatic,” she agreed. “I don’t think there’s a way for it not to be. But you’re right. They weren’t in love. Not the way they should have been to get married. I think it all just came to a head, and Noa knew that no matter what her reasons were for marrying him, none of them were the right ones. Life was too short not to be happy. So she ran.”
I let that sink in.
No matter what her reasons were for marrying him, none of them were the right ones.
Were my reasons the right ones?
I was pretty sure I knew the answer to that question.
“Honestly,” Charli continued. “People acted like she committed this huge crime. But really? She saved herself. And now she’s with the right person. And she’s happy.”
She’s happy.
“I’m not just saying this because Asher’s my brother, and I love Noa, too, but it hurts me to think about what might have been. And more importantly, what mightnothave been. Running the way she did opened her up and gave her the space to find the right one and build a life with him. It just happened to be my brother who scooped her up in her dress and drove her to his little cabin in the woods.” She laughed. “Lucky for him.”
“Very lucky for him,” I agreed, grinning. But my thoughts were lost to Noa, and how it hadn’t been luck at all, butstrength for her to recognize that the life she was signing up for wasn’t right for her.
Could I be that strong?
ShouldI be?
But it was different for me. Trevor was a good man. He was successful, smart and charming.
I loved him.
At least I thought I did.
When we’d first started dating, he’d been attentive in a way that felt intoxicating. Huge bouquets of flowers appeared at my door just because. Texts throughout the day, telling me how smart I was, how beautiful, how lucky he felt to have found me. He called every night. Sometimes twice.
