Chapter 17♥“This is Your Opinion of Me?”
“I’m okay, Elsie. You can quit hovering.”
“I’m not hovering.” Okay, she was totally hovering, but Elsie didn’t know what else to do. She couldn’t make it hurt less for Jane, but she wanted to anyway. So she’d made breakfast and sat next to Jane, pouring her orange juice for her and grabbing a napkin when Jane dropped a bit of egg on the table.
“You can go with Dad to the library. I’ll be fine here. I gave the whole thing a lot of thought last night and think I overreacted. Charlie never made any promises to me. He’s moving on. I need to as well.”
Elsie glared at her sister. “Jane. There is no shame in not being ready to move on right away. I don’t think you misread the situation. He did. And Will and Caroline were eager to encourage him to get out of here. I’m not convinced they didn’t coerce him into breaking up with you.”
Jane shook her head. “Charlie is a grown man. He makes his own choices.” She stared down at her plate. “He just decided not to choose me.”
“I hate people.” Elsie picked up her own plate and scraped her bread crusts into the garbage can. “You deserve better, Jane. But I’m starting to think there’s no one out there that has any sense left. Did you know Charlotte is dating Collin? She’s letting him pay for her to have an apartment in L.A.”
Jane’s eyes went wide. “Wow. They must have really fallen for each other.”
“Um. No. But I have no doubt Charlotte will make the best of it. She’s nothing if not resourceful.”
“Elsie.” Jane’s eyes shown with disapproval. “This is your best friend you’re talking about.”
“I know. That’s why I can say it and still have love for her in my heart.” Elsie rinsed her plate and turned to leave the kitchen. “Are you sure you’ll be okay here?”
Jane waved her off and reached over, turning up the volume on the TV. An energetic newscaster was demonstrating a stain removal product. Can't-miss stuff right there.
Elsie got in her car and drove down the street, parking in her parents’ driveway. She glanced over at Charlie and Will’s house with no cars in front. Hopefully whoever rented it next would cause less drama in the neighborhood.
Her dad was ready for her when she went inside, but they weren’t quick enough to avoid her mom, who stalked around the corner, her hair curlers shaking as she raised a finger to Elsie.
“You stop right there and speak to your mother before you go running off. Collin paid you special attention and you acted as if it were nothing!”
“I don’t like him. Why should I pretend? For money?” Elsie stared her down, daring her to admit what this was really about.
Her dad put a steadying hand on Elsie’s arm and turned to his wife. “Leave it be, dear. Would you want Elsie running off to L.A. with him anyway? Life is good. Enjoy your morning. We’re heading off to the library.”
Her mother huffed and turned to head back in the kitchen. She’d continue to hold a grudge, but at least they were on their way.
Elsie drove to the back end of the library parking lot and helped her dad out of the car. When they’d almost reached the entrance, she noticed a black sedan that looked an awful lot like Will’s. She forced her shoulders to relax. It was her mind playing tricks on her. Will was gone, and her subconscious was bringing up things to remind her of him.
They said hello to Mrs. Lucas at the front desk before finding their usual table in the back. Her dad went to browse through a row of books and Elsie cracked open hers, though her mind was already elsewhere, wondering if Mrs. Lucas knew Charlotte was leaving and how she felt about it.
“Elsie.”
Elsie glanced behind her and sucked in a quick breath. Will was half tucked behind a bookshelf, watching her. He beckoned with a finger and Elsie stood, checking to see that her dad was still preoccupied. What was Will doing here? Maybe it had something to do with Jane and Charlie.
When she drew closer, Will reached out and took her hand, leading her deeper into the row. He didn’t let go of her hand when they stopped.
“I always say the wrong thing around you and I have no doubt I’ll mess it up now. Forgive me.”
Elsie instinctively pulled her hand away. Will always left her so conflicted. She hated him and yet wanted to be near him. It couldn’t be healthy.
“What are you doing here, Will? I—”
He closed the distance between them, his hand cupping the back of her neck, and he kissed her with a soft fierceness that temporarily froze her in place. Her lips slid against his, and she sighed as his thumb caressed the line of her jaw. She’d always longed to be kissed like this. As if everything else in the world was a fuzzy second to this moment in time. And then logic took hold and she placed both hands against his chest and pushed him back.
He put his hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. It’s just, I didn’t want to leave without asking how you felt about us. If you would ever consider getting to know me. The real me. Because the truth is, I really, really like you, Elsie. And I’m willing to stay here for as long as it takes for you to decide.”
“I don’t need time to decide.” She took a step back, afraid he might kiss her again and terrified of the part of her that wanted him to. “After what you did to Jane and Charlie, and to Jeff and your sister, there’s no way I could see us together. You control people, Will. I don’t want to be controlled.”
His eyes narrowed. “This is your opinion of me?”
