“Then let’s make it four.”
Jenna laughed. “I’ll try.”
Will hung up and stared at the wall again. He had to deal with his aunt, tell her about his concerns. But that could wait. Right now, there was one more problem he needed to fix. The thought had only just entered his head when there was a knock on his office door.
“You want the roast beef or the club?”
Will turned to find Charlie in the doorway, a bag from Lexington Deli in his hand.
“Club,” he replied, ignoring the stab of anxiety in his chest. He wasn’t hungry, but he wasn’t about to send Charlie away, either. Not when he was exactly the person he’d been about to go looking for.
Will straightened in his chair just in time to catch the wrapped sandwich Charlie tossed his way. Then his friend sat down in the chair opposite the desk, grabbing his own from the plastic bag.
“Lexington Deli,” Will said. “Bad day?”
Ever since they opened Hampshire M&A in this office six years ago, Lexington Deli had been their go-to on bad days. Whatever stress encroached on their work could easily be relieved by their extensive menu.
“No,” Charlie replied. “Just a lot on my mind.”
“Such as?”
Charlie unwrapped the brown paper from his sandwich before replying. “I know we talked about this, and I followed your advice to stay in New York, but I’ve been thinking. A lot. And yes, it’s impractical and yes, I could be setting myself up to get my heart broken, but… I’ve decided to start looking for a house out in East Hampton.”
Will blinked. “I’m sorry?”
“Not another summer rental. Something permanent.” He fell back in the armchair, abandoning the sandwich on the side table. “I miss it, Will. I missher.”
Will let out a long breath. “Jane.”
Charlie nodded solemnly. “I still love her. And I’m sure you have a thousand reasons why you think this is a bad idea but—”
“I don’t think it’s a bad idea.”
His friend paused. “Really? Because ever since the Fourth—”
“I know,” Will said, frowning. “And I have to talk to you about that.”
His friend’s expression blanched. “About what?”
Will laid out all the details in order, careful to leave out any emotion that might corrupt his rationale. He had to stick to the facts: his concerns about the Blaxton deal even before the summer started, his continued observation of Jane’s apparent reticence, how Charlie’s past relationships helped color his perceptions of the situation. How Will’s only concern had been Charlie’s happiness. But as he concluded, finally taking responsibility for keeping Charlie in the city for the rest of the summer, Will noted his friend’s expression and realized perhaps leaving emotion out of it was the wrong choice.
“Why would you do that?” Charlie’s voice was low and cold.
It was a good question. A few weeks ago, Will would have easily ascribed it to his concern over Charlie, but now, hindsight added clarity. There had been other factors in play—ones that hid behind his ego for too long—but that was before Montauk. Before every fortification around his heart had been laid to ruin at the feet of Elizabeth Bennet.
Yes, he had dragged Charlie away from East Hampton to protect his heart, but now, Will knew, he had been trying to protect his own, too.
“You’re my friend and I didn’t want you to get hurt. I was trying to help,” Will finally said. “I know that’s no excuse, but—”
“You’re right. It is no excuse,” Charlie said, his voice more urgent. “I love this woman, Will.”
“But that doesn’t guarantee anything,” Will said, trying to curb the impatience in his voice. “What if it falls apart?”
“What if it doesn’t?”
“But it could.”
Charlie leaned forward, his expression softening. “But what if it doesn’t? Yes, I could get my heart broken again. But what if it ends up being the best thing that’s ever happened to me?”
