Chapter 8
It’s All Right to Change Your Mind
Sinking into a tub filled with vanilla-scented bubbles, I tried to block out everything from the day, both the highs and the lows. They were all equally overwhelming.
Just as I was finally feeling relaxed, banging sounded on my front door right before it opened.
Crap. Why did I give them keys to my apartment?
Before I was even out of the tub, Sawyer, Harper, and Annie were rushing into my small bathroom.
“Do you really think you’re going to ignore us that easily?” Sawyer huffed before handing me a towel.
“I was hoping y’all would just take the damn hint and leave me be for the evening,” I replied while toweling off.
“Was it really that bad?” Harper asked as she hopped up onto the vanity next to Annie.
I rolled my eyes at them. “I told you I couldn’t stand the man, but none of you would listen and actually take that at face value, so here we fucking are. It is going to be so awkward from now on at work.”
The idea hadn’t even crossed my mind until that very second. How was I going to show my face at work the next day?
“It’s going to be fine. I’m sure it wasn’t as bad as you think it was,” Annabelle cooed as I put on my pajamas and they all started to follow me out into my living room.
“It was that bad. He even kissed me without warning. I was berating him for being a dick, and he thought it was appropriate to kiss me.” I fell into the middle of the couch and they all crowded around me.
“We all misread the cues,” Harper acknowledged. “It wasn’t just Blake who thought there was something more there than there was.”
“I just don’t know how.” I laughed a little. “Also, how can it be this hard to organically find a nice guy?”
“You have to take chances, Caroline. That’s what we all did,” Sawyer cooed as she rubbed my shoulder.
Annie giggled. “I wouldn’t give Waylon the time of day when I first met him, and now look at how happy we are.”
Sawyer pointed to herself. “I didn’t think Trace and I would be more than just a little fling at first.”
Harper burst into hysterics. “I think Rhett and I take the cake with him being the guy who saved me over and over before I realized he was the one I was actually supposed to be with.”
“See, honey, your life isn’t some fairytale or cliché from a romantic movie. Life, especially love, is messy and confusing. You’ll find the guy.” Annie’s voice was soft as I rested my head on her shoulder.
“Did I make a mistake telling Blake to fuck off?” I asked.
They all looked from one to the other while nodding.
“So you all really think I am supposed to be with a crass, no-filter, rash, jerk-face?”
“Caroline, you are the sweetest person we all know. Maybe you need a douchebag to balance out your kindheartedness.” Harper leaned in to hug me. “Don’t take that the wrong way. It seems like under all that beast, there’s a kind prince hiding within Blake.”
“He really was good with the kids, and he seems to care a lot about the school,” I admitted.
“He seems to care a lot about you.” Annie handed me my phone, which was lighting up with text messages from him.
Blake: I am so sorry that went so sideways.
Blake: Please let me make it up to you.
Blake: I promise I won’t try to kiss you again. I just wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I knew you hated me.
Blake: I’m sorry for all the messages, I just don’t know how to turn off my brain when I feel like such a fool.
