“Do you plan on seeing her again?”
Not if I can help it. “I’m sure I will.”
“Developed quite a sweet tooth for Sadie’s cupcakes, have you?” Charli grinned, clearly amused at the double-entendre-sounding comment.
She had no idea.
Her tone and expression turned serious. “Sadie is the best person I know. I’m not just saying that. She is sweet, caring, hardworking, and she would do anything for the people she loves. If you are lucky enough to be counted amongst those people, don’t be an asshole about it.”
She stared at me and I could see that she had more to say, so I waited. Dr. James didn’t seem like the sort of woman who people walked away from until she was done speaking. Much like Mrs. G. I could see why they would be fast friends.
“Listen, I get the whole heartbroken, millionaire, thing. I do. And Iamsorry for the loss that you’ve had in your life. But you didn’t corner the market on people who have suffered. Yes, you’ve been through a lot of shit and you’re probably worried about not being able to go through anything like that again. But you know what they say, if you have one foot in the past, and one foot in the future, you’re pissing on the present. For better or worse,right nowis all any of us have. Don’t waste it being a pussy.”
With that, the good doctor walked down the hall. I stared after her. She’d just called me an asshole and a pussy. I hadn’t been spoken to like that since my years on construction sites. The saddest part was, she wasn’t wrong.
I took a deep breath and walked back into Mrs. G’s room.
She was watching The British Bakeoff Challenge and she didn’t even glance over as she said. “She’s right, you know.”
I did know that. But I also knew that nothing could happen between Sadie and I, and if that made me a pussy or an asshole, so be it.
