Sutton could only shake her head as she drew back, even though, as much as Regan could drive her insane, she wanted the debrief. She was self-aware enough to know that Regan was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of friend who would do anything to protect her while also giving her a raw, truthful opinion that kept Sutton’s best interests at heart.
And she was just as grateful for Emma, who had somehow found the best way to manage Regan into containing those moments into appropriate times.
She did want to debrief, she thought, as she shut the door behind them all. But right now was not the time.
Especially given that it was still the day of and Charlotte was stillhere; Sutton herself had barely had time to process how she felt about the day.
She took a moment to brace herself against the door, squeezing the handle before pushing herself off it and walking down the hall, intending to find the woman in question.
Charlotte had excused herself to Sutton’s guest room/office to take a phone call—much to the lifted eyebrow of Sutton’s mother; that Sutton hadn’t missed—about a half hour ago, toward the end of the movie.
Which had given Sutton just enough time to delve into what all of thisfelt like.
It was strange to be sitting, enjoying a holiday tradition with almost all of her favorite people, despite her two brothers not being in attendance, and Charlotte was among them. Strange and wonderful.
She was trying to figure out where Charlotte fit into that and what these feelings she’d been experiencing in different doses all day meant. Watching Charlotte with Lucy, with her mother, with her father, with Regan… it was all sounexpected.
Because if someone had told her only four months ago that Charlotte Thompson would not only be back in her life in any capacity but that Sutton would be inviting her to Thanksgiving dinner with her family, she would have genuinely laughed in their face.
And yet here they were.
And there Charlotte was—unexpectedly back in Sutton’s life, standing in Sutton’s kitchen, at her sink, somehow knowing that the dishes needed to be hand-washed rather than put in the dishwasher.
The sleeves of her business-casual royal blue shirt—a tailored button-up, deliberately flowy over the chest, and undoubtedly costing more than a shirt had the right to cost—were rolled up to her elbows, her hands and forearms sudsy as she seemed to be deep in thought. She’d put her hair up in a bun, and wavy tendrils fell lightly down the back of her neck.
The sight of her jolted Sutton all over again.
It had been such a strange Thanksgiving, one she’d been focusing her attention on just getting through. But now, it was through, and Charlotte was the only one still here.
Sutton cleared her throat as she walked into the kitchen, curiously tilting her head, unable to stop herself from smiling at the strangeness of the image. “I thought you had to take a phone call?”
Charlotte hadn’t seemed to notice her entrance but didn’t startle at Sutton’s presence, which didn’t surprise her either.
“It was unavoidable,” she said, a flash of contrition tugging at her lips. “I’m sorry; I do know that there is ano politics on holidaysrule, but, well, in some parts of the world, this is not a holiday at all.”
Her voice was light yet apologetic, and Sutton shook her head, dismissing it.
“That is my mom’s rule; I have a bit more leniency,” she offered jokingly, though it was true.
While Sutton admired her mother a great deal and emulated her more than a bit, they did have their differences.
It didn’t bother her that Charlotte took business calls during their personal times together. Shewasalways apologetic about it, but shedidhave a very important job that Sutton supported, and she wanted her to be successful.
Not to mention the fact that, even only as her friend, Sutton marveled at Charlotte’s success. She could admit that easily now that they were in a good place. As friends.
“Still…” Charlotte trailed off, a thoughtful look on her face.
It had been there a couple of hours ago, too, when Sutton had first found her in the kitchen. When Charlotte had apologized for their past.
“Sometimes I grade papers while Lucy watches a movie at night; my mom is someone who would have never let work come between bonding time. Wearedifferent people,” she teased softly, hoping to rid Charlotte of that very serious look.
Even though Sutton did need to process this holiday, she still knew a few things to be true: She welcomed Charlotte back into her life as her friend. She’d enjoyed their time together. She’d enjoyed Charlotte being among her people tonight, in this capacity. And she’d been appropriately concerned that someone might say something to Charlotte about the past that Sutton had moved on from.
She hadn’t enjoyed that part of today; that much she already knew.
“I’m a little surprised your parents aren’t staying in your guest room,” Charlotte commented, pivoting away from Sutton’s mother as the sole subject of conversation.
She was good at that, but Sutton was also good at picking up on Charlotte’s dodging.
