“Where are you going?” Char asks, her own laughter vibrating her words.
“Away from you.” She grabs her bag and phone off the counter. “And I have class,” she quickly adds with a grin. “You’ll keep me posted about yoursituation?” she asks me directly.
“I will.” I nod.
“Keep your guard up. I don’t like the idea of you sleeping in the same room as that girl.”
“Me neither,” I agree.
“Love you guys.” She tugs open the door.
“Love you too,” we call back in unison.
“Speaking of class, don’tyouhave class today?”
“It got canceled.” Char shrugs. “Not that I’m complaining.”
“I wouldn’t know why you would.” I shake my head at her.
“So about Macallan.”
“Char... Can we not?”
“Why won’t you even talk about him? What’s got you so worked up that having a conversation with your best friends warrants this kind of reaction?”
I pull in a deep breath, knowing there isn’t a chance Charlotte is going to let this go until I cave.
“He’s wearing me down,” I admit. “And it terrifies me.”
“Why?”
It’s a simple question, and yet not one I’m sure I can trulyanswer.
“He hurt me pretty bad, Char. Something like that, it’s not easy to get over, even if he claims his intentions were good.”
“I get that. But what I really want to know is howyoufeel now, in this moment.”
“I feel confused,” I answer honestly.
“And.”
“And frustrated.”
“And.”
“And conflicted.”
“Why are you conflicted?”
“Because no matter how many times I remind myself of what he did, when I look at him...” I can’t finish the sentence.
“You like him.” It’s not a question.
“Which has to make me some kind of masochist, right?”
“The heart wants what it wants.” She shrugs as if it really is just that simple.
“Doesn’t make it okay.”
