Best Laid Plans (The Best Girls 4)

“Charlie, you are seriously screwed up if you believe that.”

“What? You don’t think we can grow to love each other?”

“No, Charlie, I think you’re already in love.”

Salty drops ran down her face. “I know I am, but he isn’t. And I don’t want his pity or gratitude. This whole accident thing has ruined everything.”

“Please don’t cry. I hate it when women cry. I can’t even be mad at you for being ridiculous when you’re crying.”

“I’m s-sorry.” His words opened the floodgates. “It s-seems like I c-cry all the t-time now.”

“It’s probably a side effect of your pain meds.” Brad patted her hand. “But seriously, Charlie. What would he have to do to prove he loves you?”

“For starters, he’d have to stop being so nice all the time.”

Brad rolled his eyes around. “Do you women have a rulebook or something? I mean... Is there someplace where this stuff is written down? Something we men can refer to? Because that doesn’t make any sense to me at all.”

“It makes perfect sense. When you love someone, you respect them instead of pitying them. So you’re willing to fight and argue with them. Right now he treats me the same way he would treat one of his dying patients.” A thought suddenly occurred. “Am I actually dying, and no one has told me? Because I would be so mad—”

“No, Charlie. You’re not likely to die now. But you really did come close. That’s the only reason he’s been handling you with kid gloves.” His face brightened. “In fact, I bet you could get him riled up enough to argue with you, now. Maybe then you won’t be so suspicious.”

“How? What would he argue about?”

“I don’t know,” he said, scratching his head. “He really loves his apartment. Maybe you could insist he needed to get a different one.”

“I’ve never actually been to his apartment.”

“He loves his job in the ER. You could suggest he needed to change to something where he wouldn’t ever be on call. You know, something like dermatology. Something impossible, where he’d have to apply and do a whole new residency.”

“Okay, I’ll try. But I doubt it’ll work.” Her temporary enthusiasm was lost as her gloomy shroud returned. “Thanks for listening, Brad. And I’m counting on you to keep this conversation confidential.”

Brad replied with an irritated grunt.

Josh had a perfect opportunity to speak to Charlie, to tell her the truth, while she was alone in the bedroom suite of the private jet. He steeled his nerves and crept into the room.

“Hey... How are you feeling?” he asked.

“I feel great.”

His heart clenched. He could tell she was still lying about her pain, and he couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t be honest with him.

“Uhmm... We need to talk,” Josh said.

“Yeah. I do need to tell you something.” He noticed her eyes were darting around, and she wouldn’t quite look at him. “I think I... I uhmm... remember the accident.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and I’m pretty sure I didn’t throw myself in front of Jace, like you thought. I think I just tripped.”

“Yes, you did. You jumped sideways in front of the snowboard. Everyone saw you.”

“No. It was just an accidental fall. I’m sure of it.”

“Why are you saying this?”

“I’m just being honest.”

“I know what I saw, and everyone else saw it too.” Why would she deny what she’d done? Her actions only inspired him to be as selfless with her as she’d been with Jace. As always, Charlie inspired him to be a better person.