No One Else (The Ladies Who Brunch 2)

After we all go to our rooms and get settled in, we meet down in one of the restaurants for a late dinner.

“So, how have things been going so far?” Noelle asks Charlotte after we place our orders and receive our first round of drinks. I take a large sip of mine and appreciate the burn of the alcohol as it slides down my throat. After unpacking and enjoying the view from my room, I instantly felt more at ease.

Ethan isn’t here, and I don’t have to worry about him popping up anywhere. This is exactly what I needed, so now I want to enjoy my mini vacation. How I’m going to handle him next week is something I don’t need to concern myself with just yet.

“Um, interesting. My mother has been up to her usual shenanigans, and I’ve just been trying to let her comments roll off my back, although it’s getting harder and harder to do when she keeps bringing Damien into the mix. The poor guy—he probably thinks my mother is going to try marrying us in our sleep.”

Charlotte agreed to pretend to be in a relationship with her childhood enemy, Damien, to help appease her mother, who is always pressuring her to find a husband, as I mentioned earlier. Damien also needed her to help him impress his boss. Six weeks later, and they’re both clearly struggling with their feelings, but I don’t want to be the one to point that out unless necessary. Part of being a good therapist is getting the patient to realize things for themselves anyway.

Noelle continues questioning her. “Well, has he told you that it bothers him?”

Charlotte shakes her head. “No. He’s actually been really great. It’s crazy, but having him here makes me feel like I can handle all of this better, like I’m not handling it alone for once. In fact, he did something last weekend that really surprised me.”

“What did he do?” Noelle asks.

“Well, I had something happen to me that’s never happened before. I—I started my period in my sleep…”

“You’ve never started in your sleep?” Penelope asks incredulously.

“No, I have, but not while staying the night at a guy’s place.” We all cringe.

“Oh, God. How embarrassing,” Noelle interjects.

Penelope chimes in too. “I mean, yes, that’s unfortunate, but periods are a part of life. Please tell me he didn’t freak out.”

“No, I was the one who freaked out. I ruined his sheets and locked myself in the bathroom to shower. And then when I emerged, I ran off.”

“So, what did Damien do?”

Charlotte smiles adoringly. “Well, he assured me it wasn’t that big of a deal. But then I left in a hurry, and it kind of left things awkward between us. I was sure he’d want some space, that maybe what happened was a little too real for our fake relationship. But then he showed up later that afternoon with tampons, my favorite meal from Tony’s, ice cream and Dove chocolates, and Matthew McConaughey rom-com movies.”

“Oh my God,” Noelle squeals, clutching her hands together under her chin. “That is totally something that one of the men in my books would do.”

“Yeah, it sounds too good to be true,” Penelope teases.

“I thought the same thing. But he was so sweet and just held me and fed me chocolates while we watched movies.” She sighs, slinking back into her chair as I take another sip of my drink. “I’m so screwed.”

I take this as my opportunity to speak up. “You finally experienced some intimacy with him,” I say. “And how did it make you feel?”

“Uh oh, she’s going into therapist mode,” Penelope chides under her breath.

“Stop it,” Noelle shoots across the table at Penelope before directing her eyes back to Charlotte. “Answer the question, Char.”

Charlotte takes a deep breath. “It made me feel like I want this to be real. I was lying there with him in my old sweats, no makeup, and hair tossed up, and he stared at me like I was the most beautiful thing on the planet. He’s nothing like I thought he would be, but I’m so scared that I’m the only one that feels this deeply. And last night, he shut down during dinner with everyone, like he became someone else for a little while—silent, retreating, barely saying two words to me. I wonder if all the pressure of playing this part is getting to him.”

“His actions dictate that you’re not the only one with feelings,” I reply. “But you need to talk to him about it, Char.”

“I know, but part of me just wants to wait until this weekend is over, when we can breathe a little. Besides, my aunt said something to me yesterday that still has my head spinning.”

“What did she say?” I continue to question her. I try to avoid going into therapist mode with my friends for the same reason I avoid it with men, but these girls need a little pushing sometimes, and I’m hoping this trip will help Charlotte break through these boundary issues with her mother.

The fake relationship she started with Damien had disaster written all over it to begin with. But as her friend, I’ve tried to remain supportive, especially because it’s clear as day that she’s developing feelings for him, as she so eloquently admitted just a few moments ago.

Charlotte answers. “She said that the way my mother is with me is the same way their mother was with them—constantly making underhanded comments about their life choices and love lives, pressuring them to get married and watch their figures so they could snag a man. I never knew this. and I feel like it explains so much.”

And all I can do is nod. “It does. But just because that’s how your mother was raised does not mean that she has to perpetuate that cycle.”

“Spoken like a true therapist,” Penelope interjects before turning toward Charlotte. “Look, I know you don’t want to make a big scene because it’s your parents’ anniversary and all that, but you need to stand up for yourself, Char. Your mother has beaten you up from the inside out long enough. And as your friend, I’m tired of seeing you put up with it, and it’s getting harder to keep listening to it.”

Charlotte grows defensive, and suddenly, the energy at the table shifts. “Well, I’m sorry if it’s irritating for you, but this entire thing is complicated, Penelope.”

“Hey, I’m sure she didn’t mean it like that, Char,” Noelle interrupts.

“No, I did,” Penelope counters, holding a hand up to our friend. “This bullshit has gone on long enough. And it’s obvious that you have feelings for Damien, so you need to man up and tell the man what you want before you chicken out about that too.”

Standing from her chair, Charlotte stares down at our friend, confused, angry, and hurt. “You know, just because you don’t have a relationship with your mother doesn’t mean you get to pass judgment on mine, Penelope,” she says. “And second, when’s the last time you actually let a guy in longer than it took for him to give you an orgasm?” Penelope narrows her eyes at her. “Exactly. In fact, I know you avoid commitment because you’re too fucking scared to let people in. You don’t even let your parents into your life. So, don’t judge me for how I’m dealing with mine.” Charlotte looks over at Noelle and me, and I know my eyes are wide as I take in what’s happening. “Sorry, girls, but I think I’m done for tonight,” she says before draining the rest of her drink and walking away.

“Charlotte! Come back,” Noelle calls after her, but she keeps retreating, leaving the three of us alone and silent.

“Fuck this.” Penelope tips back the rest of her glass and stands. “Sorry, girls, but she needed to hear that.”

“You could have been nicer about it,” Noelle counters as she stands as well, so I follow suit.

“No. Charlotte doesn’t need nice right now, she needs tough love. And I’m okay with being the friend who gives it to her. Sometimes that’s what we have to do for each other—not just smile and nod along, but tell the truth. She needs to stand up for herself.”