Page 438 of The Doctors Will See You Now

I was honestly surprised by that reaction. Sure, I’d gained closure and moved on over the past twelve years, but there had always been that underlying discomfort related to just the sound of his name.

“It’s really good to see you too, Char.”

“Well,” I started and held up my bag of apples, “I guess I better finish up if I have any hopes of getting through the check-out line before they close.”

He nodded in understanding, but before we said goodbye, he locked his gaze with mine and reached out his hand to gently grip my arm. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “For everything. For the way our relationship ended. For being a selfish idiot and giving you an ultimatum, instead of being the supportive partner you deserved.”

“Wow, Rem.” I blinked once, twice, three times as my brain digested his words. “That means a lot,” I finally responded once I’d gotten past the whole shock of it all. “I really appreciate that, but you’re not the only one who should be apologizing.”

He tilted his head to the side, and his brow rose in surprise.

“I’m sorry for the way I handled it in the end,” I said. “I was young and extremely naïve, but that wasn’t an excuse. I should have come to you sooner about the job offer. I should have talked to you about it before the night before our wedding. I was just scared and unsure, and I really loved you. I was afraid I’d lose you.”

“I really appreciate that, Char,” he said quietly. “It means a lot.”

“For what it’s worth, I could never regret our relationship. Even after all the bad things that were said between us, I’m still thankful for the happy memories you gave me.”

“Me too,” he agreed. “Our intentions for getting married were right, but we just weren’t right for one another, huh?”

I nodded. “I couldn’t agree more.”

Remy moved toward me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and pulling me in for a tight but brief hug. “It was good to see you, Char,” he whispered into my ear. “I’m happy you’re doing good.”

And then he flashed his adorable signature smile, offered a little wave goodbye, and walked away, leaving me standing in the produce section with a brain full of nonsense.

The closure with Remy was a relief, but the truth was I was anything but happy.

Bitingly cold beer in hand and the comfort of a plush pillow under my coffee table-elevated feet, I scrolled through the channels until I came to the one that would feature me.

Tonight, I’d be making a splash into reality television, and I doubted I’d ever be dry again. I dreaded the forthcoming recognition and the prying questions into my personal business.

I feared the mockery they’d make of my carefully crafted career.

And I dreaded the moment Charlotte walked onto the screen at the same time I longed for it.

It’d been too long since I’d seen her—too long since I’d smelled the lavender in her perfume and too long since I’d tasted wine on her tipsy, trivia-night lips.

With her on my mind and her absence leaning on the bruises on my heart, I made a decision.

Brave or stupid, the result was undisclosed, but my phone felt weighty in my hand as I moved to my contacts to dial the number and put it to my ear.

The sound felt painful, like each bell was a toll toward the end of my existence as I knew it, but luckily, she didn’t make me wait too long.

“Hello?” she answered on the second ring.

“Hey, Winnie. You got a sec?”

I heard her moving around a room, and then the sound of a creaking door pulling closed behind her. All the background noise dulled completely, and a new level of nerves descended thanks to the eerie silence.

“Yeah, of course. You sound really serious.”

I sighed and rubbed at my phoneless temple. “I just need to talk to you about something.”

“You do know your show’s about to start, don’t you? Georgia and Cassie came over for a viewing. They’re obsessed.”

“Oh, I know it’s about to come on,” I confirmed. “That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.”

Her voice was soft, maybe a little scared, as she questioned, “Yeah?”