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“You’re playing a dangerous game here.”
“I’ll be fine. Besides, I don’t know why you’re not at least somewhat happy. This is the first time I’m with someone that’s not Lauren.”
“I’m worried you’re with her because she hurt you like Lauren always did.”
“That’s not why I’m with her,” Charlie said, firmly. “I’m with her because she’s forgiving, and because she makes me a better person. She’s not unnecessarily cruel, and she lets shit go, Lewis. You were there at dinner. We were fine.”
Lewis sighed. “I am happy it’s not Lauren this time. I am, Charlie. I’m worried.”
“You always are.”
“I know I am. I know I have a hard time looking on the bright side, and I want to, but I can’t stop thinking about how mean you were to her, and how mean she was to you.”
“‘I’m not saying we’ve ignored that and moved on. I’m saying we remember and try to be better. That’s all we can do.”
“You know she’s interviewing for a job out of state, right?”
“I do.” How could he forget?
“And what do you think about that?”
“I think I want her to stay here, but I don’t want to tell her because it’s her decision. I know about her mom, and what she always said to Violet, and I get why she feels the need to try to not depend on me. So even if it hurts, I have to let her.”
Lewis was silent.
“What?” Charlie asked. “I can feel you thinking through the phone.”
“Wow, I never thought I would hear you sound so mature when talking about Violet. That’s the exact right thing to do.”
Charlie sighed. “And it’s not fun.”
Lewis was quiet for a moment.
“I’m sorry I’m being negative about this,” Lewis finally said. “And I want it to work out, but if she moves…”
If she moves, it might be over. He couldn’t even bear to think about it. The idea of losing her was something that would cut him to the bone.
“I don’t know what she will choose. She’s interviewing for the job today, so I’ll hear about it tonight.”
“If she stays, then I’ll work on being better about all of this. I saw how you handled her with Elijah, and I hear you being better now.”
“Okay. That’s all I can ask.” Charlie could feel the relief hitting him. Finally, Lewis was on his side.
“And about Elijah… was he always like this?”
Charlie sighed, trying to come up with the right words. “To people he sees as beneath him? Yeah. I cancelled your bachelor party because he went behind your back to hire strippers. He completely used Violet…” Charlie closed his eyes as he felt his rage hit him over that particular fact. “But I think he liked feeling liked by you, so he put his best face on when you’re around.”
“Why did he snap then?”
“I think Violet pushed him over the edge. He came at her when she was setting up the venue for the wedding. Plus, I had cancelled the bachelor party, which he was pretty upset about. I think his need for revenge overrode his need to be liked.”
“That asshole. I called him last night to try and hear his side. When he said Violet deserved it, I blocked him.”
“Good,” Charlie said. “I know you like to keep the peace between friends. You don’t want to lose anyone, but he was not someone worth keeping.”
“I know,” Lewis said, sadly. “I know I did the right thing.”
“Thank you,” Charlie said genuinely. “I fucking hated that guy.”
