Page 101 of The Love Playbook

“I just got off the phone with Carol. Mom fired her. Apparently, she’s going off the rails. Carol said she was talking about not having the money to pay her anymore or Dr. Sherri or continue her meds. So, explain to me why she would say all those things if you kept up your end of the bargain?”

Silence falls over the line, and for a moment I think I lost him before he sighs and says, “I don’t know why she would say that.”

“I think you do,” I say, almost certain he does.

“When I stopped by her place, she was especially difficult. First, it was tears, and then the tears turned into anger and accusations, and . . . I might have lost my patience.”

I bring a hand to my forehead, easing the tension above my eyes. “And?”

“And I told her that the money was only temporary, that she has until March before I cut her off, and that this is it. There’s no more after that.”

Because he’ll have a new family.I can read between the lines. It’s exactly what he said to me himself.

Irritation pricks beneath the surface of my skin. “You mentioned the wedding and your new family, didn’t you?”

He says nothing, his silence telling.

“Why the hell would you tell her that?” I hiss. “You know how she is. You know she’s already spiraling. Even the tiniest things set her off when she’s like this. Reminding her of your new family wasn’t exactly the best move,” I say bitterly.

“Well, it’s the truth, Charlotte, and what else was I supposed to say? She needs to know she has to start supporting herself again, that things can’t go on like this! That you can’t always help to bail her out.”

“All I needed was you to do thisonething,” I shout, drawing the attention of the sales lady behind the counter. “Just give her the support she needs for the next five months while I handle the rest. All I needed was for her to feel secure, until I could get her back to Dr. Sherri. Get some meds in her, and make sure she finds a job. Butnoooo,” I draw out the word, “you couldn’t do that, could you? You just had to go and ruin it by running your mouth.”

“It’s not like that. I told her she’d have all the financial support she needs in the meantime, but she started attacking my character and?”

I bark out a laugh.

“It’s not funny. She can’t just use me as a punching bag, Charlotte. We’re not married anymore.”

“I’m well aware.” My throat aches with the urge to cry, but I swallow the tears, choking on them until the urge fades. Now isn’t the time or place, and I refuse to sound weak in front of my father.

“I’ll talk to her again,” he says, his tone soft. “This time over the phone. I’ll smooth things over, okay? I’ll . . . I’ll do what I can.”

“You know what? Forget it. I don’t need your help. Just send the checks like you promised, and I’ll handle the rest. You’ve done enough.”

“Charlotte . . .”

“Gotta go. Yourbrideis waiting.”

“Charlotte, I know you’re angry with me, but please don’t mention any of this to Barb. She—”

I hang up and tuck my phone in my pocket, taking a deep breath before I straighten and head back toward the dressing room with my thoughts racing.

Barb still waits on the podium, standing like a statue in front of the mirrors. She’d look like one of those bride-and-groom cake toppers if it wasn’t for the hideous gown she’s wearing.

When her gaze snags on my reflection, she turns. “Is everything okay?”

My gaze sweeps over her, taking in the poofy sleeves and the hideous collar around her neck. The fun we’d been having seems like a lifetime ago with my father’s conversation bitter on my tongue. “Yeah, it’s fine,” I say.

I want nothing more than to tell her just how much this wedding is messing with my life. How much her fiancé just pissed me off, but I don’t. Instead, I sink down in the chair across from her with a sigh. If my father doesn’t want me to mention our conversation, I won’t, because unlike him, I know how to uphold my end of a bargain.

Chapter 23

CHRIS

It’s six-thirty p.m. on Friday when I leave the locker room with the boys, the day Lettie and I were supposed to have our date.

Glancing down at my phone, I shoot Charlotte another text. One I assume she’ll ignore, since that’s what she’s been doing for the last few days.