Page 128 of The Love Playbook

“I know.” She nods. “Depression is like quicksand, sucking you in when you least expect it, and dragging you right under while you try desperately to stop it. But the more you fight, the moreit buries you, and it’s been over my head for too many years to count. I just didn’t realize I dragged Charlotte under with me.”

I swallow, hoping this epiphany can somehow lead to lasting change. I pray for Lettie’s sake that it does. “Maybe it’s time to get your head above the sand.”

“You think?”

We both laugh, and in the space that follows, Tiffany’s face transforms, hardening into a mask of determination. “I’ve never recovered fully because I’ve always been too fucking depressed to even care about myself enough to get better. But I care about Charlotte,” she says, her voice cracking over the words. A tear streaks down her cheek, her voice a thick rasp as she says, “And I hate that she thinks I don’t, that she might not know how much I love her, even though I’ve given her very little reason to believe it.”

My eyes fill with tears. Blinking them away, I glance down at the hands holding my mug, unable to look her in the eyes for fear the pain I see there might swallow me whole.

“And so maybe if I can’t do this just for me, I can do this for the both of us. Because I’m tired, and I want this for her,so bad. I want her to be happy.Iwant to be happy. It’s about damn time I get my shit together and put her first for a change.” She meets my gaze, her dark eyes, swimming with tears and they’re so much like Lettie’s it’s startling. “And I think I know what will help me. I’m just not sure how to get it.”

I swallow, thinking I’d do anything to help if it means giving Lettie the one thing she wants. “I’m listening . . .”

Chapter 33

CHARLOTTE

Imoan and kick my feet as Brynn tugs on my arm, knocking a flurry of Reese’s Mini Cups wrappers all over the floor. “Just leave me be,” I groan.

“No,” Brynn growls. “This is an intervention!”

“I don’t need an intervention,” I say, stuffing another chocolate into my mouth.

“Your waistline says otherwise,” Samantha says with an arched brow.

I gasp. “Are you fat-shaming me?”

She snickers at the same time Brynn lets go of my arm, causing me to flop back onto my back.

“Charlotte Baker,” she says, placing her hands on her hips, “it’s been five days. You can’t just lie around depressed for the rest of your life.”

A flash of my mother’s mournful expression flickers in my head, and my stomach sinks.Oh, god. Is Brynn right? Is this it? The moment I become my mother?

My stomach roils as I bolt upright in bed, the sudden movement?and okay, the massive amount of sugar I’ve consumed?causing my head to spin. Reaching up to my forehead, I try to find my equilibrium. “Maybe you’re right,” I mutter.

“Damn straight, I’m right. Now, I don’t know what happened between you and Chris, and you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but?”

“Is it that obvious?” I ask, dropping my hand with a frown.

I sure as hell haven’t told anyone what happened between us. What would I even say? Chris ditched my sorry ass because I’m pathetic and unlovable and have a mother who’s more like a child who I can’t seem to abandon in order to save myself?

Yeah, not happening.

“It’s pretty obvious.” Liz winces.

“You’ve been moping and skipping classes while consuming nothing but junk”?Brynn motions toward the candy wrappers as evidence?“while Chris has been suspiciously MIA all week, save for football practice.”

Samantha nods in confirmation. “He hasn’t been gone this much since summer semester of our freshamn year.”

Sighing, I stand and pad my way to my bureau where I pull out Chris’s hoodie and bring it to my nose, inhaling his scent like the addict I am.

“Stop that!” Brynn admonishes, ripping it out of my hands.

My mouth gapes as I yank it back and shove it back inside the drawer where it belongs, lest she get any ideas.

“That’s it. We’re going to Jace’s place.”

“What?Nooo,” I whine. “What if he’s there?” I’m not ready to face him. Not after he’s been ghosting my calls all week. And okay, I may have showed up at their apartment multiple times hoping to find him. I’m surprised Jace isn’t ready to get a restraining order.