Tonya Hurley_Ghostgirl_03 by Lovesick Read Free Book Online Page B

situation was under control, Bill gave her a peck on the cheek as he left the room. Eileen, however, was not as quick to call it quits.

“Charlotte, I know that you’re upset about leaving us, even for a short while,” her mom said, “but I get the feeling there is something else going on too.”

Eileen saw right through Charlotte, and for once Charlotte was glad somebody could. Here it was, at last, and they both sensed it as only mothers and daughters can. It was what they’d waited for their whole lives and longer: for Eileen, a chance to test-drive her “mother’s intuition,” and for Charlotte, a chance to have The Talk.

“Mom?” Charlotte stumbled as she searched for the right words to say.

“Yes, sweetie?” Eileen asked expectantly.

“There’s this guy…,” Charlotte began.

Chapter 6 You Can Do Better than Me

Love is a grave mental disease.

—Plato

Critical condition.

Just as love blinds us to imperfections in others, it magnifies those we see in ourselves. But if this is true, then the opposite must also be the case. We can take comfort in the fact that our faults will be invisible to those who love us. The success or failure of any relationship depends not just on how we feel about each other, but on how we make each other feel about ourselves.

Charlotte, look at it this way: it’s your first fight. That’s the mark of a real relationship,” Pam said, trying to lift Charlotte’s spirits as they headed to the office for what was, for better or worse, the last time.

This was not the time for “I told you so,” though it took every ounce of spectral strength from Pam and Prue not to blurt it out.

“It just hurts me that he doesn’t get that he’s the main reason I want to stay,” Charlotte said. “He’s so casual about us.”

“What ‘us’?” CoCo butted in as she joined them on the way. “Have you ever even talked about the both of you as a couple?”

“No, not yet,” Charlotte said.

“Maybe you’re too afraid to find out what he really thinks,” Prue added.

“I’d rather just vomit than be nauseated all day,” CoCo said. “Know what I mean?”

They looked at CoCo, knowing there was a point, but unable to figure out what it was.

CoCo let out a sigh of exasperation and explained: “Just because you’re afraid of what he might say, afraid of rejection, doesn’t mean you just ignore it altogether. I would want to know.”

“Let’s not get too dramatic,” Pam wisely advised.

“Maybe he thinks I’m not cool enough for him,” Charlotte moped, her insecurities creeping back.

“He’s a guy, Charlotte,” Prue tossed off. “He’s probably not thinking anything.”

“And you are totally overthinking,” Pam said. “This is the old you talking, Charlotte. Don’t let yourself fall back into that trap.”

Charlotte smiled a bit anxiously and realized they were probably right.

“At least he’s getting sent back with us so you can keep your eye on him,” Pam pointed out rationally.

“Yeah,” CoCo tweaked. “Leaving him behind could be dangerous now that Polly is here.”

“Thanks a lot,” Charlotte grumbled. “I feel much better now.”

Pam and Prue laughed good-naturedly and nudged Charlotte as they approached the phone bank. Charlotte didn’t see the humor in any of it just then. Just the injustice.

“Why so glum, man?” Mike prodded Eric, who seemed uncharacteristically stuck in a funk. “I thought you were looking forward to getting back.”

“I am,” Eric said weakly. “It’s just, you know, Charlotte’s kind of bumming me.”

“Don’t fret,” DJ chided, proud of his guitar pun. “This is not like you.”

“I don’t know,” Eric said. “This trip is really bad timing for us.”

“It’s perfect timing!” Mike shouted, punching out an air-drum roll in front of him. “You don’t want to be tied down with all that living tail that’s gonna be around.”

“Brodown!” DJ shouted, anticipating his first boys’