She grinned. “Well, I flew to Manhattan the day after you kicked me out.”
“To see Charlotte.” He still couldn’t fathom any of this.
“Yeah. And we talked, and, I don’t know, patched things up, I guess. She’s actually not so bad once she has a glass of wine or two. Anyway, she told me what happened with you two back then, and I kind of understand now why she came here to do what she did, considering how crappy you were to her. Long story short, she feels terrible, and she really does love you. And I know you love her, so that’s why you’re going to New York.”
She recited the entire speech without taking a breath, and Nate couldn’t decide if he wanted to laugh or throttle her.
“What did I tell you about sticking your nose in my business?” he grumbled.
“I had no choice.” She shrugged. “We both know you’re too proud to forgive her, so I’m just giving you a little push.”
“A little push?” he mocked.
“Fine, a big one.”
Her hand suddenly landed on his arm and he found himself being led toward the staircase. “Upstairs,” she ordered, practically dragging him up to the second floor landing.
In his bedroom, he stood there, dumbfounded, as she threw open the closet door and started pulling out pieces of clothing. Over her shoulder, she shot him an impatient look. “Get in the shower, Bishop.”
“But…I don’t want to go to New York,” he said roughly.
“Tough, because you’re going.” She slanted her pretty blonde head. “You still love Charlotte, right?”
He swallowed. “She lied to me.”
“And she feels bad about it.” Lexie scowled at him. “Look, if she can forgive you for taking her virginity and breaking her heart, then the least you can do is forgive her for not being able to get over it and forming a ridiculous revenge plan.”
“I didn’t see you begging me to forgive Evelyn,” he muttered.
“Because Evelyn was an awful witch. Charlotte is not.” Her voice softened. “You can’t let her get away again. Swallow your pride and forgive her, Nate. You two belong together.”
Emotion clogged his throat. He couldn’t believe Lexie was saying this, which only caused the shield around his heart to crumble even further. Lexie had managed to find a way to warm up to Charlotte—so why couldn’t he find a way to forgive her?
He thought about all the cruel things he’d said to her back then, putting himself in her position. He would have been hurt and furious too. Not enough to want to strike back, but he did get why she’d felt the need for revenge. And if she’d been telling the truth about putting aside her foolish revenge plan once she fell in love with him again, then that meant she actually had forgiven him for the cruelty he’d dished out. If she had managed to get past his inexcusable actions, couldn’t he make the same effort?
He thought of his father, not something he did often, but for some reason, he suddenly saw a parallel between himself and the man who’d sired him. Henry Bishop had thrown away everything good in his life. His dad had a good, loving woman who’d been willing to stay with him despite his indiscretions, and instead of appreciating what he had, he kept hurting her. He’d slept with any female in his path, even Charlotte’s mother, which was one nugget of information Nate wasn’t sure he’d ever share with Charlotte. Her mother had messed her up too badly, and if Nate wasn’t careful, he was going to follow in his father’s footsteps and mess up his own life.
Did he really want to be the guy who threw away something amazing because of his damn pride?
Charlotte had sucked up her pride when she’d returned to a town that had brought her nothing but misery. When she’d forgiven a man who’d caused her nothing but heartache.
Didn’t she deserve the same from him?
“Well?”
Lexie was eyeing him expectantly, waiting for an answer, a sign.
As a slow smile stretched over his mouth, he took a step to the bathroom door and said, “Give me ten minutes.”
Lexie had failed.
By the time four o’clock rolled around, Charlotte knew, with a sinking heart, that Lexie hadn’t managed to convince Nate to come to New York. According to the airline hotline, the flight he was supposed to be on had already landed, and her loft wasn’t far from the airport. He would’ve been here by now.
She blinked back tears, grateful that she wasn’t wearing any makeup yet. She needed to leave for the venue in an hour, where she would do a sound check then sit through hair and makeup to prepare for tonight’s concert, the first one of the month-long East Coast tour. And Nate wouldn’t be standing stage left, watching her perform.
Swiping her sleeve over her wet eyes, she sighed and moved to the window, fixing her gaze on the city below. People bustled along the sidewalk, yellow cabs sped along the busy street, and the muffled sound of car horns pierced the air.