“But I also know that in all the years I’ve known you, I’ve never heard you talk about any guy, ever, the way you talk about Jackson,” Bailey continued. “And I’ve never seen you light up the way you do when it comes to him.”
Bailey paused for a moment. “I also know that you wouldn’t be doing this for just any guy. I think if you could make your heart stop feeling things for Jackson, you would because you think that’s the right thing to do. You never want to hurt people and you always want to do the right thing. I think people come into our lives for a reason, Care. For whatever reason, Jackson came into yours…but for a completely different one, he hasn’t left. And you haven’t let him. So you tell me.”
Caroline answered, “I know what I want. Like, I know what my heart wants me to do. I know where I want to be. And it’s not here. It’s not with Clay. And just saying that out loud makes me feel like a terrible, awful person. Everything about this situation seems so wrong…hurting Clay…breaking off the engagement. That doesn’t feel good. Why should being with Jackson be this difficult? If we’re really supposed to be together, wouldn’t it be easier?”
“Are you kidding? Who made that rule ’cause I’d love to give them a piece of my mind,” Bailey sassed.
“I don’t know that I can do it.”
“Do what exactly?” Bailey pressed.
Caroline eyed her. “I love Clay. I really do.”
“No one doubts your love for Clay.”
“But what if leaving him is the wrong choice?”
“No one said you have to leave.”
“Am I being stupid, though? I mean, realistically, I barely even know Jackson. It’s wrong to leave my boyfriend for someone I don’t really know, isn’t it?”
“Are you leaving Clay for Jackson?” Bailey inquired.
“No.” Caroline looked at the floor, tears spilling all around her. “But if I did, everyone would hate me. Good people don’t do things like this. They’d all get shirts that said ‘Team Clay’ or something.”
Bailey couldn’t stop from laughing. “I’d totally wear one of those.” Caroline’s face writhed in pain as the tears fell harder. “I’m just kidding, Care. You can’t worry about what other people would think. You’re the one who has to live with your decisions, not them.”
Caroline sniffed and put her head in her hands. “Before Jackson, I’d never thought about any guy other than Clay. I knew exactly what I wanted and where my life was headed.”
Bailey’s brown curls shook in understanding as Caroline continued. “But now that I’ve met Jackson, I am questioning everything. It’s like nothing in my life will ever be the same, no matter what I do.”
“I know. Look Care, this is a lot to deal with in two nights.” Bailey stroked Caroline’s long blonde hair and wished she could take her pain away.
“I am exhausted,” Caroline admitted.
“I’m sure you are.” Bailey smiled tenderly at her lifelong friend “And one last thing.”
Caroline cocked her head to one side and muttered, “Yeah?”
“Sometimes other hearts have to break in order to keep yours intact.”
Bailey’s words shot straight to the source of Caroline’s angst like a sharpened arrow. She felt them blow straight past her mind, down her throat, and bury themselves in the center of her chest. “That was deep, Bails.” She took a deep breath. “Thank you.”
“I love you, Care. This will all be okay. It will all work out.”
“I love you, too. Thanks for being here with me.” The girls hugged and Caroline’s tears finally slowed.
“That’s what best friends are for.” Bailey gave her another squeeze. “But now it’s my job—as your best friend, of course—to put your ass to bed.”
Caroline snickered a little and walked slowly into Bailey’s oversized bedroom. She was grateful for the escape. She was in no shape to be at home with Clay. Bailey had taken care of it all. She sent Caroline to the shower and then called Clay.
“You know how we girls get when it comes to weddings. Lots to plan and talk about!” Bailey could pull off any lie she needed to if it protected her friend, which worked out really, because Caroline was a terrible liar.
“I’ll tell her. ’Night, Clay.” Bailey hung up and wondered how the hell Caroline was going to make it out of this situation in one piece.
Caroline walked out of the bedroom and tried to dry her long wet hair with a towel when Bailey spoke up. “I called Clay. He knows you’re here and staying the night. He said to tell you goodnight and he loves you.”
Her eyes started to water again as Caroline struggled to keep her emotions in check. “Thank you so much, Bailey. There was no way I could have talked to him.”
“I know.”
Caroline grabbed her purse from off the couch, opened up the zipper compartment, and pulled out the note Jackson had sent her along with the heart charm. She ran her thumb across the words in the note, thinking of how his hand had also touched that paper.
Affection swirled within her as she placed the charm on the nightstand and crawled into the queen-sized bed. The paper firmly clutched to her chest, she quietly cried herself to sleep.
Chapter Twelve
When Caroline woke up the next morning, emotions from the previous night flooded her mind like a hurricane. Everything felt exactly the same.