A/N: I don't own any of the characters.
Liza woke up the next morning and checked her phone as she always did. She had a text message from Clare asking if they could meet somewhere. She replied back asking where and Clare replied back. Liza got out of bed and went to take a shower. After she was finished getting ready, she walked out of her bedroom.
"Where are you off to?"
"I'm meeting Clare for breakfast. She wants to talk."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"Everything will be fine. At least I hope so."
"Do you feel any better about last night?"
"I'm still really pissed off at Josh."
"That's your choice and honestly, I don't blame you. I took your advice and I invited Charles over for lunch to get to know him better. I tried for dinner but he had to get the girls from their mother. Do you think you'll be around?"
"Doubtful. You can tell me how that goes when I get back."
"Ok."
"Be nice."
Maggie smirked at Liza and Liza just shook her head.
"Anything for you. You know that."
Liza hugged Maggie and then she left to meet Clare. When she arrived where they were meeting, Clare was already there and had Gemma with her.
"Hey, Liza. Thank you for meeting me on such short notice."
"No problem."
Clare got up to hug Liza and then they sat down.
"She is getting so big."
"She sure is."
They looked at the menu and then the server came to take their order.
"What did you need to talk to me about?"
"I think Josh is up to something. When I told him that I was offered a promotion in Los Angeles and that it meant more money and better child care for Gemma, he had a fit. He figured that if he was making more money, I wouldn't take the promotion but I really want it. He is trying to sabotage my future to make his life easier. I get that it'll be hard for him not to see Gemma all the time but I'm also trying to do what's best for her. Do you think you could talk to him? I don't like him making decisions for me. How did this Inkburg Midtown thing come about anyway?"
"Somehow I think he is trying to sabotage us both. He not only wants to keep Gemma close but he wants to keep me close."
"How did that ad come about?"
"I was doing a photo shoot for Infinitely 21 and he just showed up. Although I think I know how he found out. He's trying anything he can to weasel his way back into my life, including using his daughter. He's also trying to sabotage my relationship with Charles."
Liza told Clare everything she heard Josh say to Lauren and Maggie and about their conversation after he read the letter.
"He actually told you that you wrote the letter to the wrong guy?"
"He did."
"He's an ass!"
"I think so too. Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"What happened between the two of you?"
"He's the one that didn't try very hard. He wanted to be here and left me in Ireland."
"Unbelievable! He lied to me about that. I was at the bar with Kelsey, Lauren and Maggie and had to use the bathroom. They told me not to use the one at the bar but I should just use the one at the apartment. Kelsey gave me her key and when I got there, Josh was in tears. He had just gotten off the phone with you and you said you weren't coming."
"That part is true but I wasn't coming because he didn't want me here. What did he expect me to do?"
"I'm guessing he hasn't been honest with you about a lot. He came to my room the night before your wedding. He told me that it has always been me and he wanted any life with me. He stayed the night but then he was gone by the next morning. When I asked him about it, he told me he had to put a ring between us."
"Did you two have sex?"
"No."
"Thank you for telling me that, Liza."
"Sure."
"Now it's all so clear to me."
"Yeah, it's pretty clear to me now too. I'm really trying to move on with my life but he is trying to get in my head. I hate that he tells me how I feel and I hate that he's making your decisions for you."
"What do you think we should do?"
"I'm planning to go talk to him about everything."
"I want to tell him that I am planning to accept the promotion and move to LA."
"Why don't we go over there together?"
"I love that idea. Even if you and Josh don't stay friends, I still want you to be a big part of Gemma's life."
"Thank you, Clare. I really appreciate that."
"This talk never happened."
"Right."
They got their food and once they ate breakfast, they headed over to Josh's. They rang the bell and were buzzed in. They went in and up to his apartment.
"Hey, Clare. Hey, Liza."
Josh had a smirk on his face when he saw Liza.
"Hey."
"Hey, Josh. We need to talk."
"Yeah, sure. Hey, Gem! How's Daddy's girl?"
Liza and Clare walked in.
"Hello, Clare. Ms. Miller."
"Cut the crap, Lauren! While you're at it, don't tell Josh where I'm at for work."
"What are you talking about?"
"I know you told him where I was doing that photo shoot."
"Yeah, fine! Whatever!"
Lauren rolled her eyes.
"Lauren, can you take Gemma out for a while?"
"Sure, why not? Come on, kid."
Lauren left with Gemma and then Clare and Liza both sat down.
"I'm surprised to see you, Liza."
"Really? I heard every word you said to Maggie last night. Why can't you accept that we're over?"
"Because we're not. Don't you get that? I love you and you love me. I know you love me more than him. You're just afraid to admit it."
"When you asked me the night of Diana's bachelorette party of I loved Charles more than you, I told you I did and I do."
"But you don't. I know you, Liza."
"That night you said you know when I'm lying to myself. You had no idea what I was lying about my age until I told you."
"Maybe but I know when you're lying when you say you love him more than me."
"I'm not lying about that."
"Yes, you are. Liza, I love you and you love me. Admit it. You only love him because he's what you think you want. I'm the one you really want. What you feel for him isn't real but what we had and could have again is."
"No! My feelings for him are VERY real."
"Then tell me you don't still have feelings for me."
"I don't still have feelings for you."
"I don't believe you. In your heart, you know we really belong together."
"We don't, Josh."
"We do. I know we do and you feel it too."
"You need to stop telling me how I feel."
"He doesn't know you the way I do."
"Yes, Josh, he does. When we had that conversation after your re-opening of Inkburg, he knew everything. Like I told you the other night, we were a moment in time but that moment is now a thing of the past. The thing is, I started falling hard for Charles when I was with you."
"Yet you chose to stay with me. That must tell you something."
"I wanted him to know everything before anything else happened between us."
"I kept your secret, Liza. I didn't tell anyone."
"You told Clare."
"I still want a life with you."
"The same life you told me you wanted with me the night before your wedding to Clare and after you spent the night with me, you told me you had to put a ring between us, so you married her anyway? That life? I care about you, Josh but I don't love you anymore. I'm trying to move on and you need to let me do that. You also need to stop showing up at places where I am. Like you said, you accepted Lauren's invitation to be her plus one just so you could see me, even though you knew damn well I that I would be there with Charles. You don't respect my need for space but Charles does."
"You can't possibly be happy with him."
"I am. Charles makes me very happy."
"I made you happy and still can. Just give me another chance to prove it."
"At the time, you made me happy but Charles is so amazing. I love him and his girls so much. I can't imagine my life without him in it. If you can't accept that I'm happy and in love with Charles, then there is no place for you in my life."
"You don't mean that."
"I do mean it."
Then Liza noticed Josh's dragon tattoo was different.
"What happened to your dragon tattoo?"
"Oh, I changed it."
"Obviously. Why?"
"It was wrong anyway."
"I can't believe you did that."
"What difference does it make? It's my tattoo and if I want to change it, I can change it. What's the big deal?"
"Nothing. I'm just surprised. That's all."
"I'm surprised you care."
"Whatever! You don't need to be such an ass about it. Goodbye, Josh. Clare, it was nice to see you again and I'm sorry you had to hear about Josh staying with me the night before the wedding from me. He's obviously not as open and honest about everything as he claims to be."
"You too, Liza and thank you."
Liza left and then Clare said what she had to say. She told him she was taking the promotion and going to LA with Gemma. He of course didn't take it too well and tried to convince her not to go but she said her mind was made up. She had a lot to get off her chest about what Liza had said. Once Lauren returned with Gemma, Clare left. Liza knew Charles was coming over to have lunch with Maggie, so she texted Michelle to see if she and Tom were busy and when she said they weren't, she headed to New Jersey for a while.
A few hours later, Charles arrived at Maggie's. He was a bit nervous but he had stopped to get her her favorite wine. He used the key Liza had given him to get into the building but he knocked on the door to the loft. Maggie opened it.
"Charles."
"Maggie. How are you?"
"Good. Thanks for coming."
"Thanks for inviting me. I'm kind of surprised though. This is for you."
"Ooh! Thanks. Come on in."
Charles came in and went to sit down. Maggie poured both of them a glass of wine and sat down next to Charles.
"I haven't necessarily been overly supportive of your relationship with Liza."
"I get that you're close to Josh."
"He means a lot to me but I want to get to know you too. If you're a part of Liza's life, that means you are also a part of mine. She and I had a talk last night, so I know about the proposal."
"Then I'm sure you know she told me that she needed time."
"I do. So, do you have an actual ring?"
"Yes. I brought it to show you."
Charles pulled the ring out of his pocket and showed it to Maggie.
"Holy shit! That's gorgeous! I hated Liza's ex-husband David."
"Do you hate me?"
"If you ever hurt Liza, I might but right now, I don't."
"I would never hurt Liza."
"I just want Liza to be happy and if that's with you, I'm fine with that."
Maggie checked on the food and then they ate as they talked more. They ended up talking for several hours. They were sitting on the sofa and drinking coffee when there was a knock at the door. Maggie got up to answer it. It was Josh.
"Hey."
"Hey."
Josh saw Charles sitting on the sofa.
"Why the hell is he here?"
"I invited him."
"Why?"
"Because I wanted to."
"Why do you want to be friends with this asshole?"
"Because he's a part of Liza's life."
Charles stood up.
"I should be going."
"Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Stay the hell away from Liza or else!"
"Or else what? Are you threatening me?"
"You better believe it. If it wasn't for you, Liza and I would probably be married right now. She loves me and not you. I know what she wants."
"Oh, you know what she wants? When you love someone, you don't tell them what they want or how they should feel. The only person that knows what's best for her is her. Liza is quite capable of making her own decisions concerning the person she wants to be with."
"She wants to be with me."
"No, she doesn't."
"Yeah, she does. Stay the hell away from her!"
Maggie would tell that Josh was making a fist.
"Josh, don't!"
Josh punched Charles in the nose and then left. Maggie got Charles some ice and then he went into Liza's bedroom to rest for a little while. Maggie texted Liza to tell her what happened, while Charles texted Pauline to ask her if she could keep the girls for one more night. She said she was more than happy to keep them. Maggie came into Liza's bedroom.
"You ok?"
"I will be."
"I texted Liza just to let her know what happened and she said she'll handle it!"
"I don't need her to handle it."
"She blames herself. I think she needs to do this."
"This is the second time he has done this. The first time was at the Empirical picnic. I should head home. Thanks again for lunch."
"No problem. I hope you feel better."
"Thanks."
They walked out of Liza's room and headed to the door. Maggie handed him a large container of leftovers.
"You didn't have to do this."
"For your girls too. I'd like to meet them sometime."
"I'm sure that can be arranged."
Charles ordered a car and then he went downstairs to wait for it. He just hoped he wasn't going to run into Josh again. His car arrived and then it took him home. Liza left New Jersey and she was pissed. She drove to Josh's again and got out of her SUV. She went up and pounded on the door but no one answered and it didn't look like anyone was inside Inkburg. She had a feeling she knew where to find him, so she went to the bar and went in. Josh was there with Lauren and Kelsey
"Hey, girl!"
"Don't talk to me right now, Kelse. Josh, how dare you punch Charles like that again!"
"He deserved it just like he did the first time I did it. Apparently the guy can't fight his own battles if you're here and he's not."
"You're such an asshole! I'm not sorry I fell in love with Charles but I am starting to regret ever becoming involved with you. It is quite obvious that you will never grow up. I am done with you! You got that? I know I wrote the letter to the right guy. Stay the hell away from me and from my boyfriend!"
Liza punched Josh in the face as hard as she could.
"What the hell, Liza?"
She left and headed to Charles's leaving Josh in pain and Lauren and Kelsey stunned. She arrived at Charles' and went in. She went upstairs and found him sitting with a glass of whisky and an ice pack. She walked up to him.
"Hey."
"Hey."
Charles put his glass down and then Liza sat in his lap. She gently kissed his nose.
"I am so sorry this happened to you. I went over there and punched him in the face. It felt great!"
"You did that for me?"
"Yep."
"Does your hand hurt?"
"A little bit."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Charles kissed Liza.
"Did you pick the girls up?"
"I called Pauline and asked her if she could keep them one more night. I really didn't want them to see me like this."
"That makes sense. Other than what happened with Josh, how was lunch?"
"Great. Maggie has texted me several times to find out how I am. She told me didn't hate me like she hated David. If I ever hurt you, she will. She does want you to be happy and if you're happy with me, then she's ok with that."
"At least she's giving you a chance. What's not to like about you? You're smart, sexy, an amazing dad and incredible in the bedroom."
"Just not a husband for you though, right?"
"I'll get there eventually. I think I had a productive day."
Liza told Charles what had happened with Josh that morning. Charles then went to warm up some of the leftovers and he and Liza ate dinner together. She decided she didn't want him to stay by himself, so she ended up spending the night. She texted Maggie, told her what had happened with Josh and that she was staying with Charles. Kelsey had texted her trying to find out why she did what she had done at the bar. Liza was really in no mood to deal with Kelsey but she knew she would eventually have to deal with her at the office, which she was not looking forward to.
Reviews are appreciated.
