CHAPTER 17
Jody threw herself at him, sobbing. Charlie wrapped her in a tight hug and he took in the faint smell of strawberries from her soft hair. Jody stepped back several minutes later and whipped her eyes.
"What happened?" Charlie asked softly.
Jody shook her head. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come here." Jody started to pick up her bag but Charlie grabbed it up first.
"It's fine, I don't mind."
Jody looked past him. "No girlfriend?"
"No, not lately."
Jody nodded and sniffed. "Oh."
"You wanna talk about it inside?" Charlie asked, placing Jody's bag on the rug behind him.
Jody nodded slightly. "Sure."
Charlie let her in and shut the door. Sitting next to her on the couch he asked, "What happened?"
"Cooper," Jody started slowly as Charlie's eyes got cold and hard. "He really hasn't changed at all. I was just so in love, I guess I had myself convinced he had changed… for me. He kept saying how much he loved me…" Jody sighed. "I dunno. Maybe he did… maybe not… do you think I'm an idiot for getting involved with him?" Jody asked, at first not realizing what she was saying.
Charlie smiled and shook his head. "No, I think he's an idiot for not treating you well. You deserve someone who loves you… and isn't afraid to. Someone-"
"Like you…" Jody finished for him.
Charlie shrugged. "I wasn't going to say that…" He put his hand on her arm.
Jody shifted and Charlie drew his hand back. "Charlie… please… I just caught my husband sleeping with someone else…" Jody began to cry again.
Charlie wrapped her in another hug. "I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry. You don't deserve this kind of pain."
Jody rested her head on Charlie's shoulder. "Sure I do. This is what I get for falling deeply in love… with Cooper Neilson… famous for doing this to people…" Jody sniffed again.
Charlie held Jody in front of him and looked into her eyes. "No. This is not your fault. You understand? This is never your fault. He just doesn't see a good thing right under his nose when he has it. He just puts on this fake charm every time he sees… anything female."
"Anything? And… he really does… did… ugh! I don't know! But he loved… loves… me. He really did. And I love him. How do you get over a love like that?"
"You don't…" Charlie said slowly. "It's always there. You can't ever get rid of it. The only thing you can do is not let myself think about you…" Charlie shook his head and looked away. "I mean… just… you can't let yourself dwell on things that will never be." Charlie blushed.
Jody turned to face Charlie. "I'm sorry I hurt you Charlie."
Charlie nodded and sighed. "I know, I know… It's just… can I ask you something?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"Remember that one light when you came over and you said you still loved me?"
"Yeah, sorta."
"And then you said you changed your mind… and married Cooper. Was that true?"
"Charlie, I don't know. Why are you asking me all this NOW? My marriage… I don't wanna get a divorce…"
"I'm sorry. I just… I don't know what to do to help. I just can't stand to see you this unhappy. It's just wrong."
Jody looked into Charlie's eyes and saw what she had been so afraid of. Her whole marriage was a lie… on both their parts. Cooper was afraid to love her, so he went after other women. Jody loved Cooper, she really did, but pretending his lips were as soft as Charlie's… and that his arms were as warm and inviting… and comforting as Charlie's… was a lie. She still loved Charlie, but had blocked it out of her mind. "You know what?" Jody stood up and grabbed her bag. "I can't stay here. I'm gonna go… to Eva's or something. I need to think." And with that, she left, leaving Charlie alone, again.
