NOVEL NEXT Chapter 43: Overstepping
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Claire: I can't keep quoting you all the time! It's not dignified. At least tell me who you're quoting.
Harry: My grand-dad.
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Claire sat next to Karen, who was curled up tightly, her knees clutched to her chest, head bowed. Her blonde hair fell forward, obscuring her face and waving gently in the air conditioning. She looked like a black-and-blonde bundle of sadness.
"I've never been the best at the whole emotional communication thing," Claire said slowly. "But someone once told me that if your situation isn't clear, sometimes you have to make it clear—before you can make a decision. Nothing ventured, nothing gained."
Karen didn't respond at first. She wasn't crying—just still, huddled. Her voice was quiet but steady when it came.
"I know I've put this off for so long that it feels like the biggest risk in the world to say something now. But if I stay quiet and just watch him make mistakes... that's on me, right? And I know him. I've known him for so long. We'd be perfect. I've got to shoot my shot. I told him I'd liked him … but I half-assed it, earlier. Said it might not be the right time. But this is the only time."
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Claire nodded—maybe not agreeing, maybe not disagreeing, but acknowledging. Her own view was more complicated. He was getting close to leaving. That was true. She wasn't sure of the exact timeline, but the six months had shrunk to … two, perhaps. And then he'd be gone. If her friend was shooting her shot, this was probably the time. But.
Gordon had always been bad at managing his emotions. He'd had crushes, even gone on dates, but most ended without a second. She suspected it was because he didn't open up very well. He was critical—of himself, of others. But that he adored Karen? That was obvious to anyone watching them together.
Maybe that wouldn't be a problem. But Claire didn't know. What she did know was that Karen had been carrying this torch for a long time, and she would be there for her no matter how stupid or dramatic or undignified this ended up being.
"He'll be gone soon, and he won't know—I won't have ever told him how I felt. He won't have ever really seen me, and he's not paying attention. I have to be completely clear. Unmistakable."
"I'll support you—run interference, whatever you need," Claire said. "So… what are we doing?"
Karen told her.
Claire took a breath, absorbing it. It was a lot to swallow.
She could see now why Karen had taken so long to psych herself up.
Gordon, she thought, please, please, please don't screw this up.