Those Who Wait

by Haley Cass

And she chose to come back home to her.

“I still wish you were here.”

No, Charlotte wasn’t professing feelings, but … it was something. Something different than what it had been at first. And she was patient, very much willing to let Charlotte come to terms with these things on her own time.

That Sutton would be with her, would be hers, if she only asked.

You kiss me hello and goodbye and you make me miss you and want to cuddle, and that wasn’t supposed to happen!

How was Sutton supposed to do anything but love her? She didn’t know.

It wasn’t ideal, of course, but their private moments, the ones with just them, were enough.

“I want you to be in my life because my life is better with you in it.”

“I can’t be your friend because I’m in love with you.”

“I’m in love with you and that’s not just going to go away because we aren’t sleeping together. I think … I think maybe you love me, too. Or you could, and you’re just too scared to do anything about it.”

She was happy for all of her siblings. She wanted them all to not be lonely, to have someone to share private laughs with, to have someone to dance with, to have someone to join them at these events. But it made her heart ache, because she wanted for once to join in on that. To have someone to bring to the weddings, to the holidays, to the parties. Instead of feeling the pockets of loneliness.

“The world wants to sell the lie, especially to beautiful young women

like you, that love is the pinnacle of what you should aspire to. But know, my dear, that there’s so much more for you to look forward to than that. In the grand scheme of this life, you have all the power to control your fate if you make the smart choices.”

“There’s a difference between being happy about something and being happy. One of them is fleeting.”

“But remember that even amidst serving the public, you don’t owe them your personal life. You owe the world for you to be responsible and to be able to defend your professional and ethical choices ad nauseum. But your life is yours. And if there is anyone I’ve ever known in this game who I trust will know what to do when the time is right, my girl, it’s you.”

I’m so in love with you.

“I’ve learned that love is about finding someone who pulls you to them even when reason might tell you otherwise. Someone who pushes you out of your comfort zone, not because of them doing or saying anything, necessarily, but because they make you want to try new things. They make you want to be daring because maybe something new and scary doesn’t feel quite as scary by their side.”

“Someone who sees you for everything you are, too.” She bit her lip. “Someone who sees all of it and chooses you, anyway.”

“And the only thing that could ever be better than feeling this way about that person is that they feel it back.”

“I’m in love with you, Sutton. Terrifyingly, irreversibly, life-alteringly in love with you.”

“Haven’t you ever heard that good things come to those who wait?”