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He knew me so well Better than almost anyone, except for Jess He’d been incredibly important to me for, God, almost a third of h it was perfectly clear to me that I wasn’t in love with him anymore

I went down the line feeding quarters into the dryers, and when I got to the end I turned and looked at hito be kind of weird and aard at first, for both of us But I’ a try”

“Awesos allowed, now that we’re friends?”

“Um…I don’t know Maybe?”

Charlie crossed the roo And he asked, “Are you happy, Jauy make you happy?”

“Yes God, yes”

He let go of ht where it should be Now all we have to do is get olden”

I seted aardly for a couple o, before I do so to screw this up Let’s have a drink next week, ok?”

“Sure”

“Can I text you between now and then?” Charlie asked “To, you know, get some career advice? Or like, just say hi?”

“I’d like that”

He smiled at me, and it was just a little wistful “Ok then See you soon” And he turned and left the Laundromat

I watched hi out at the street for a while

Charlie had been ht up until today, a few tendrils of loss and regret had remained tied to my heart But they were cut loose now It was over It was truly, totally over

So this hat closure felt like

I brushed away a few tears – not of sadness, but of the strong emotions that accompany the end of a major life chapter And then I took my cell phone from my pocket and texted Jess: Spotted at Laundry City: C and J, striking a tentative peace agreement

She texted back: I’d almost think that was a Gossip Girl reference, except those bitches don’t do laundry

I smiled at that and wrote: Hoork? Is Catherine still there?

Yes she’s here, and buying half the store Pity I don’t work on co nice?