The Best Mistake - Cookie O'Gorman Page 0,15

Sure, he was the first person to ever see your O-face.”

“Charlie,” I said, smacking her with a pillow, but she just laughed.

“It’s a really common thing. People say crazy things in the heat of passion.”

I tilted my head. “Have you ever said the wrong name?”

“Sure, sure,” she said, and I began to relax. “Though I don’t think I’ve ever said the brother’s name. That’s just you.”

I groaned and flopped back.

“I’m kidding,” she said. “I’m sure it happens. For real, Honor, don’t sweat it.”

We both turned as the door opened. It was a little past 1:00 am, but it was normal for Rose to walk in late. Younger than Charlie and me, she was a total night owl.

“Hey ladies,” she said, taking a seat next to me on the couch. “I see the ice cream is out. What happened this time, Charlie? Did you finally find a guy who told you no?”

Charlie smiled. “As if,” she said, “and this isn’t about me. It’s all about our little Honor over here and her naughty night out.”

“Oh really?” Rose said. She grabbed my spoon then helped herself to some ice cream. We’d been living together for a while and weren’t weird about things like that. “Tell me more. Work sucked, as usual, and I could use a good distraction.”

I shot her a frown. “Don’t you have to get some sleep?”

Rose shrugged. “Not really. I’ll sleep through the afternoon like always and wake up for my night classes, go straight to work at the tattoo parlor from there. These are like my peak hours of wakefulness.”

“Ooh, can I tell her?” Charlie said. “Please, please, can I tell her about you and the brothers?”

“Brothers,” Rose repeated with a smile. “Well, this just got more interesting.”

With a sigh, I nodded. “But only if you try not to laugh at the embarrassing bits.”

“Yes!” Charlie fist-pumped. “And I promise no laughter—or very little laughter, like the most miniscule amount I can manage.”

“I promise nothing.” Rose held her hands out. “I’ll try not to laugh, but you know, I’m always a little punchy at this time of night. Plus, I have no idea what I’m in for.”

“Oh, it’s good,” Charlie said with a grin. “Trust me.”

“Can’t wait. Oh and don’t forget girls, our new roommate moves in tomorrow. Someone else has to be up to greet her because I’m probably going to be out like a light.”

“No problem,” I said. “We’ll both be here.”

Charlie waved her hands in the air. “Yes, yes, we’ll be here. But Rose, just wait until you hear about Honor’s night of debauchery. It’s so much fun. I can’t even.”

Shaking my head, I watched as Charlie re-told Rose everything that’d happened. Even I found myself laughing a bit at her enthusiasm. We made it through about half the tub of ice cream before the three of us called it a night. Before going to bed, Rose took me aside and said, “Listen Honor, I know you’re embarrassed, but just remember. Tomorrow’s a new day with no mistakes in it.”

“Yet,” we both said at the same time, completing the Anne of Green Gables quote.

“And at least if you do decide to go and apologize to this guy, you can get your book back.”

With that Rose left, and I went to my bedroom. It was my one huge regret from the night I’d spent with Archer (besides calling him Baylor, of course). My beloved copy of Jane Eyre was still in his room somewhere, probably gathering dust. I’d had the book for years and noticed it was missing immediately after leaving the party. Maybe if I had more courage I would’ve gone back for it, but my humiliation had been too strong. Even Mr. Rochester’s brooding loveliness wasn’t enough to entice me back.

Oh well, I thought, closing my eyes. Archer was a good person, so at least I knew it was in safe hands. I fell asleep to that thought and dreamed of his eyes gliding effortlessly over the words, holding his full attention, his hands caressing the pages.

Never in my life had I been so jealous of a book.

The next morning, I stirred awake at the sound of arguing in the living room.

I’d been dreaming about books and baseball of all things, so I wasn’t exactly upset to be woken up. But that sounded a lot like Charlie’s voice. And boy, she did not sound happy.

I opened the door to my room, closing it quickly and quietly behind me. Rose’s room was across from mine, and