The Click Trilogy (24 page)
Authors: Lisa Becker
From: Ashley Price – November 13, 2011 – 1:04 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: I'm worried
Renee. Listen to me. I may not be an expert on romance and love. Lord knows I haven't had a successful relationship since...well, never. Although I’m really trying with Greg! But I'm telling you. You and Ethan are meant to be together. You and Shelley are great friends. You have to get past this. I know it hurts and I know it is going to be hard. But love is worth it. Love for this great man. And love for your good friend.
From: Renee Greene – November 13, 2011 – 1:10 PM
To: Ashley Price
Subject: Re: I'm worried
You're right. Thank you for being such a good friend yourself. For listening to me whine and complain and for offering such good advice. Okay. I'm going to have one last really good cry and then call Ethan. I'll let you know how it goes.
From: [email protected] – November 13, 2011 – 1:30 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: My POV!
This is getting crazy. We need to talk about this. Okay. So you won't listen to what I have to say. Well, then at least read it. I don't understand why this is such a big deal to you.
Shelley and I went out like half a dozen times...months ago. I don't want to say it didn't mean
anything
because I know Shelley is your friend and that would be insulting to her and you. But I don't want for you to think it meant
everything,
because it didn't. We had fun and she is a great gal. I can understand why you guys are such good friends. And, yes, this is a bit awkward.
But if you're worried about how I feel about you in comparison to my feelings for her, there is NOTHING to be worried about. I didn't feel for her anywhere near what I'm feeling for you. Not even close.
Renee, I'm in love with you. Do you hear (or should I say read) that? I'm in LOVE with you. Not the, I’m-having-some-fun-with-a-cool-gal-around-town feeling. This is love. Deep. Real. Raw. Heartfelt.
I think you are the most beautiful, special, hilarious, dazzling, compassionate, insanely wonderful person I've ever met. (And it's not just your great chocolate chip cookies.) It's everything about you. It's the fact that you get lost coming home from the neighborhood grocery store where you shop every week. It's how you laugh at my incredibly lame puns and jokes not because you want to humor me but because you think I'm actually funny. It's that you tell your nephew, “when mommy and daddy say no, Auntie Renee will always say yes.” It's everything and you're everything.
Please, please don't let this end just because I happened to go on a few dates with your friend a long time ago. This is too special to lose. I'm home. I'm sitting by the phone. Please call me.
From: Renee Greene – November 14, 2011 – 9:00 AM
To: Ashley Price
Subject: Sorry!
Sorry, I woke you. I didn't realize I was calling you at 3:00 a.m. Ethan finally fell asleep and I wanted to let you know how things went. Of course, I didn't realize what time it was. Sorry. I'm home now and I figured you might be sleeping in, since you were so rudely awakened so very early. Anyway, I'm exhausted. Mentally and physically exhausted. We talked for hours. Now normally, we talk for hours. Which is one of the reasons I love him so much. We can literally talk for hours about, well, just about anything. But this was brutal. I mean we talked and cried and talked some more FOR HOURS.
It started out with him totally apologizing to ME for having had a "relationship" – yes he used the pantomime quotation marks – with Shelley. Can you believe it? He was apologizing TO ME(!) for not having the foresight to realize that months later he would meet me.
Of course that made me feel even guiltier. I told him that I wasn't upset about him and Shelley and that he had nothing to be sorry for. I then completely broke down into heaving sobs and confessed all about the Cuddler. He sat there silent while I detailed every joke made at his expense and begged and groveled for him not to hate me. Then he just looked at me blankly.
I thought for sure he was going to tell me I was a wicked person and that he never wanted to see me again. Then he looked at me with this incredulous expression on his face and said, "That's what this is all about?" I tearfully said yes and he said, "Okay. You're forgiven. Now, let's order Chinese."
Then he just held me for what seemed like hours but was actually like 20 minutes. But for me to stay silent and let someone just hold me for 20 minutes seemed like an eternity. And it was awesome. I was feeling so guilty for the things I said before I even knew who he was and with his calm and gentle forgiveness, he made me, for just a moment, feel like ten times more guilty. But then I realized that he just really loves me and that it was quite obviously nothing personal because I really love him too. So now I'm home and need to call Shelley. I think this one might be even more exhausting. But I wanted to let you know that everything with Ethan is fine. I'll let you know how things with Shelley go.
From: Shelley Manning – November 15, 2011 – 1:30 PM
To: Ashley Price
Subject: Thank you!!!!!
Ashley: I just wanted to say thank you for encouraging Renee to finally call me back and work through this whole thing. I know we haven't always seen eye-to-eye on things. But, I really appreciate your recognizing how much I love her and that I would never intentionally hurt her. She called last night and we worked through everything. So, thanks.
From: Ashley Price – November 15, 2011 – 1:52 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Thank you!!!!!
It was my pleasure. You're right. We are very different and don't necessarily look at the world through the same perspective.
But despite our differences, we do have a lot in common, most notably our love for that crazy gal. Glad it worked out.
From: Renee Greene – November 16, 2011 – 9:02 AM
To: Ashley Price; Shelley Manning
Subject: Lunch at Mel's
Hi ladies. Hoping we could all meet up for lunch at Mel's tomorrow. Are you in?
From: Ashley Price – November 16, 2011 – 9:07 AM
To: Renee Greene; Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Lunch at Mel's
Sounds good to me. I always do look forward to lunch with the two of you.
From: Shelley Manning – November 16, 2011 – 9:15 AM
To: Ashley Price; Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Lunch at Mel's
Of course, sweetie. I walked by the other day and saw they had a really great new looking waiter. ;) Mwah! Mwah!
Again, I’m filled with immense gratitude for my family,
friends and fans that have supported me in this endeavour, especially SJB and TMZ. XOXO!
Chapter 1 – Dress Fittings and Seating Charts
From: Renee Greene – May 17, 2012 – 9:15 AM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Dress fitting
On one hand, planning this wedding is going to be the death of me. What made me think I could hold down a full time job and plan this wedding?!? But, on the other hand, I’m SO excited. I was born for this. Really! I was. Don’t forget – your final dress fitting is tomorrow at noon. I have mine at 11:30, so I’ll see you there.
From: Renee Greene – May 17, 2012 – 9:16 AM
To: Ashley Price
Subject: Your dress fitting
Your final dress fitting is tomorrow at 11:00. SO EXCITING! I will meet you there and Shelley will be by at noon for hers, if you want to stick around. Talk soon!
From: Ashley Price – May 17, 2012 – 10:32 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Your dress fitting
I don’t know how you are able to keep all of this straight. You are truly a wonder woman. Looking forward to tomorrow. BTW, are you wearing your hair up or down? I think it would look better up, but of course you can wear it any way you want.
From: Renee Greene – May 17, 2012 – 10:33 AM
To: Ashley Price
Subject: Re: Your dress fitting
Up it is! See you soon.
From: Shelley Manning – May 17, 2012 – 11:02 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Dress fitting
My flight from Seattle gets in at 10:30, so noon should be fine. And, nothing like getting knocked up to bring on the wedding bells, huh?
From: Renee Greene – May 17, 2012 – 11:08 AM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Dress fitting
I hope work won’t be taking you to Seattle
again
before the wedding. I need you in town! And p
lease
don’t use that expression. I’ve told you a gazillion times that I don’t like it.
From: Shelley Manning – May 17, 2012 – 11:27 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Dress fitting
I know I’ve been in Seattle a lot lately. Seems that when the economy plunged, so did a lot of financial/tech jobs. We’re interviewing/recruiting some senior talent to move south and it’s taking some time. But I will be in town until the wedding is over.
Regarding the expression “knocked up,” HA! I know, you can’t stand it. Your good-girl sensibilities get in the way.
But really, a shotgun wedding? How could I not savor the comments? This is juicy fun.
From: Renee Greene – May 17, 2012 – 11:35 AM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Dress fitting
It’s only a super-tiny, five-month baby bump and I doubt most people will even notice.
From: Shelley Manning – May 17, 2012 – 11:40 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Dress fitting
Yeah, well come 12 years from now, that kid’s gonna notice that mommy and daddy were married only 4 months before his or her birthday. HA-LARIOUS! I get the giggles every time I think about it.
From: Renee Greene – May 17, 2012 – 11:42 AM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Dress fitting
PLEASE STOP! I will see you tomorrow at noon. Safe travels.
From: Shelley Manning – May 17, 2012 – 11:43 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Dress fitting
See you then. Mwah! Mwah!
From: Renee Greene – May 18, 2012 – 2:35 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Gorgeous!
You looked SO beautiful in your dress. I can’t believe the wedding is only one and a half weeks away. Who knew it could be put together in three and a half short months – but look like it’s taken a year to plan. Gotta give myself a pat on the back.
From: Shelley Manning – May 18, 2012 – 2:45 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Gorgeous!
I’ll give you a pat, too. You’ve done an awesome job pulling it all together. I’m sure it will go off without a hitch. You are the queen of organization.
From: Renee Greene – May 18, 2012 – 2:50 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Gorgeous!
I’d say
From: Shelley Manning – May 18, 2012 – 2:56 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Gorgeous!
I can’t believe it. Renee Michele Greene taking a compliment without being compelled, goaded, guilted or shamed into it? Has the world turned on its side? Has hell frozen over?
From: Renee Greene – May 18, 2012 – 2:58 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Gorgeous!
Ha! Ha! Ha! Enough. I’ve got work to do.
From: Shelley Manning – May 18, 2012 – 2:59 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Gorgeous!
Mwah! Mwah!
From: Mark Finlay – May 18, 2012 – 5:25 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Plus one?!?
Let me preface this with “please don’t be angry!” I know it’s about a week until the wedding, but I’ve decided to come with a date. Does that totally mess up the seating charts?
From: Renee Greene – May 18, 2012 – 6:32 PM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Plus one?!?
A date? Well, well, well. You’ve been holding out on me. Being in the wedding party, you have the distinct pleasure of sitting at the bride and groom’s table, so it’s no problem to squeeze in an extra seat. Details, please.
From: Mark Finlay – May 18, 2012 – 7:00 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Plus one?!?
Her name is Cassidy and she’s…well…wonderful. After spending $500 on online dating sites, $1,250 on the “It’s a Dinner Party” service and $650 on the “Lunch Dates for Busy Professionals” service, can you believe I met Cass while walking Finneaus in Runyon Canyon? We met on the hiking trail when Finneaus literally sniffed her out. I fell hard for her amazingly charming Southern accent and we’ve been together ever since. Ironically, she’s been on my online dating service for a year and I never knew. Crazy! I pasted part of her profile here below.
i’m cassidy. i am an outgoing and friendly southern gal that has moved to california to work in the entertainment industry. i want to direct movies someday, but right now i’m a personal trainer to the stars. there’s nothing i love more than reese witherspoon movies, lemon bars, running and cats – accept for calicos. for some reason, i can’t stand those.
i always tell people i have a really small sweet tooth, but it’s all the way in the back. it just takes a while to reach it.
i’m looking for a smart, successful and energetic man to spend time with. but, my job can be very demanding, so patients and understanding go a long way. if you think your the right guy for me, i would love to hear from you.
Isn’t she adorable!? And the thing about the sweet tooth totally reminded me of you. I didn’t say anything until now because I wanted to see how things were going. Plus, I knew you were in wedding planning hell.
But I really see something special between me and this girl and would like for her to be at the wedding of one of my closest friends, so years from now we can all reminisce about what an amazing day it was. I’m so glad that’s okay. Please say hi to Ethan for me and we’ll talk later.
From: Renee Greene – May 19, 2012 – 8:35 AM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Plus one?!?
Yes, she sounds darling. And that sweet tooth thing is a good line. I’m only sorry she came up with it first. ;) I totally look forward to meeting her. Plus one it is! Gotta run. Lots of details to confirm, plus I have a few client calls to return. I still have my day job, you know. ;) Talk soon.
From: Renee Greene – May 19, 2012 – 8:52 AM
To: PBCupLover
Subject: Fwd: Plus one?!?
Mark is bringing a date to the wedding. See below. Aside from the horrendous grammatical errors, she sounds sweet. And I love that line about the sweet tooth. Only sorry she beat me to it. ;)
Hope you are having a good morning. I know you’ve been pretty busy with the new job and just wanted you to know how proud I am of you, Mr. CFO!!! You’re amazing!
XOXO, Me
