Charlotte nodded again, her forehead pressed to Brighton’s, her heart finally slowing down, settling into this familiar rhythm.
Brighton kissed her then, softly, sweetly, gloved fingers on her face. “I’m your family. You’re mine. Forever, right?”
“Forever,” Charlotte said.
“Let’s get married,” Brighton said then, barely even taking a breath before the words tumbled from her cool mouth.
Charlotte leaned back to see her more clearly. “What?”
“You heard me,” Brighton said, smiling. “Marry me.”
Charlotte shook her head but couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “When?”
“Today?” Brighton had said, and they both laughed. “Tomorrow, next month, next year, I don’t even care when. Just say yes. Just say it’ll happen.”
Charlotte didn’t have to think much more past that. Brighton was her best friend, her love, her everything. There was no other answer to give, no other words that even existed.
“Yes. Of course, yes.”
Brighton had curled her arms around Charlotte’s waist then, twirling her in a circle on the snowy shore, their kisses sweet at first but then turning wild, warm breaths clouding between them in the cold. They’d run into Charlotte’s house after that, not even bothering with lights, throwing clothes off as they stumbled to Charlotte’s bedroom and fell onto her bed in the growing dark, limbs slotting together like puzzle pieces. Brighton parted Charlotte’s legs, her fingers slipping inside, palm pressing down right where Charlotte needed it, so perfect, and Charlotte came so fast, Brighton’s name a cry into the chilly air. Then she’d flipped her fiancée onto her back, Brighton laughing, a laugh that turned into the softest gasp as Charlotte’s mouth—
“So what’s your favorite board game?”
Now, Charlotte startled at Brighton’s deadpan voice, blinked the Winter River woods back into focus. They were riding again,slower this time, Brighton and Charlotte positioned right behind Jenny and Shannon for safety’s sake. Charlotte glanced behind her at Sloane, now riding next to Wes, who offered her a wave. Sloane shot her a thumbs-up, mouthed “Good luck,” and then actually waggled her eyebrows.
This was a disaster.
This whole group would have her and Brighton engaged by the time they reached the hot chocolate and doughnuts awaiting them at the end of the trail.
“Mine is Balderdash,” Brighton said, a sarcastic lilt to her voice.
“What?” Charlotte asked, adjusting in her saddle. She was flustered, uncomfortable, memories from the day Brighton became her fiancée making everything feel blurry and unreal. She didn’t often reminisce about her sex life with Brighton, but when she made that mistake…
She sighed, rubbed her forehead, and thought of broken E strings, notes just a hair off-key, the squeak of her rosin across her bow.
“Making up vocabulary and definitions,” Brighton said, unbelievably still rambling. “It’s a good game.”
“Yes,” Charlotte said, rolling her shoulders back. “I’m sure you’re wonderful at nonsense words and meanings.”
“Lola—”
“Stop calling me that,” Charlotte said through clenched teeth, her voice low and almost dangerous. After everything Brighton had done, Brighton’s name for her should be like a cold shower, but no. The low, nearly whispered way Brighton said it, like a prayer almost—the sound thrummed between her legs, instant and overwhelming, and her position in this damn saddle made getting her mind back on track decidedly more difficult.
“You want everyone here to know our history?” Charlottesaid, focusing on the hum of irritation just below her skin. “Is that it?”
“You’re the one acting like a spoiled child around me.”
“I’m acting like someone who doesn’tlikeyou. I think that’s allowed.”
“I don’t want everyone to know,” Brighton said. “I just want you to act like it happened at all.”
Charlotte laughed. “Oh, I’m well aware of what happened.”
Brighton released a grunt of frustration. Her horse whinnied a little, swerving to the right and nearly colliding with Cinnamon.
“Shit,” Brighton said, pulling on the reins.
“Would you hold it together?” Charlotte said.
