The four of them sit down to join the rest of the guests for dinner, excitedly talking about the wedding and the budding new relationship. Slowly but surely, Charlotte feels herself relax as she’s freed of her secrets and her humiliation. And when Riley eventually takes her hand to pull her to the dance floor, Charlotte feels proud instead of ashamed. She wants everyone to see that this gorgeous woman is choosing her. It’s like Riley had said months ago: she doesn’t mind everyone knowing she’sa lesbian, as long as it means she gets the privilege of having these kinds of feelings.
At some point during the night, after a few hours of dancing and laughing, Gabi has clearly had one glass too many when she interrupts an intimate moment between Charlotte and Riley. She throws herself between them and starts squealing in Charlotte’s face, obviously hiding something behind her back.
“I’m so happy!” she yells. “I love you so much, Charles, and now that Riley has finally convinced you, I know you will be happy too.”
She whips out a piece of pink, orange and white fabric from behind her back. Charlotte needs a few seconds to realize it’s the lesbian flag.
“Come here!” Gabi shouts, draping the flag across Charlotte’s shoulders and using it to pull her in for a hug. Riley hides a chuckle in her hand when she watches Charlotte’s horrified expression.
“Thanks Gabi,” she coughs, trying to wiggle herself loose from the tight hug. “Alright, that’s enough, dear.” When she feels a possessive hand on her waist prying her from Gabi’s death grip, she’s actually grateful.
“I’m gonna need to steal her for another moment,” Riley says, friendly in the way one would talk to a drunk person.
“No, wait…” Gabi says, but Riley is already guiding Charlotte away from her.
“I think I just heard Lou call out for you!” Riley says, pointing in the opposite direction.
“I heard it too,” Charlotte nods. When Gabi turns around to look, Riley quickly tugs on Charlotte’s hand to speed away together.
They come to a stop in front of the gazebo, both laughing and out of breath.
“Thanks,” Charlotte smirks. “That would’ve gone on forever.”
“Oh, I didn’t do it for you,” Riley says. “I like having you to myself.”
"Possessive much? I’d be careful putting a claim on me if I were you,” Charlotte says, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.
Riley huffs and steps closer. “Too late. I already did,” she says, lifting her arm and pointing at her wrist.
With a shock, Charlotte understands what she’s talking about. “Shit! The bracelet!” she says. “I brought the pouch to the room with us… I probably left it there.”
“Would you have wanted to wear it?” Riley wants to know.
Charlotte purses her lips, pretending to think about it. “I mean… if you ask nicely, sure.”
“Good thing I grabbed it when we left the room.” With that knowing sparkle in her eyes, Riley shoves her hand in her pocket and pulls out the green bracelet. Charlotte laughs at Riley’s unrelenting thoughtfulness.
“So, Charlie…” Riley says, lowering her voice and stepping even closer, their faces inches from each other now. She theatrically clears her throat before asking: “Will you… wear this bracelet?”
Charlotte’s lips curve up into a warm smile. She knows this isn’t about the bracelet, but about much more. For the gazillionth time, she feels herself getting weak for the woman in front of her. She considers the adventure Riley is offering her: a shot at a new, different life. She doesn’t have to think about her answer for long.
This, right here, right now, feels like the perfect moment to take the leap.
Lovingly cupping Riley’s cheek in one hand and pressing their lips together—their first kiss in public—she offers up her wrist after she leans her head back.
“I’m still scared. But I want this. With you, Riley. Let’s do this.”
Riley smiles at her like she’d just made her the happiest woman in the world.
And just like that, with Riley lovingly tying the bracelet around Charlotte’s wrist, their fates are sealed.
Neither of them realize that this is how their story was always supposed to go. Not now, not when they leave Mexico together, and not when, after several dates back home, Charlotte wakes up in the middle of the night, panicking and violently shaking Riley awake to ask her if she’s her girlfriendfor real, and when Riley says yes, she bursts out crying.
For weeks, months, they are oblivious to the amount of magic they keep creating out of their love.
There are fights, of course, but Riley soon realizes that their love is stronger than their stubborn personalities. She knows she will always, always choose Charlotte.
And one day, when Riley reads the same truth in Charlotte’s eyes and tells her she loves her for the first time, Charlotte doesn’t say it back right away. Riley receives multiple phone calls throughout the following week in which Charlotte can’t stop apologizing and telling her how much she loves her.
