Then they both laughed.
Lizzy watched in awe. It was like having a front seat to a real-life rom-com. Meanwhile, the blond man at Charlie’s side looked on with a confused frown, as if the two of them had suddenly started speaking in tongues.
Charlie was oblivious, though, holding out his hand to Jane. “I’m Charlie Pierce. And this is my friend Will Darcy.”
Jane took Charlie’s hand and shook it gently. “I’m Jane. This is my sister Elizabeth.”
Lizzy waved her off. “It’s just Lizzy.”
Charlie didn’t even look at her, his eyes were still locked with Jane’s. “It’s a pleasure.”
At that moment, Lizzy half expected the band to break into a moving pop-rock ballad and the entire scene to go into slow motion. As if the stars had aligned and everything that had ever happened had led Jane and Charlie to this moment.
Then his friend cut in.
“You work at the bakery.”
His deep voice was startling, and Lizzy looked over to find him—Will, was it?—now glaring at her. His blue eyes were intense as he studied her with what looked like concern. Or was it annoyance? She couldn’t tell.
In any case, she forced a smile. “I’m surprised you remember.”
His harsh gaze moved to the bun on top of her head. “You were covered in flour.”
Lizzy tilted her head for a moment, considering him, then almost laughed. Was he serious?
“It was powdered sugar, actually,” she replied, throwing a Tater Tot in her mouth.
He stared back.
“Oh my gosh!” Charlie turned, eyes wide like he had only just noticed her. “That’s right! Bennet Bakery! You recommended this place!”
“I did,” Lizzy said proudly.
“Well, it’s perfect. Thank you. And who would have thought I’d see a fellowDoctor Whofan out in the wild, too,” Charlie said, then made a slight motion as if he was about to reach for the TARDIS dangling from Jane’s left ear, but stopped himself. Then he cleared his throat and nodded to Jane’s bedazzled legs. “And those pants! They’re very… shiny.”
“Oh. Thanks,” Jane said, looking down as if she had only just remembered she was wearing them. “My mom forces all of us to wear them at some point.”
A touch of confusion entered Charlie’s expression. “I’m sorry?”
“It’s just… my mom designs them. And then she makes me and Lizzy and our other sisters wear them to spread the word, so…”
Jane’s voice trailed off, but Charlie didn’t seem to mind. “It’s a good idea. You look stunning.”
Jane let out a soft laugh, and Lizzy’s heart swelled.
“How many sisters do you have?” he continued.
“There’s five of us.”
“Wow.” Charlie’s eyes widened. “How do you keep track?”
Jane laughed again, but it faded quickly as her gaze went to her lap. The introverted side of her was beginning to take hold, but Lizzy refused to let it ruin the moment.
“Oh, that’s easy,” Lizzy said, pointing down the bar at her two sisters in the middle of the dance floor. “Lydia and Kitty are identical twins, but you can tell them apart because Lydia usually has her phone out recording herself, while Kitty looks like she’s preparing a run for Congress. And that short blue pixie cut over there is Mary.” She pointed to Mary’s head bobbing through the crowd by the door. “She’s saving the world and has the literature to prove it. Then there’s Jane. She’s easy to remember because she’s the most beautiful, and also the nicest.”
Jane rolled her eyes as her cheeks flushed.
“What about you?” Will’s voice cut through the moment.
