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CHARLOTTE

Charlotte Davenport had long since stopped believing in soulmates.

Not their existence in general. Perfect matches surrounded her in all directions. Just not in the cards for her. She made peace with it. Mostly. Though, it was becoming difficult not to feel the ache so close to her twin sister, Elizabeth’s, engagement party.

“Oh. Oh yes,” Lilah said, drawing her attention to where she pulled a slinky black dress off the rack.

Gears whirled behind Lilah’s hazel eyes gleaming with conspiratorial delight. Though it would do wonders for her younger sister’s figure, it remained vastly inappropriate for the engagement party. This event would surely be the talk of well-to-do circles for the next several months and not the moment for risks.

“No,” Charlotte shook her head, though not at all shocked Lilah would lean toward something attention-grabbing. “You’re not wearing something so provocative to Lizzie’s engagement party.”

Lilah smirked, raising her chin. Light wrapped around her jawline, highlighting her softly sculpted features. Her defined facial structure and petite frame were the only attributes Lilah inherited from their mother that provided any sort of resemblance to herself and Lizzie. Everything else came from Lilah’s father.

“But think of it,” Lilah continued, rubbing the satin between her thumb and forefinger. “Everyone wearing summer colors scattered across the lawn sipping their champagne. Then, I arrive... in this. It would be spectacular.”

Lilah’s hazel eyes glinted before she amended, “I would be spectacular.”

“Yes,” Charlotte mused, one smoothly arched eyebrow rising as her tone took on a sternness she so rarely gave her baby sister. By the time she turned three, Lilah had them all wrapped around her finger. “Then Sasha will never forgive you for outshining her and Lizzie.”

“Well, can’t have that,” Lilah said, flipping the dress around and holding it to herself. “But I was actually considering this for the rehearsal dinner. I love our bridesmaid dresses, but I need at least one showstopper.”

“Go get the bride’s approval.”

Charlotte’s tone left little room for argument. Determined her twin’s wedding would be perfect, Charlotte might already be guilty of policing everyone involved. But if anyone deserved the perfect day, it was Elizabeth Davenport.

“Lizzie!”

Lilah tossed her blonde curls over her shoulder and sauntered toward the dressing room, heels clicking against the floor. Charlotte trailed after her, settling into one of the chic armchairs outside the dressing room next to the alcove of floor-to-ceiling mirrors. This particular high-end boutique became a frequent stop during their shopping sprees, as it always revealed at least one piece one of them couldn’t live without.

“Let’s see your favorites,” Lilah called.

The heavy curtain’s rings slid across the bronze pole, announcing Lizzie’s appearance in a dusty blue dress. The fitted bust dipped low enough to reveal a tasteful amount of cleavage. Delicate fabric accentuated her tall, willowy frame. Layers of sheer organza gathered around her waist before flowing down to flutter around her knees, providing a floating quality to the ensemble which softened the contrast of their shared sculpted bone structure, olive skin, and raven hair.

“Beautiful,” Charlotte confirmed with an approving nod.

“I have found three that must come home with me,” Lizzie stated, spinning this way and that as she studied her own reflection.

Her pale green eyes were the only difference in their otherwise shared appearance, subtle though it may be. Where Charlotte’s eyes gleamed a startling ocean blue, Lizzie’s shifted toward a shimmering sea foam green. A feature most people never noticed. What they picked up on were the distinct differences in personalities. Where Charlotte was reserved and often kept to herself, Lizzie was outgoing and loved people. Charlotte gardened, collected rare books, and played the piano. Lizzie’s cello sat untouched in the back of her closet, but she almost always took some kind of class to get her out of the house on her days off.

“It’s your wedding, so I think if something makes you happy—get it!” Lilah encouraged, snapping a photo of Lizzie striking a pose in front of the array of mirrors. “Finally getting married. After all these years...”

“Listen here, you little whipper-snapper. One more comment about my age, and you’re toast!”

Green eyes narrowed in a warning glare though her tone remained playful.

Lilah deadpanned.

“You make it really hard to avoid such comments when you say things like, ‘whippersnapper.’”

All three of them burst into laughter. True. At thirty-six, Lizzie was considered late to married life. But she and Charlotte led fulfilling lives with successful careers. Lizzie was a talented pediatric surgeon while Charlotte created and ran her own successful software company, Compose. Success came with the Davenport name and excellence was expected.

“Of the three of us,” Lilah mused. “I used to think Charlotte would get married first. But I guess you’re the winner.”

Lizzie ran her hands over her waist to rest on her hips, turning to appraise herself from another angle.

“There’s still time. She’s a lesbian. She could meet The One tomorrow and U-Haul.” She threw Charlotte a wink over her shoulder as she reached for the dress draped over Lilah’s arm.