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“The first of many,” she murmured.

Ali could hear the hope in her tone and she knew what Charlotte meant. The promise beneath those words. Charlotte wanted more birthdays—years of them. Ali wanted them, too. Needed them, like she needed air. She wasn’t ready for this to end. She wasn’t sure she ever would be.

Ali let herself sink into ocean pools. In that moment, she wasn’t afraid anymore. She made the decision to choose her own path and not be a leaf on the wind…

The confession bubbled up so easily and began to trickle past her lips.

“Charlotte, I⁠—”

But another chorus of happy birthday began as Wren, Natasha, and Lilah approached with a cake blazing with thirty flickering candles. Her confession was lost to the music. But as she closed her eyes and blew out her candles, she made her wish.

She wished for a life, here, with these people who showed her they cared. She wished for a life with Charlotte.

She wasn’t done loving her.

31

CHARLOTTE

Aspen’s landscape was like it had been stitched together to create every landscape artist’s wet dream. Crisp air, pine-drenched mountains, and a resort terrace glowing with fire pits and string lights.

Charlotte arrived early with her family, all of them eager for time together before the big day. Sasha and Natasha arrived a few days later, though no one had seen much of Sasha or Lizzie since.

Natasha lounged on one of the terrace sofas, locked in a spirited debate with Lilah over… something. Charlotte wasn’t listening. Her attention kept drifting toward every entry point, pulse flickering each time someone moved near the stairs.

Imani appeared first, springy coils pinned back on one side, the rest haloing around her as she descended the stairs. Charlotte’s gaze flitted past her, searching the empty space behind her.

Still no Ali.

Unfortunately, with her show right around the corner and paintings that still needed to be finished, Ali was forced to stay behind. Thankfully, she was free by the time Imani originally planned to leave. Charlotte booked Ali’s flight first class, wanting to ensure her travel was stress free.

“I don’t even get a hello?” Imani groused, sinking onto the couch beside her. The fire pit crackled, their only defense against the mountain chill of late fall.

“I see you all the time. Plus, you stroll into my office often enough I’ve grown to associate your arrival with business.”

“A crime,” Imani scoffed. “My entrances are the only things that brighten your dreary workdays and you know it.”

“True,” Charlotte conceded, eyes fixed on the stairs. “But my mind simply isn’t on work at the moment.”

“Oh, that much is painfully obvious.” Imani leaned in, voice dropping into a teasing rasp. “Did you skip dinner? You look hungry.”

There was no denying it. Once Ali had only one more painting to finish, a constant stream of teasing texts and late night FaceTime calls began. Want coiled tight in Charlotte, leaving her restless.

“I thought you and Ali arrived together?”

Imani sighed, slumping against the couch and flinging an arm over her eyes. “Just tell me I’m not your favorite anymore.”

Charlotte turned, a smirk curling her lips. “You’re my best friend.” She paused for effect. “But wild horses couldn’t drag me into your bed.”

Imani made an exaggerated gag. “First of all, ew. Second of all…” She blinked, face scrunched up. “Yeah, no. No.”

“Where is she?”

Imani rolled her eyes as a low chuckle slipped free. “She went up to your room. Said something about her skin feeling too loud after being on the plane and wanted to shower. But I got the impression she had zero intention of coming back down.”

Charlotte was on her feet before the final word left Imani’s lips, tossing back the rest of her whiskey and aiming for the stairs, purpose blazing in every step.

The elevator took longer than it had any right to. Her foot tapped against the stone floor, impatience vibrating through her bones. She’d been aching for days. Orgasms she gave herself just weren’t cutting it. Not when what she truly craved was Ali writhing and falling apart beneath her.