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“What are you doing up here?”

“Um… nothing. Just chilling,” Ali stammered, hands hovering uselessly at her sides.

She was a terrible liar. But lying to Charlotte? Ali never wanted to even attempt to, not with her…

“Literally,” Charlotte quipped, stepping closer, gaze dropping to the damp patch on Ali’s jacket, then to her clenched fists. Her eyes lifted again, sharp and searching, lingering on her cheeks.

The cold track of drying tears fully registered.

When had she started crying?

Curse her marshmallow of a heart. Her eyes were no doubt red rimmed above splotchy skin. A dead giveaway.

“Ali,” Charlotte began, a gleam in those ocean depths made it clear that she was prepared to burn the world down if needed. “What’s going on?”

“Please don’t ask me that.”

“Alina.”

“I promised I wouldn’t say anything unless asked specific questions,” Ali rushed out, words tumbling after each other. “Questions I really hope no one asks.”

She dropped her gaze to her boots, fingers loosening to begin their familiar rhythmic tapping.

“I can’t lie to you,” she added, voice barely more than a whisper. “I’m already shit at it. But with you? I’m toast.”

Charlotte cradled her face in her hands. God, they were so warm, making Ali realize how cold she’d become. Charlotte drew Ali’s eyes up to study the fresh tears swimming in her eyes.

God, she was so beautiful. Even now, even worried, there was a quiet steadiness to her. A restrained ferocity held in check by care alone.

Charlotte took a slow, deliberate breath. Ali matched it, her racing heart easing just a fraction.

She sniffled, chin wobbling. Charlotte wasn’t letting this go.

“Don’t look at me with those big ole blue eyes,” Ali muttered. “It’s not fair.”

Charlotte’s thumbs stroked across her cheeks, catching one mutinous stray tear.

“Lina,” she murmured, voice soft but unyielding. “You can tell me anything.”

Ali nodded, teeth digging into her lower lip. “But it’s not mine to tell.”

Her traitorous eyes flickered toward the couch Lilah disappeared behind.

Charlotte tracked the glance.

“Lilah?” She let go of Ali, approaching the couch, already half-crouching. “Lilah, I bought you those Jimmy Choos for Christmas. I know it’s you.”

A fresh sob broke free.

Charlotte sank onto the edge, fingers curling around the backrest. But before she could peer or climb over, Lilah spoke.

“Lilah is busy and can’t come to the phone right now,” Lilah said, her voice wet and ragged. “Please leave a message and she will return your call.”

Charlotte hesitated only a second before her tone shifted, going soothing and full of affection.

“Hello, baby sister.” Her gaze lifted to the strip of night sky visible through the pergola. “I was thinking about that time when you got stuck in the pear tree. You swore you were too high to jump.”

Ali watched the faint smile tug at Charlotte’s lips, her own curving to match.