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Ali understood then. This wasn’t rejection. It was guilt. The same kind she carried, just sharpened by Charlotte’s need to fix, to protect, to be perfect.

“Hey,” Ali said, reaching for her hand. “We made a promise, remember?”

“What promise?” Charlotte asked, brows scrunching together though her eyes remained downcast.

“We promised we wouldn’t worry about being perfect with each other. We’d give each other space to make mistakes and not always get it right. To breathe. We’d talk about it and support each other through whatever it is.”

Charlotte looked up, the tide shifting in ocean eyes.

“I just want you, Charlotte,” Ali said, feeling more certain of the truth in those words than ever. “Even on your stormy days.”

Charlotte’s eyes went glassy, her posture loosening. “But⁠—”

“No,” Ali cut across. “You’re a wonderful sister and daughter. And you’re the best totally fake girlfriend I’ve ever had.”

Charlotte blinked rapidly. “Lina…”

“Babes…”

They held each other’s gaze, a thousand unspoken things settling into place.

Charlotte held up the eyeliner. “I like when you wear colored eyeliner. Even the neon ones.”

Ali smiled despite herself, a knot she didn’t even realize was tied inside her unraveled. “Really?”

“It’s very you. And I happen to really like who you are… more than like, if I’m honest.”

Warmth bloomed in Ali’s chest and the nagging thought that some parts of her were too much faded. Maybe to Charlotte, she was just the right amount.

“I guess dark green is classier than lime green.”

“It’s for daytime events.” Charlotte shook her head with a quiet laugh. “Or an 80s themed party. Or whenever you’re feeling quirky.”

Ali snorted, imagining Charlotte in head to toe 80s attire. Then, she saw the dress and Charlotte’s hair and simple make up. She was a vision… the air knocked clean from her chest and she forgot how to even draw a new one in.

Charlotte’s indigo evening gown made her look like she was born of starry night. Silver threads shimmered through, tiny diamonds catching the light like distant constellations… Ali couldn’t help but smile, drinking in the sight of her.

“Wow,” she said, breathless and unable to look away. “You look—You look incandescent.”

Quick and faint the glimmer of a smile sparked at one corner of her mouth. Its luminosity lingered and Charlotte smirked. “You’re such a simp.”

“For you? Absolutely.” Ali turned back to her make up and the mirror, realizing she’d been naked the entire time. “I’ll hurry,” she said, noting the way Charlotte’s eyes were definitely glued to her ass.

Charlotte dragged her gaze back up Ali’s form, lips curving into a sultry line. “We can be five minutes late.”

35

CHARLOTTE

Hours earlier…

The moment Ali left the table, everything went to shit.

As if she’d been the last little bit of peace holding everything back. Emotions broke free, spilling everywhere. The only good thing was Charlotte got to yell loudly, a few times. It only took their mother another ten minutes before the entire story spilled out.

The devastation that washed across Diana’s face cracked something open inside Charlotte. It wasn’t anger. But it shattered Charlotte completely.

Charlotte couldn’t stomach sticking around. She couldn’t face that look. Lilah was her baby sister, and she promised her mother a thousand times over she would always look after her.