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Imani’s brows scrunched together. “Impossible.”

“We still aren’t together… technically.”

“Still!” Imani roared in outrage. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t you think I would’ve told you?” Charlotte muttered, feeling ridiculous for letting it drag on so long.

“There’s nothing fake about whatever is going on with you two,” Imani growled, fist thumping against the tabletop. “Skip to the end already.”

“But the journey is the best part,” Charlotte countered, snickering into her cup.

“Fuck the journey! Just ask her, dammit.”

“I can’t just ask her.”

“Why the hell not?”

“Where is the romance in that?”

Imani scoffed, rolling her eyes so hard Charlotte worried they might stick. “Lesbians.” She growled under her breath like a curse.

Dinner was subdued compared to the weekend’s festivities. Everyone was officially worn out, Ali and Lilah most of all, both looking drowsy like the cartwheels took the rest of their energy.

Food revived a few of them, at least a little.

“Are you looking forward to seeing Willow tonight?” Diana asked Ali, who was demolishing her bowl of ice cream.

“Oh yes,” Ali chirped, pulling out her phone. “Look at this picture Wren sent me.”

The screen showed Willow sprawled in the middle of the floor, belly up, looking up adorably at the camera. The phone made a slow circuit around the table before returning to Ali.

“Charlotte, have you heard from your sister?” Diana asked.

“I did. They’re safe and enjoying the amenities,” Charlotte replied, dipping an Oreo into a cup of milk, feeling a little wrong indulging without Lizzie. “Said she won’t be coming back, so I suppose that’s the last we’ve seen of them.”

“She will be missed,” Diana added with a soft chuckle.

“I’m looking forward to pictures of Sasha on the hike Lizzie has planned,” Lilah mused.

“Me too,” Imani agreed darkly. “Very much me too.”

“Oh. Shit.”

The curse was just loud enough to snap every head toward Ali. One hand covered her mouth, eyes wide and fixed on her phone.

“What is it?” Charlotte asked, already reaching for Ali’s knee.

“I— I⁠—”

Charlotte’s pulse thundered in her ears. Some ancient instinct surged to life, ready to rip the world apart if something had made those eyes shine with tears.

“I got the London residency.”

Charlotte’s breath caught and her world ground to a halt.

No.

Everything froze, no one even breathed. Dread settled heavy and cold in Charlotte’s chest, her thoughts grinding to a halt around one brutal truth… Ali was going to leave.