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“Why do you want to help me with this?”

Ali froze, turning to look at Charlotte, brow curving, struggling to find reasoning. “One,” she said, holding up a finger. “It would give me great joy to thwart her schemes.”

“Relatable.”

A second finger lifted.

“Two! Imagine the look on her face when she realizes you aren’t playing her game.”

“Glorious.”

A third finger rose, but no words came, her other hand brought her locket to her mouth, tapping polished metal against her teeth.

“Three?” Charlotte prompted.

“We are…” Ali’s eyes lingered on the floor before flitting up. “Friends?”

The soft questioning doe eyes, edged in purple eyeliner, plucked at the strings around Charlotte’s heart, making it ache. The label felt simultaneously accurate and insufficient.

“I don’t go to brunch and art museums with just anyone. I hope we’re at least friends.”

“Perfect. We are friends…” she peered over her shoulder to the studio where Charlotte came so close to claiming those lips in another kiss. “We’re friends first and foremost… with the potential for a side of spice should the moment ever feel right and we are both consenting?”

Not a usual description she heard for friends-with-benefits but it was such an Ali-ish thing to say.

“I like that. Whatever feels right. But no expectations?”

“Exactly,” Ali said, all signs of her previous nerves vanished as her feet tapped out a little beat, like her body was all at once full of too much energy. “So, as your friend and fake girlfriend I feel that it’s my duty, dare I say privilege to have your back and help you fuck up Vicki’s day.”

Charlotte huffed a quiet laugh under her breath. Ali’s light never dimmed for long and Charlotte felt like she would never grow tired of basking in her glow.

Russet eyebrows wiggled as she bounced on her toes.

And for the first time, facing Victoria didn’t seem daunting. Not even a little bit. Not even at all.

“Alright. What did you have in mind?”

12

ALI

It was a grave misfortune due to the nature of cell phones and text threads that most of Victoria’s potential array of expressions went unwitnessed. Though some were relayed by Natasha or Lizzie. As such, Ali looked forward to seeing one for herself.

Victoria thought Charlotte would finally unblock her number and fall right back into her web.

As if!

One morning, after plotting with Charlotte, Natasha picked her up from the B&B and took her to brunch. Ali had to bite back a smile when she realized Charlotte’s nickname for the Blend & Brew had worn off on her… was she spending too much time with Charlotte?

Nah.

As luck would have it, Natasha wasn’t a fan of her Aunt Tori.

And so, a group chat came to be, achieving two things. Keeping Victoria from cornering Charlotte in one-on-one conversations and ensuring there were always witnesses to her foolery.

Eventually, Victoria did throw a tantrum and demanded an in-person meeting with Charlotte to “finalize details” since they were the maids of honor. Ali didn’t hesitate as she popped into a different group chat, proposing her plan before Charlotte even had a chance to respond.

The chat blew up with gifs, snark, and commentary that only takes place in group chats. In the end, Charlotte agreed to meet Victoria at a cafe downtown at 3:30PM two weeks after Victoria demanded the meeting.