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“Took me to dinner and broke things off in the car. I was relieved at first. Then she told me she started seeing someone else. She insisted we still go to dinner. I still don’t know what she wanted out of it. But I basically became non-verbal. All I could do was force myself to be still or I’d give in to my compulsions and be accused of acting out.” Ali shrugged, hand flitting up to her locket.

Charlotte almost reached out to take the hand, intent on giving it something else to do. But Ali was already lowering it back into her lap. She released a sigh and flopped back down onto the bed.

“I guess, she kinda fucked me up.” Ali sighed. “Sometimes the things she said, they’ll loop.”

Charlotte shimmied back down on the bed, reining in her mounting fury. “Thank you for telling me.”

“Thank you for listening, and for being here.”

Ali rolled on her side, pulling one of Charlotte’s arms around her until they were spooning. She pressed a kiss to Charlotte’s palm.

“Don’t ever tell me her last name.” Charlotte grumbled, burying her nose in thick herbal scented waves, relishing Ali’s warmth.

“Why?”

“Because she’ll end up in a ditch somewhere.”

Charlotte’s hand was close enough to feel the puff of air from Ali’s quiet laugh.

“Murder?” Ali’s gasp was playful. “I’ll visit you in prison.”

Charlotte chuckled low in her throat, pulling her hand free. “Miss McCarthy, don’t you know I’m an obscenely wealthy woman? No one would ever find out.”

Her fingers played over Ali’s side, digging in just above her ribs. She curled into a ball, shrieking, and giggling. Catching the offending hand she drew it back around herself, hugging it to her chest.

“But murder is too easy. What I’d actually do is hire someone to break into her home. Keys, never where she left them. Furniture moved an inch to the left. The caps of her condiments would go missing one by one. Slowly escalating until she’s driven to madness.”

“That’s pretty dark,” Ali mused. “I like it!”

I like you, was the thought that bounced around Charlotte’s mind. I like you a lot.

14

ALI

A relief of slip painted daisies peppered the clear glazed mug Charlotte held out. Warmth seeped into her hand and wisps of steam billowed up, catching in the morning light, carrying a robust scent.

“It’s a little weird for someone else to make me coffee.”

Charlotte sipped from her own mug covered in raised violets. A loose braid draped over her shoulder. Dressed in a borrowed hoodie and sweatpants it was the most casual Ali—possibly anyone—ever saw her… Ali rendered the look in exquisite detail in her mind, determined never to forget.

“I like to think I make a decent brew.”

Ali blew into the mug, watching the little ripples her breath created before taking a tentative sip of the piping hot liquid. The bold flavor washed over her tongue. She smacked her lips, bobbing her head in approval.

“It’ll do.”

Ali noted the morning glow made by a beam of sunlight through her window.

Charlotte settled on the edge of the bed, nails ticking against ceramic, making no move to leave. “I was thinking, if you feel up to it, I could give you a personal tour of the city.”

“Oh?” Ali waggled her eyebrows in Charlotte’s direction. “Fancy.”

In a very uncharacteristic move, Charlotte rubbed the back of her neck. “We could go see all of the historical sights.”

Ali mulled over the possibilities. She enjoyed history, she did. But not enough to visit multiple places more than once a year. She and Wren already went to all of the typical tourist sights earlier in the year once the weather warmed up. “We could do that. Or we could experience the city in a way that’s new for both of us?”

Charlotte’s head tilted and the grip on the mug tightened. “I’ve lived here my whole life. There isn’t anything new.”