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“There better be a good reason you gave into such a ridiculous request from Sasha Fucking Pryce,” Charlotte ground out, teeth grinding together.

Imani sat back, hair forming a halo of curls around her. “It’s about Lizzie.”

Just like that her temper fizzled and winked out like a guttering flame, nothing but a thin pillar of smoke curled inside her. “What?”

“Sasha called me. She’s worried about Lizzie. She’s been exhausted and Sasha thinks one last getaway with her twin before the wedding is what she needs.”

Charlotte’s chest tightened. The invisible thread between them hummed faintly, frayed at the ends. “I thought it was me,” she said, rubbing at her sternum.

Imani’s expression gentled. “Well, you’ve also been busy. And a little… love-struck.”

Charlotte didn’t bother denying it. How could she when Ali slipped into her life like a sudden burst of sunlight streaming through clouds demanding to be noticed?

“Take the trip,” Imani said gently. “We can make it without you for a week.”

Charlotte’s breath left her in a long exhale. Then it hit her, the shame and self-hate that always followed the loss of temper. “I’m sorry⁠—”

Imani shrugged, “This one didn’t even last ten minutes.”

She said it like that made it okay. But it wasn’t. She was stronger. She was above losing control of her temper at the drop of a hat.

Her hand drifted up, fingers finding the narrow patch in her right brow where years of angry plucking had thinned the hairs. Imani gave her a look of warning and her hand stilled. Drawing in a breath, she let the pad of her middle finger run along the arched path instead, resisting the longstanding urge to pluck when she got like this.

“I shouldn’t have yelled.”

Imani waved her off. “You’re forgiven or whatever.”

Charlotte’s mouth curved but her chest still ached, detesting the harm her tongue alone could sow. “Love you.”

“Ugh,” Imani groaned, plopping back down in her chair. “Get out of my office before you get your sticky sappiness all over everything.”

A soft laugh escaped as she left, pausing at Aurora’s desk to pat her shoulder in silent apology.

Back in her office, she sank into her chair, slumping slightly as she drew out her phone from the top drawer in her desk, wincing at the two missed calls from Sasha glaring back at her. At least she tried to make contact before going behind her back.

With a tap and several rings later, Sasha answered.

“She’ll likely want to go out to the farm,” Sasha said, not even bothering with pleasantries. “But do let me know if you’d rather use one of my family vacation homes.”

“Straight to the point,” Charlotte said, massaging her temples.

“You and I both appreciate efficiency.”

“True.”

Silence stretched across the line.

If she were honest, the fact that Sasha still claimed Victoria as her best friend put a sour taste in her mouth. There was always some nagging part of her that worried she would treat Lizzie the same way Victoria treated her. Or maybe it was the fact their friendship meant Charlotte was forced to see Victoria and this beautiful time where she should be looking forward to each of the events was marred by dread.

“Get it off your chest.”

She stilled, had she said that out loud?

“What exactly?”

“Please,” Sasha made a sound caught somewhere between a scoff and a laugh. “You’re mad at me for going behind your back to ensure you’re available to spend time with your sister.”

Charlotte sighed, head falling back to rest against her chair. “I’ll admit. I had a moment of blinding fury. But once I learned the reason, I simmered down.”