Coffee Eyes and Little White Lies
Page 109
All three of them knew, though none of them said. They wanted one last outing, just the three of them.
Lizzie was glowing, and Lilah sighed, fingers tracing over the intricate lace along the bodice. “If Sasha doesn’t pass out when she sees you in this, I’ll be shook.”
“Shook?” Charlotte repeated, raising an eyebrow.
“You should really google hip-lingo,” Lilah teased, a playful spark glittering in hazel orbs. “Asking me to explain only shows your age. Don’t pretend it’s the first time you’ve heard it.”
“Oh, take pity on us, Bug,” Lizzie groaned. “Charlotte can’t ask her young girlfriend. It would be embarrassing.”
“Hush, you,” Charlotte snipped.
“Too much time behind a desk, Twinnie,” Lilah sing-songed.
She nudged the twins together, lifted her phone, and snapped a flurry of photos before jumping in for a selfie. They shifted around her easily, cycling through best angles and favorite poses.
“I can’t believe we’re almost there,” Lilah murmured, flipping through the photos.
“Me either.”
Charlotte’s eyes misted, but she quickly blinked away any evidence.
“Oh, shut it. You’re next anyway!” Lilah screeched, hands planting on her hips, reminiscent of the sassy five-year-old who had everyone wrapped around her finger.
“Oh, is she?” Lizzie asked, arching a brow.
“Yep. She and Ali are getting married, and I’ll be the maid of honor,” Lilah declared with unshakable confidence.
Charlotte’s cheeks warmed, currently incapable of stamping down the sheer longing swelling in response. Oh, how she wanted that to be true.
“Um, hello!” Lizzie said, gesturing to herself.
“What? You’ll be matron!”
Lizzie paused. “Ah. True.” She grinned, turning back to admire her dress.
“So glad you two have already picked my wedding party,” Charlotte said, tone dry. She hadn’t even had a chance to ask Ali to be her girlfriend, both of them too busy for actual romance. As she smoothed her hands down dark green fabric, she knew they were in the final stretch and everything would calm.
“Are you kidding?” Lilah snorted. “I’ve planned the whole thing. I’m thinking autumn, like Lizzie. Italian cuisine, but Ali seems like she might be into a tiny food truck park. She’ll design the invitations. And! Flash tattoos designed by Ali for guests who want one.”
Charlotte blinked, startled by how much thought Lilah put into it. There wasn’t an ounce of doubt in her voice. To Lilah, they were inevitable.
“Then, I’m thinking of a cool, yet unexpected honeymoon destination: like Norway or Alaska or something. Also—”
“Okay! You weren’t this excited for my wedding,” Lizzie cut in, arms folding across her chest.
“Yes, but you’ve been dating Sasha for years,” Lilah deadpanned. “And Charlotte has been so dreadfully single.”
“Hey!” Charlotte jabbed a finger between Lilah’s ribs. “Rude.”
But neither of them were listening to her. Lizzie cocked her head, eyes narrowing at Lilah.
“What have you planned for your wedding, Bug?” Lizzie asked.
“Not a thing,” Lilah declared, spinning to eye the way her dress hugged her ass. “Who the fuck would want to marry me? I’m a disaster, remember?”
“My god!” Lizzie gasped, swatting Lilah’s arm. “Say another self-deprecating thing, and I’ll make you suffer.” She pointed at Charlotte and back to Lilah. “Charlotte, fix your child!”
Charlotte reeled her in, cupping Lilah’s cheeks with both hands. “There’s nothing wrong with my baby. She’s a free spirit, still finding her way. Smart, compassionate, kind, far too forgiving at times, and oh so beautiful.” She squished Lilah’s cheeks together, exaggerating the scrunch of her nose. “Look how precious.”