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“I can’t make it tonight.”

“Why ever not?” she heard her mother ask from off camera in her faded southern inflection.

“Game night is sacred!”

“It is,” Charlotte nodded, wiggling her toes deeper into the grass and pursing her lips. “But I have a date.”

“A date? Di, can you believe this? She’s running out on game night for some woman she just met!”

Diana appeared on screen and eyed her with her matching piercing blue eyes.

“I reckon she’s known her a spell if she’s willingly missing game night. Who is it?”

“Her name is Ali and I’ve known her for about six months. She’ll be coming to the engagement party so you’ll both get to meet her,” Charlotte offered, moving further along the garden bed and checking to make certain everything was alright.

James barked a laugh while her mother tutted at the news.

“Charlie, what have I told you about keeping secrets from your mother?”

“It wasn’t a secret,” Charlotte was too quick to answer, leaving herself fumbling for some kind of justifiable reason for never mentioning Ali to them… ever. “It simply wasn’t the right time to reveal her existence.”

“We look forward to meeting her.”

Charlotte feigned unshakable interest in her sunflowers which were ready to begin blooming, avoiding her mother’s knowing gaze accompanied by a sharp arc in her all too inquisitive brow.

“I think you’ll like her.”

Somehow, despite never having seen Ali outside of the coffee shop and knowing nothing deeply personal, she knew her parents would love her.

With one final pass of the garden, she showed her parents some of the best specimens before moving back to her house, flipping the camera toward herself.

“Where are y’all going on this date?” Diana probed, the extra twang she got when excited tinged her words.

Charlotte pursed her lips. Clearly, her entire family was thrilled to hear she was dating again. Of course they wanted her to be happy, but she hadn’t been single that long.

“I’m not sure.” Charlotte said, a subtle crack in her voice seemed to go unnoticed. She hated lying to her parents. “Some little hole-in-the-wall Italian place she wants to try.”

Both her parents glanced at each other.

“She’s convinced you to step foot in a hole-in-the-wall restaurant?” her mother inquired.

“And you’re going? Willingly?” James questioned.

Any remaining guilt gave way to irritation. Why did everyone seem to think she would have such a problem with it? She was barefoot and playing in her garden for fuck’s sake.

“Why is that a surprise? You’ve forced me into many such establishments.”

“Notice your use of the word ‘forced,’” James teased. “Let us know how it goes. Hope you don’t get food poisoning!”

“Yes, goodbye,” Charlotte huffed, her frustration yielding to the warmth spreading through her chest as she looked at them. “Love you both. See you tomorrow.”

“Love you, Cricket,” they said in perfect unison.

Her parents struggled to find the correct button to hang up before Charlotte took pity on them and ended the call. Grabbing her shoes, she made her way inside and up the stairs to her bedroom. There was a fake date to prepare for.

6

ALI