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Charlotte curled an eyebrow at her twin, resisting the urge to roll her eyes, one comment away from chewing the inside of her cheek. Lizzie still carried buckets of hope Charlotte would find someone. It didn’t matter who either. Cute waitresses at dinner. The nurses who worked her floor. Attractive women they passed on the street. Actresses on TV. Or, even coffee shop baristas… At least one of them hadn’t given up hope. Understandably, Lizzie wanted the same happiness she found for Charlotte as well.

“Are you bringing the boy to my engagement party, Lilah?” Lizzie asked.

Her mouth gaped at the cut of the dress, but passed it back to Lilah, shooing her toward the dressing room.

“No,” Lilah sighed, reaching for the velvet curtain. “I broke up with him. He was sweet but he wasn’t the one.”

The metal rings slid against the pole again as Lilah shrugged like it were just a small thing, but pride swelled in Charlotte’s chest. At twenty-four, Lilah had come a long way since graduating college when every soul who so much as looked her way could be the one. Her baby was growing up.

“Poor What-Was-His-Name,” Lizzie teased, giving a little triumphant fist pump while Charlotte put both her hands together and looked to the ceiling, sending a silent prayer of gratitude to whoever ran things upstairs.

The boy seemed about as smart as a box of rocks.

“His luscious locks will be missed.”

“What about you, Charlotte?” Lilah inquired from inside the dressing room.

“What about me?” Charlotte asked, fighting a frown, she knew exactly where this was going.

“Who are you bringing as a date?” Lilah clarified.

The question chafed more than it should.

Lizzie stifled a snicker.

“Yeah, who are you bringing?”

Charlotte flipped her twin the bird, leaning back in the armchair, fingers drumming against the leather.

“I hadn’t thought I needed to bring anyone.”

Lizzie raised an eyebrow, folding and unfolding her arms, running a hand through her hair. Fidgeting. Her sister didn’t fidget unless something weighed on her.

“You don’t have to bring anyone. But Victoria will be there as you well know.”

Charlotte grimaced at the mention of her former fiancée. Three years and Victoria’s name still landed like stone dropped into still water, creating ripples she couldn’t stop. Sasha’s maid of honor and a permanent fixture in the landscape of her life whether she wanted it or not, which she decidedly did not.

“All the aunties will be there too. You’ll be a sitting duck without a date!” Lilah squeaked, poking her head out from behind the curtain.

“And Victoria—that bitch—will be waiting to pounce,” Lizzie added under her breath.

As her twin, Lizzie remained privy to every detail. She knew how Victoria had needled at Charlotte’s need for control, picked at her desire for perfection, doing just about anything she could to provoke some reaction then shaming her for having any feelings at all. Charlotte hated her own temper. Her greatest flaw. And Victoria made sure she knew it.

“There isn’t—” Charlotte began.

“Don’t finish that sentence, you absolute ninny,” Lizzie cut her off, hands coming to rest on her hips, voice low.

“We’ve been over this, Beth. I’m not interested in pursuing anything serious.”

“I call bullshit.”

“I’m living my best single life. I’m thinking about getting a cat, maybe two.”

“You should take one of mama’s dogs. The number is getting excessive again,” Lizzie mumbled, shaking her head and refocusing her attention. “I’m not letting you become some dusty old spinster cat lady. No. Absolutely not.”

Charlotte’s glare was hot enough to melt a glacier, but Lizzie never balked.

“There is no letting me do anything. I’m not interested in going down that road again. That’s simply the reality.”