Page 131 of The Snowball Effect

When she did, Regan leaned in, intently. “What Idostill want to know – now that we’re already here, no take-backs – is why you called me and invited me to dinner.”

Charlotte crossed her arms over her chest and straightened her spine, and –wow, she really could look seriously intimidating! Regan wanted to learn how to mimic that. “We’re here tonight because I have a girlfriend that is very concerned about her best friend.Why isn’t Regan talkative lately?Do you think Regan’s okay?Do you think Regan is upset with me for coming to Rome?Do you think everything really is all right between Regan and Emma?” She parroted words that clearly belonged to Sutton, with no small amount of dissatisfaction at the situation.

Surprised, Regan’s stomach knotted with guilt, and she pressed her hands there, trying to quell it. “Oh, fuck. I was hoping that she was so busy with her internship that she wouldn’t have noticed.”

“You think Sutton wouldn’t notice that something major is going on with you, from even across the ocean?” Charlotte asked, dubiously. “I’m insulted on her behalf.”

Regan’s mouth fell open in shock. “Here you are, shaming me for not treating Sutton with the highest respect. How the turns have tabled.”

Even as she joked, Regan feltawful.

“I haven’t told her about what you’re experiencing, because I don’t feel right outing you even if it’s to your best friend,” Charlotte informed her, imperiously. “But you better believe, Regan Gallagher, that I am not happy. I want this situation resolved as soon as possible. Do you understand?”

Snapping straight to attention, Regan nodded. Even without Charlotte’s intimidation, she was more than suitably chastised. “I’ll talk to Sutton as soon as possible, I promise. You can take that to the bank.”

In fact…

Regan – 6:11PM

My beautiful English Rose living in a Roman summer! I’m so proud of you, and I want you to know that even though I’ve been a little off lately, it has nothing to do with you. I have a ton to tell you, but don’t stress – everything really is completely fine with me. Just been reallllll busy

Emotionally, she was the busiest she’d ever been in her life!

Given the time difference, she didn’t expect Sutton to answer right away. Yet –

Sutton, the One and Only – 6:11PM

Something tells me that this has to do with my chat earlier with Charlotte. Either way, I’m happy and relieved to hear it. I love you and can’t wait for the updates

Regan – 6:12PM

I love you, too!!! Now, get some beauty rest!

She waggled her phone at Charlotte, who’d been watching her every move. “Already working on it.”

Charlotte nodded with obvious approval. “Good.”

Their waiter approached with perfect timing. And, after Regan ordered, she stared across the table at Charlotte. Even though she hadn’t planned to have this opportunity, it couldn’t hurt to have her lesbian guru here, right?

“I love this place–” Charlotte started to say, as their waiter left.

Unfortunately for her, Regan had been counting down the seconds until she could unleash her words. “Yeah, we totally have to get back to how you discovered this place, later. But right now, I need to know – what would you do if you kissed a woman, and she reciprocated… but then ended the kiss, and said it couldn’t ever happen again? Also, let’s say you told this woman that you were super attracted to her and that you think about that attraction all of the time, but said it was only platonic? Andthen, imagine some time passed, and you realized that wasn’t strictly true. So, imagine that you took back that declaration of platonic feelings and let her know that you have a raging crush on her, so that everything could be above board. How would you proceed?”

Propping her elbow on the table, then her chin in her elbow, Regan stared across at Charlotte expectantly. God, it felt good to actuallysaythis to someone!

“Hypothetically,” she tacked on.

For several long moments, Charlotte only stared back. Not uttering a single word. Just… staring, her tawny eyes wide.

Finally, she blinked and asked, “Is that all?” Before she took a healthy sip of her wine.

Tapping on her chin with her index finger, Regan slowly shook her head. “Uhhh, no. What if the woman then didn’t talk to you for twenty-four hours after that?But, you aren’t sure if it’s because she really was busy at her little sister’s birthday party – not the best place for a feelings confession, but it was what Ihad at the time? – and is genuinely going out to dinner with her coworker for the first time ever… or if it’s because she really is avoiding you, because you finally made things weird?”

Charlotte choked on the wine, quickly putting her napkin over her mouth as she coughed and stared over the napkin with watering eyes.

“It’sEmma?” She finally managed to say, once her choking subsided. “The woman you’ve been talking to me about all summer is Emma?”

Regan reeled back, her heart starting to hammer in her chest in panic. “What?! I didn’t say her name!”

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