Page 48 of Gracefully Yours

“Aren’t you going to say anything?” I asked my sister.

Angelina raised an eyebrow. “What’s left to say?”

“Thanks for the support,” I muttered under my breath. Apparently, twenty-seven years of being siblings meant nothing for loyalty.

“She’s one of my best friends,” Angelina quirked an eyebrow.

“I thought I was too,” I grunted. She gave me a small smirk, patting me on the shoulder as I turned back to the other two girls.

“Look, I… I’m not going to hurt her,” I said, raising my arms in the air, as if attempting not to look threatening. It was clear that I needed to make a peace offering. Or maybe just the truth. “I care about her.” More than I could say.

“But do youloveher?”

I didn’t know if I could answer that. If I could say those three words, knowing what they truly meant. “I—” They didn’t know we were marrying because of the marriage pact, that somehow I’d convinced Charlotte to marry me for no other reason than I’d wanted her to. We’d agree we would fake it, that we were pretending to be together, so of course. “Of course I do.” I loved her—I’d always loved her. As a friend, as the person I felt most comfortable around.

The guys came in from the kitchen, saving me from any further interrogation. Charlotte still hadn’t come back from the bathroom, and I was worried about her after the way she’d left so suddenly.

“I’m gonna go check on her,” I said, nodding to the three girls, who all gave me looks of approval.

Glad I was at least doing that right. I rolled my eyes after I was out of eyesight, thinking about them trying to protect Charlotte from me. I’d promised myself a long time ago that I would never hurt her.

“Charlotte?” I knocked on the bathroom door. “Are you okay?”

“Are you alone?” She sniffled.

Fuck. Was she crying in there?

“Yes, darling,” I murmured through the door. “Want to let me in so we can talk?”

“N-no.” Her voice was weak, shaky. “I’m fine. Promise.”

“Charlotte.” This time, my voice was low. “Let me in, please.”

She opened the door just a crack, enough for me to slip inside and lock it behind me. Her eyes were red and puffy, rimmed with tears, and her chest was moving rapidly, like she couldn’t get enough air.

Wrapping her up in my arms, I rested my head on top of hers, practically burying my nose in her hair. “Breathe,” I murmured against her scalp as I rubbed her back.

“What’s wrong?” I asked her once her breathing had returned to normal, but she still said nothing, choosing instead to shake her head against my plaid shirt. She would never call them anxiety attacks, but I knew she had them every now and again, when the panic would fill her eyes. I’d seen it once when she was driving, and she’d gripped the steering wheel so hard her knuckles had gone white.

Even if I didn’t know what caused it, I always knew what I could do. Be there for her. Hold her hand and help her through it.

I lifted her onto the bathroom sink, wiping the tears from her eyes. “Talk to me, baby. Please.”

“I’m scared.” It was hardly more than a whisper.

“Of what?”

“That we’re making a mistake. That—” She squeezed her eyes shut, not finishing her sentence.

I stepped inside her legs, trying to ignore how right it felt as Charlotte’s arms came around the back of my neck, holding me tighter to her.

“We’re not making a mistake. You’re my best friend, and we’re going to do it all together.” I waited for her eyes to meet mine. “Okay?”

Another nod, and then she was intertwining her fingers with my hair, tugging my mouth down to hers. I was hopeless to do anything but obey.

“Kiss me,” she whispered. “Make me forget all the reasons this is a bad idea.”

“Fuck.” I couldn’t deny her anything. Our lips crashed together, and I murmured it against her lips before I was determined to consume her whole. “Your wish is my command.”

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