Page 160 of Bookworm

It was finally here.

A Night Out with Austen was in t-minus four hours andcounting. I'd set an alarm on my phone, so I'd stay on track. I was putting the final alterations on my dress when there was a timid knock at my door.

"Come in," I said.

I heard the door open and that was followed by a sigh.

A familiar if forlorn sigh.

Still, I waited for her to speak first.

"Hey," Scarlett said, "I made a checklist for tonight, thought it might help."

I nodded without looking. "Thanks. You can place it on the bed."

Scarlett's footsteps came farther into the room and stopped beside me. I was looking down, working on my dress, so I could see her shoes as she shifted from one foot to the other.

"Your dress looks nice," she murmured.

"Hmmm."

"Very Austen-esque."

"That's the point," I said brusquely. "If there's nothing else, I should really finish this and get ready."

Scarlett released a heavy sigh.

"Was there something else?"

She mumbled under her breath.

"What was that?" I asked.

"I'm sorry, Lotte," she said with a huff. "You were right, okay? I shouldn't have done any of it, the bet, giving advice to Bo—"

"Not telling me," I put in.

"Especially that part." She plopped down beside me on the bed and put a hand over mine,haltingme mid-stitch. "I should've told you everything. I should've been upfront with you and not meddled in your love life, even if I had the best of intentions.I'm sorry. Please forgive me, sis.I won't ever do that again. Okay?"

Looking up, I gave her a bright smile and a shrug.

"Okay," I said.

Scarlett gave me a suspicious look. "That's it? Just like that, we're all good?"

With a roll of my eyes, I placed my hand on top of hers. "Did you want more drama? Because I can yell, stomp my foot, and throw a book at you as you leave."

"Like you'd ever throw a book," she said.

"You're right," I said. "I've only done that twice in my life, and both times I regretted it—even if the endings were horrible."

She tilted her head. "I thought you were mad at me."

"I was upset," I corrected, "but I could never stay mad at you, especially over a guy. You're my sister."

"But I messed up."

"Yeah, but you admitted it." I shook my head. "That's all I wanted."

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