Page 40 of Good Luck Charm for the Wolf

“Okay,” I say, adjusting the neckline of my wrap dress nervously in the mirror, “be honest. Do I look like I’m trying too hard?”

This really is one of my best dresses.

I mean, it hugs my curves perfectly and makes me feel pretty. But what if I look desperate instead?

Carina perches on the edge of my bed, legs crossed, wearing that big-sister-knows-best smirk that both comforts and annoys the hell out of me.

She’s been slowly moving her things out of our rental and into Horace’s penthouse, which both sucks and rocks at the same time.

Because yay to having more room and less waiting time to get in the bathroom. But serious boo to me and MJ missing our big sis.

“You look perfect,” she says immediately, waving her hand like it’s obvious. “Sexy and cute at the same time. Not to mention the tatas are on point!”

“Carina!”

“What? You got great tits, Dina, own that shit. Confidence is king. What are you so worried about?”

“What if he hates it or thinks I’m being too obvious?”

“Girl, this is Doug we’re talking about. He is literally a Wolf. I don’t think he has a problem with obvious. But fine, your dress is flirty but also makes you seem fun and approachable. He’ll pick up all the kiss me later vibes, trust me.”

I roll my eyes. “You are so annoying.”

“Thank you,” she says, completely unfazed.

Then her gaze softens a little, and she rests her chin in her palm, watching me fuss with my hair.

“But seriously, you look amazing. And you deserve to. I mean, this is big. You and Doug? Fate literally shoved you together.”

I pause, blinking at her in the mirror.

“I mean, I guess so, but it’s really just the app, right? He hasn’t said anything like that to me.”

“Have you seen him since the other day?” Carina asks.

“Um, no. But we talked,” I reply, but I heard my voice go all high at the end and I know she did, too.

“Talked?”

Carina crosses her arms, but I ignore her death glare.

“Yeah. We talked. Anyway, that whole fated mates thing didn’t come up. Besides, it?—”

“Is everything,” Carina cuts in, voice going dreamy in a way that makes my stomach flutter.

“Seriously, Dina,” she continues, her expression turning soft and sincere now, “being fated is special. It’s not just some gimmick Uncle Uzzi made up, so folks use his app. It’s not just about some instalove trope or whatever. It’s about finding the one person in the universe who makes everything just click.”

“Just click?”

“Exactly! See, your fated mate is the person who gets you without you having to explain yourself. Who makes you feel safe and wanted and like you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.”

I swallow, my heart thudding a little harder.

“That’s a lot, Car. I don’t know if I have that in me, or if he is even capable of feeling like that about me.”

Carina laughs softly and stands, coming over to fix a stray curl on my head like she used to when we were kids.

“It is very possible. Don’t you dare tell yourself otherwise,” she says. “But it’s also so easy once it happens. Being with Horace? It’s not perfect all the time, but it’s right. There’s no wondering where I stand. No games. Just this certainty that we’re meant to be.”

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