Page 60 of The Charade

Carter and I continued with our charade as well, since we didn't want Sofia to know we'd just been faking it and I still wanted an alibi for our one-on-one tutoring sessions. But we didn't do anything over the top like our make-out session in the gardens. We actually kept all PDA very low-key, which was basically sitting beside each other at lunch and during our study sessions and saying a flirtatious comment here and there.

It was kind of like having a boyfriend, just without the cuddle sessions and kissing.

I was trying not to want those too much.

Trying not to let myself think of ways to convince him that we needed to practice those very things just in case.

But it was almost impossible not to think about it when every time he leaned close and I caught a whiff of his faint cologne, I was taken back to that tree in the gardens and wished I could relive that moment in real life instead of just in my daydreams.

"You guys don't have anything planned three Saturdays from now, do you?" Cambrielle asked us one day at lunch.

"I don't know," Mack said, draping his arm around the back of her chair as he sat next to her. "I was hoping to take you on that date I talked to your brothers about. You're not already making other plans, are you?"

"As nice as a date with you sounds—" She nudged her back against his arm, pushing it off her chair. "—I do already have plans."

"What's going on?" Scarlett asked, stabbing some of the kale salad on her plate.

"Well," Cambrielle said, glancing at Nash who was sitting next to Scarlett. "As you know, I've been slightly addicted toBridgertonever since it came out. And seeing all the fancy parties and balls in the TV series has me wanting to throw a big soirée of my own."

"ABridgerton-style party?" Elyse gasped, her mouth dropping open. "I am so here for this."

Cambrielle smiled at my twin, encouraged by her enthusiasm. "We wouldn't have to wear period clothing or anything." Her eyes brimmed with excitement. "You can wear whatever formal dress you want. But I don't know, I've always wanted to have a fancy party like this with everyone, and since most of you are going to graduate this year, I wanted to have it before you all leave."

"Are you saying I'm going to need a new tux?" Mack asked, a skeptical look in his eyes.

"Your navy-blue suit would be just fine," Cambrielle said to him. Then looking back at the group, she said, "So, do you think you guys can come?"

"I can," Scarlett said.

"I guess," Mack said with a shrug.

Hunter gave a non-committal grunt.

"I'll be there if I can wear a cravat," Nash said, which probably shouldn't have surprised me because he seemed to always want to be in character one way or another.

"You know I'm there," Elyse said, since this was exactly her kind of party. "And I think I might have just the dress for the event."

"I'll be there, too," I said.

"You're coming too, right?" Cambrielle addressed Carter when he didn't say anything.

"Let me check my calendar," he said, pulling out his bullet journal. He counted the weeks and seemed to note the date. "Are you talking about October sixteenth?"

"Um, yes," Cambrielle said, the look in her eyes becoming slightly more anxious at his mention of the date. She adjusted her shoulders in her cream-colored jacket. "I think that sounds right, anyway. I thought it would give us enough time to plan everything while still having good weather in case we wanted to do some things outside."

"That's the only reason why you picked this specific weekend?" Carter studied his sister with narrowed eyes, as if trying to figure something out.

She nodded, her gaze flitting to Nash before she said, "Yes. I don't remember there being anything else going on that weekend, do you?"

Nash made a show of frowning, and then said, "Nope. Nothing special about October at all."

Carter looked at his brother and sister suspiciously for another long moment before finally saying, "I don't have any special plans for that weekend, either. So I guess I can show up."

Relief showed on Cambrielle's face, and after giving Nash a quick glance, she said, "Great. I'll tell my mom that you're all in."

23

Carter

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