Page 182 of With a Cherry On Top

Logan scoffs. “Oh, thanks.”

Charlotte lifts a shoulder. “With everything you said and implied about me, I don’t think you have the right to be offended.”

Logan scratches his jaw, shifting uncomfortably. “Again, I never meant to?—”

“And Aaron didn’t mean to hurt you,” she cuts in. “Or Amelie, or...her hot husband. Whatever his name is.”

Logan chuckles.

“He’s just trying to live his life the best he can. To take whatever joy he comes across. To understand himself, and find love, and be happy.” She leans forward slightly, tilting her head.“Can you let him do that? Even if that includes the occasional fuckup?”

I open my eyes fully—just in time to see him smiling at her. Logan. He’ssmiling.

“I think you might turn out to be a good fuckup after all.”

Charlotte grins. “Yeah. I think so too.”

The doctor walks in and Logan shakes my shoulder, so I stand, pretending I’m just now waking up.

“Everything looks good,” the doctor says with a detached expression. “She’ll be sore for a while, but we’ve stitched her up well, so you can take her home now.”

He steps to the side and Mom comes in, her hands and arms almost completely covered in bandages. Her eyes crinkle with relief despite the exhaustion. “Oh, you’re both here.”

“Of course we are. Dad is with Primrose, helping her with the kids.”

She cups Logan’s cheek, then squeezes my shoulder. “I’m all right, okay? Wipe those annoying expressions off your faces.”

Her eyes shift to Charlotte, and for a moment, I swear time stops. Her eyes light up with that warmth that is uniquely my mom’s, and when she looks at me for confirmation, I nod.

“Mom, I’d like you to meet Charlotte Arnault. Charlotte, this is Lucy Coleman.”

Charlotte walks beside me, a little unsure, but Mom immediately pulls her into a hug.

“Oh, I could cry!” Mom’s voice is all joy and surprise. “It’s so lovely to finally meet you, despite all this.” She pulls back and looks Charlotte up and down only to drag her into another squeezing hug. “I’ve heard such wonderful things about you. You’re even more beautiful than I imagined!”

Charlotte stiffens at first, face scrunching like she’s not sure what’s happening. Maybe she didn’t expect Mom to know about her, maybe she’s not used to motherly hugs. She turns to me andonce I nod, she tentatively returns the hug. “It’s so nice to meet you too.”

I feel something loosen inside of me. Relief, warmth, maybe even pride. For the first time, we’re not this messy thing everyone’s worried about, but somethingwhole.

Once Mom releases her, Charlotte steps beside me, holding my hand.

Logan clears his throat. “I’ll drive you home, Mom. You need to rest.”

“Yes. Thank you, sweetheart.”

“Of course.” As she walks toward the corridor, Logan stops, his hand resting on the doorframe. He looks back at me and my heart thumps. “I’ll see you in a few hours at the wedding, right?”

I blink, momentarily stunned, but I should’ve known. Charlotte could charm a nun into a strip club and get her a front-row seat.

I nod quickly, my voice a little hoarse. “Yes, of course.”

Logan looks at Charlotte then. “Both of you?”

“I’d love to come,” she says, smiling brightly for a moment. “But I assume Amelie will be attending?”

“And?”

Oh, right. He doesn’t know. “It turns out Charlotte is Amelie’s half-sister.”

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