Page 190 of With a Cherry On Top

“Shh.” She sniffles and leans back, her gaze searching mine for something—maybe the fact that we’re okay. Whatever it is, she finds it, because her expression shifts, her lips twitching into something determined.

“We need to go get her,” she says.

“What?”

“We need to get her out of the house. Right now.”

It takes a second to register who she means. “Charlotte? How? I doubt her mom will let her go anywhere.”

“It’s a good thing I don’t care what Beatrice has to say, then.”

Logan joins my side, sniffling. “What’s happening?”

Amelie, already by the car, answers in my place. “We’re going on a rescue mission.”

“What’s the plan?”I ask as Amelie and I step into the elevator. The usher almost didn’t let us in, but Amelie really has a way with words. Or the usher has a thing for brunettes.

“No plan,” she says, arms crossed as she watches the buttons light up as we rise. “We go in, we give Charlotte a choice. That’s all we can do.”

“Yes, but Beatrice?—”

“I’ll handle her.”

I check the time. The wedding is in one hour, and we’ll need half of that to get back. Logan understood the situation, but I can’t miss the wedding. I’m the fucking best man.

But I also can’t leave this place without Charlotte. We’re going to get her out.

“That’s the door,” I say as we come out of the elevator.

“Ready?” she asks.

No. Terrified, actually.“Yes.”

She knocks, and the moments that pass before the door opens are the longest of my life. But then Charlotte is there, her vaguely bored expression turning into surprise as she takes us in. “Aaron? What...”

“Hi, Charlotte,” Amelie says, stepping forward.

“H-hello.” Charlotte looks behind her back, then at us again. “What are you doing here? Beatrice?—”

“I’m not afraid of Beatrice.” Amelie reassures her. “We’re here because we’d like for you to come to the wedding with us.”

Charlotte meets my gaze, her brows drawing together as if asking for an explanation, so I step to her, taking her hands in mine. “You okay, baby?”

“Y-yes, just . . .”

“Confused?”

“A little, yes.”

“Understandable.” I cup the back of her head, fingers skimming through her hair. “Amelie and I talked, and...and we want to give you the support you need, the chance you deserve. If you really want to be here, I’ll support you, of course. But if it’s not...we’re here to give you a choice. An alternative.”

“Charlotte?” Beatrice’s voice rings from inside the house. “Who’s at the door?”

Here we go.

Beatrice comes out of the living room, her chin jerking back as she sees me, then Amelie.

“Oh—Amelie?” she says, bringing a hand to her chest.

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