Page 68 of The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle
Bri gestured at Melody. “I don’t know. Melody’s going.”
Melody bumped her shoulder against Liz’s. “It’s not too late. We can find you the perfect dress in my shop.”
“Your shop?” Bri asked.
“Hidden Treasures.”
Bri grinned widely now. “Wow. From wanting to get rid of it to calling it yours. That’s new.”
Melody shook her head. “I mean, the store is mine right now. Until I sell it.”
Bri clasped her hands in front of her, looking between Melody and Liz. Then her gaze fell on the charm bracelet. “Oh. I almost forgot. I have something for us.” She reached into the front of her shirt and pulled something out of her bra. “Sorry. I don’t have pockets.” She slid a charm across the picnic table.
“Wow. Where’d you get this?” Melody asked.
“I work in the library here. The librarian had a bookmark with a charm attached.”
“You stole it?” Liz’s jaw dropped.
Bri frowned, looking annoyed by the question. “No. She said I could have it. Shegaveit to me.”
“Oh. Sorry,” Liz said sheepishly.
Bri shook her head and pointed at the charm. “It’s a wave. I want to add it to the bracelet. And when I’m free, one of the first things I want to see is the ocean. It’s been years. That’s my dream.”
Melody picked the charm up and inspected it. Then she looked up at Bri. “We’re going on a beach trip as soon as you’re free. I love that idea.”
“Perfect way to end the summer,” Liz agreed.
Melody used her fingernails to pry the metal circle attachment open. Then she attached the wave charm and pinched the circle shut again. “There.” She handed the bracelet to Bri to admire.
Bri turned the bracelet around, looking at every charm for a moment. “It’s getting full. I can’t believe after all this time, we’re finishing what we started with this bracelet. It feels like a full-circle moment.” She handed the bracelet back to Melody.
Melody tipped her head to the side and gestured at Liz. “It’s Liz’s turn.”
Bri handed it to Liz instead. “Here you go.”
“And once you’re out, it’ll be your turn.” Liz slipped the bracelet onto her wrist.
“You should consider going to prom,” Bri said, returning to the previous subject. “That feels like a full-circle moment too. If I were out, I’d go for sure. Just to prove that I can. And for Alyssa. I think she would want us all to go, seeing that we never got a chance.”
Liz looked suddenly pale. Her hand moved to the bracelet on her wrist, turning it around and around. She seemed to pull in a shaky breath. “I don’t need to prove that I can. Because I know for a fact that I can’t. That’s one thing I can’t do.” She shook her head. “Ever.”
CHAPTERTWENTY
LIZ
Liz caught herself fidgeting and stopped. She wasn’t anxious exactly. It was just a bad habit. Okay, maybe Dr. Mayer still made her a little nervous. He kept writing notes on his pad of paper, which always made her a little paranoid. What was he writing?
“I’m glad to hear you’re feeling good behind the wheel. That’s quite a milestone for you,” he said.
“Well, I didn’t drive here today,” Liz pointed out. “I rode my bike.” But she’d wanted to drive. She’d contemplated it. “My friend, Melody, is chaperoning the high school’s prom in two weeks.”
Dr. Mayer gave her a steady look. “Oh?”
“She’s going with Christopher West, a teacher at the school.”
“And how do you feel about that?” Dr. Mayer asked.
