Page 41 of Amelia and Her Prince Charming
“Okay,” she said. “I mean, he’s an attractive man, so that’s totally understandable. Have you imagined kissing Hudson?”
So, so many times. My imagination was helped by experience, but I wasn’t sure if they needed to know that detail. I nodded slowly again.
Charlie let out a deep breath. “If you could get stranded on a deserted island with anyone in the world—” I looked at her with my eyebrows raised, and Charlie started laughing “Okay. If you got stranded again… would it be with Hudson?”
I nodded for a third time. Charlie took me by both arms and looked at me very seriously. My stomach churned.
“Amelia, I’m afraid I have to diagnose you with an incurable case of … love.”
Lily patted my arm. “I’ve avoided it so far, but it comes for the best of us eventually.”
“But I can’tloveHudson,” I said, with a too-high laugh. “I can’t.”
“Why not?” Charlie asked.
“Well, I was married to his brother for starters.”
“And?”
“It’s not done.”
“It’s totally done,” Lily said. “It’s not your fault the Blaires have a thing for the Amelias. And if it works out, you won’t have to change your last name. That’s pretty convenient.”
Charlie snorted. “I can always count on Lily to be practical. Who cares what anyone thinks, Amelia. Life is too short to walk away from love. Besides, we’ve all seen the way he looks at you.”
“You have?”
“The boy has got it bad,” Lily said, fanning herself. “If I can find someone to look at me like that …”
“Yeah,” Charlie said, a little quieter, and not meeting our eyes. She had a fiancé, but I hadn’t seen the two of them together much this week. “He looks at you like he could do so for the rest of his life, and nothing would make him happier.”
“Plus, how he is with Quinn?” Lily asked. “Girl. Snatch him up.”
“What would Anita and Elm say?” I loved them both so much. I wouldn’t want to put them in an uncomfortable position.Especially if I was seriously considering making the move to Winterhaven.
“I don’t think that’ll be a problem,” Charlie said. She held up her phone to an open chat screen.
Charlie
I like the idea of Hudson and Amelia together.
Anita
Me too. Very much so.
“You texted her just now?” I asked, my voice a little higher than usual.
“Yep,” Charlie put her phone in her back pocket. “And it seems like they’re on board. Any other objections you need us to help you work through?”
I sat on the stool, feeling like my legs were too weak to carry me any longer. “No. I don’t think there is.”
“Good,” Lily said, a huge grin on her face. “I can’t think of a more perfect couple.”
“Hey!” Rosie yelled from the other room. “Where’s my ice cream?”
“The queen calls.” Lily rolled her eyes. “Coming!”
I followed more slowly, thinking through everything they said. An urge settled over me to talk to Hudson as soon as I could. They were right. Life was too short to walk away from love.
