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“Did you choose to go away for college to get away from your parents?”

Sadie shook her head. “No, we’re close, too. Not Mackenzie close, but close.”

“Mackenzies are a different breed.”

“Entirely,” Sadie laughed. “But I picked the school that would give me the best chance of playing softball professionally, even though I really don’t think that’s what I want to do anymore.”

“Brayden feels the same way about hockey. And you both deserve to follow those dreams wherever they take you. Even if it’s far away from me.”

It was clear that Ellie was sad that Sadie was leaving, but it hadn’t hit Sadie until now that Ellie was having to say goodbye to her twin brother as well. Although Sadie knew Ellie was closer with her sisters, she always knew the special bond the Mackenzie twins shared. And that had to be hard on Ellie. Sadie reached out, taking hold of Ellie’s hand.

“Yeah but,” Sadie hesitated for a moment, “you deserve to follow yours, too.”

Ellie smiled sweetly as the sadness from a moment ago seemed to lift. “And I will. I don’t think Broadway is my dream. I’m perfectly happy doing community theater for the rest of my life. And I love working with Mama.”

“AndAustin.” She wasn’t sure why she’d brought up Austin, but Sadie instantly regretted it. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. But you have to believe me when I say I’m not interested in Austin that way. Only you, babe.”

“I know.”

And Sadie did know.

“I’m sorry for saying that.”

But it did little to stop her ramblings.

“It just hurts to know she’s going to be here and I’m not. And that you’ll be kissing people in plays that aren’t me. I know I’m not an actress but I would totally be one if I knew it meant I got to kiss you more.”

Ellie was looking at Sadie with such a bemused look that Sadie felt her palms begin to sweat.

“What?”

“Nothing. I just find you insanely cute when you ramble.”

Sadie picked up a perfectly folded shirt and threw it at Ellie as they both laughed. Standing, Ellie held her hands out to Sadie as she pulled her to her feet.

“Let me show you something. This is how I kiss someone I’m in a show with.”

Although their lips met quickly, there was no passion behind the kiss. How Ellie was able to turn it off like that, Sadie had no clue. But it was quick and impersonal and involved zero tongue. Which, she could admit, had become one of her favorite parts of kissing Ellie.

“How was that?”

“Eh,” Sadie shrugged and laughed, “you’ve done better.”

“Obviously.” Ellie dramatically flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Now, see if you can tell the difference between that one and this one.”

As if they were on a stage, Ellie put her arm around Sadie’s back as Sadie wrapped hers around Ellie’s neck. With more skill than Sadie knew she had, Ellie dipped her and kissed her. But it was way more than a regular kiss. There was so much passion behind it that Sadie was struggling to think straight. Not only was Ellie kissing her passionately, but she was always holding her up as they did so. Sadie’s knees were on the verge of going weak as Ellie stood her back up. Her head was spinning as she goofily grinned.

“That’show I kiss someone I love.”

“Holy shit.”

“Mhmm.”

“My head is literally spinning.”

“I think I’ve proved my point.”