Page 93 of Code of Heart

Her dress.

Levi had insisted on handling that himself, with Ivy’s help. It had been a relief at first…but now she was terrified. What if it didn’t fit? What if she hated it? How would she possibly tell Levi without hurting his feelings?

At least Ivy had seen it firsthand, and that gave her some comfort. But still, her stomach churned with uncertainty.

Grace and Ivy were coming over later to help her get ready. From what she had gathered, they had a magical talent for hair and makeup. Neither of them ever needed a professional for big events, and tonight, they were bestowing that gift on her.

Aurelia had been added to a separate group chat with them immediately after they had all met. It had been filled with raunchy memes, courtesy of Ivy, book recommendations from Grace, girls’ night invitations, and anything else that popped into their minds. It was another safe space where she could be herself.

While their friendships were still growing, for the first time in a very long time, Aurelia felt…accepted. Like she was part of something bigger. Like she belonged.

She wasn’t sure she had the words to describe how much that meant.

And while she had spent the last few weeks building new friendships, she had also finally sat down with Selene.

They’d met after work earlier this week while Levi was still recovering. The conversation had been strange—tentative and careful, but friendly.

And, in many ways, long overdue.

Aurelia stepped into the cozy, familiar atmosphere ofCoffee Beans ‘n’ Things, the warm smell of roasted espresso and vanilla chai curling through the air. Her gaze immediately found Selene already seated at a corner table, hands wrapped tightly around a ceramic mug. She was staring into it like it held the answers to all of life’s hardest questions.

A second mug sat on the table, steam curling delicately above it. It was Aurelia’s favorite, a vanilla chai latte.

The small gesture softened something tight in Aurelia’s chest as she made her way over.

Selene looked up the moment Aurelia sat down, offering a tentative, rueful smile. “Thanks for meeting me,” she murmured, her voice quieter than usual.

Aurelia’s expression gentled. “Of course, I would meet you. We can’t throw away years of friendship over one fight. I…I think we owe it to each other to talk this through. It’s been stressful for both of us.”

Selene’s lips tugged into a faint, watery smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’ve never been good at apologies,” she admitted, staring down at her mug. Her voice cracked just a little. “But I need you to know that I’m really, truly sorry. I never should have said those things. You’re not just a friend; you’re the best friend I’ve ever had, and I know I hurt you.”She paused, her fingers tightening around the mug. “The truth is, I was angry. Not at you, but at myself. I felt shut out, and it scared me. We’ve always shared everything, and it felt like…you didn’t trust me enough to tell me. I know that wasn’t fair to you. I was selfish. And I’m so sorry, Aurelia.”

The rawness in her voice twisted Aurelia’s heart.

She swallowed, choosing her words carefully—thoughtfully. She had spent the entire afternoon preparing for this conversation, but now that she was here, the only thing that mattered was mending what had cracked between them.

“You had every right to feel that way,” she said softly. “I would have been upset too. However, it all happened so fast, and we hadn’t had the chance to see each other or even talk much lately. I didn’t want to just throw something like that at you over a text message. And honestly…” she hesitated, “I had to think about his privacy too. You know how the gossip mills at Starhaven spin. The last thing I wanted was for something this personal to become office entertainment.”

Selene sat in contemplative silence for a long moment before she sighed and leaned back in her chair, her shoulders finally relaxing. “God, thankyoufor understanding. This has been eating away at me for a week.” She gave a weak laugh. “I suck at this whole heartfelt apology thing.”

Aurelia snorted, the tension between them breaking a little.

Selene leaned forward again, curiosity now dancing in her eyes. “Okay, so…I have to ask. How did you meet him? Because, girl, from the photos and everything online…he isfine,” she teased, waggling her eyebrows.

Aurelia laughed, grateful for the return of their usual rhythm. “He is definitely a catch,” she admitted. “It was…a whirlwind. A mutual acquaintance introduced us, and we hit it off. One thing led to another, and the next thing I knew, we eloped.” Shelifted her mug and took a sip, adding carefully, “It was a risky decision, but I figured…why not take a chance for once?”

It wasn’t the whole story—but it was enough. And it was the truth.

Selene let out a low, impressed whistle. “Wow. Risky, but clearly working out for you.” She tilted her head. “So…will I finally get to meet the mysterious Mr. Tall, Dark, and Gorgeous at the Harvest Charity Ball?”

Aurelia smiled. “Yes, he’ll be there. And he’s looking forward to meeting you, too.”

Selene’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she lifted her coffee mug. “Well then, here’s to what’s shaping up to be the most unforgettable Harvest Charity Ball ever.”

Aurelia clinked her mug against hers, a genuine, wide smile breaking across her face for the first time in days.

“Unforgettable,” she agreed.

Everything was falling perfectly into place…but that gnawing sense of unease refused to let go.