Page 101 of HER SISTER

"Shut the fuck up, she got you flowers?"

I giggled a few times as I smiled shyly, "Yes..." I trailed off as Cher straightened my hair for me while we sat at her vanity.

Her house—

Sorry, her mansion, is practically huge enough to get lost in.

The ceilings are tall, the fixtures are polished, and the interior design is carefully curated.

She also seemed to offer me an array of endless snacks and drink options, which I decided to decline given that we were heading to dinner at Karter's house in less than an hour.

"Stop you guys are so cute," Cher gushed as she took in my cheeks which were now flushed, and the smile that was so prominent on my lips, "I told you that she's still thinking about you!" she managed to add in her I told you so tone.

I shyly waved her off, "Yeah... I just didn't know if she was busy or not," I whispered as Cher sat the straightener down.

Cher rolled her eyes, "Girl please, even from what you told me—she seems to be head over heels for you," she said as she grabbed my brush and began carefully brushing my hair.

I felt my smile grow as Mili's beautiful face managed to pop to the front of my thoughts.

God, did I miss her.

From the smallest things like her familiar sweet cologne to her coconut hair product—or even the warmth that her body seemed to provide me.

It was irreplaceable—

She's irreplaceable.

"Coming from someone who watched Karter, a fuck girl too, turn into a lover girl for Lo—it's clear that Mili has turned in her game card for you," Cher pointed out as she sprayed my hair with hair product, "I mean you got this girl giving you flowers even with you guys being on a break," she laughed, clearly amused by the entire situation.

I felt my shy smile grow, "I did change her, didn't I?"

Cher didn't hesitate to nod, "Hell yeah, you need to add that to your resume," she joked, easily earning more laughs from me.

Soon Cher was finishing up my hair and we were getting dressed into cute but casual outfits.

Well, casual for Cher seemed to be more dressed up for me.

She was wearing a long-sleeved square-neck cropped sweater with a short black skirt and stockings.

Meanwhile, I was wearing a black long-sleeve jumpsuit that clung to my body with a black cropped puffer vest.

But with my straightened hair and my usual makeup look, I still didn't feel out of place whatsoever.

Karter's house seemed to be just as big as I expected, and I couldn't help but grow in awe—taking in the house that sat by the calm water.

The walls were practically covered with hundreds of different pictures while shoes remained lined up by the door, and a slight smell of spaghetti wafted into the air.

It was the complete opposite of Cher's house, where everything seemed to have its own spot.

Here, everything seemed to be out of place.

But in the most beautiful way.

In fact, it was so beautiful that it made me aspire to have something similar to this one day.

Especially after I managed to meet Karter's moms, Nancy and Nina.

Karter's biological dad Ryan and his wife Serenity managed to join with their two sons, Jaden and Jalen, whom I had already met.

Along with Nancy's sister, Micah, her husband Francis, and their son Pierce as well.

And my god was Pierce already the funniest thing ever.

"And you're sure this is a permanent break?"

I laughed a few times as Micah—known as Mickey, managed to nudge her son, clearly telling him to cut it out.

Somehow, he had managed to move on from Sloan to me.

Karter shook her head as she drank her water, "No-no, by all means, let Pierce rizz her up," she said, easily earning a laugh from everyone at the large table.

Jalen jokingly rolled his eyes, "You're just saying that because you don't want him stealing your girl," he pointed out.

Davis laughed again, "For real," he said.

Karter only rolled her eyes as she slid her arm around Sloan's waist, "Stealing would imply that he has a chance," she countered back.

Meanwhile, Pierce only shrugged to himself, clearly not caring as he stared at me with the most lovesick look coating his face.

I honestly didn't think this one through.

But I'm sure Mili wouldn't care that a ten-year-old was giving me heart eyes right now.

"Aw I think Pierce has officially fallen in love," Jaden laughed as he gathered more spaghetti on his fork.

Cher rolled her eyes, "From what Ana told me, her girl doesn't play about her—" she suddenly gave Pierce a narrowed look, "—So tighten up Rizz King," she warned him.

I couldn't help but laugh to myself as I looked over, noticing Nancy and Nina venturing back over with two different cakes.

I really think I could stay here forever.

"We didn't know if you liked chocolate or vanilla so we made a marble cake and a strawberry cake too," Nancy said as she sat the beautiful cakes down in the middle of the table.

I couldn't help but smile at their kind gesture, "I like any cake honestly," I said as I looked over to the couple that was now sitting down with us all, "But thank you for making both."

Nina didn't hesitate to flash me a smile along with her wife, "Of course—"

"You know I can bake too? I'm also really good at making brownies," Pierce suddenly cut Nina short.

And I couldn't help but laugh yet again, especially when Karter said, "We know. You made Sloan heart-shaped brownies for Christmas."

I raised a brow, "Oh wow, really?" I said, clearly acting offended to mess with Pierce, who seemed to give Karter a narrowed look.

Pierce looked back to me, "Yeah, but I could spell your name with the browni—"

"Her girl already does more than that for her," Cher cut the boy off, clearly sticking up for Mili's presence.

Meanwhile, all I could do was laugh, clearly not taking any of this seriously.

I really couldn't wait to tell Mili about this someday, I just know she'd be laughing with me.

"Okay... how about we cut the cake," Nancy offered, which easily earned a nod from Nina who grabbed one of the cake knives.

And just like that, we were transitioning into an entirely new topic as the two women passed out slices of the different cakes.

Which by the way turned out to be so good.

More than good actually—

I ended up taking a to-go container for the plane ride back tomorrow.

Soon we were finishing up with dessert entirely before we all managed to get roped into a Mario Kart game by Karter and Sloan.

Little did they know, I was a Mario Kart mastermind.

"No-no-no, you cheated."

I couldn't help but laugh at Sloan, "I cheated?"

Karter nodded, "Yeah, you were closer to the TV," she pointed out.

Meanwhile, Cher managed to sigh, "Here we go," she said as she stole a Dorito from the chip bag in Davis's hands.

Damn, he really stays with cool ranch Doritos.

"Let's just all get into a line," Jaden offered.

His twin didn't hesitate to nod, "I second that—and then if Ana wins, you guys can't say nothing," Jalen pointed out.

Sloan nodded, "Yeah, she would've won fair and square," she agreed, easily earning a nod of agreement from her girlfriend.

Cher rolled her eyes, "Fair and square my ass—they're going to keep finding ways to accuse you of cheating Ana, mark my words," she warned me.

I couldn't help but laugh not only at Cher but at the group as a whole.

They had such a funny dynamic.

Even still, I found myself sitting in a straight line with everyone as we all played the game completely fair.

Which I seemed to win again.

"It's the controller," Karter determined, and I couldn't help but laugh as I stood from the floor with everyone else.

Cher shook her head, "We're not doing this again," she determined as she folded the throw blankets.

"Right, this feels like the CandyLand game all over again," Jaden said, and as I slid my shoes back on, I wondered what could've possibly happened with CandyLand.

Karter only shook her head, "Look, I just think one more rematch—"

"No one is rematching," Cher cut her short as she handed Davis his jacket.

I couldn't help but smile slightly as I looked between Sloan and Karter who seemed to be taking this all a little too seriously.

Honestly, it made me feel a little bad.

"Look, between me and you guys, it was definitely the controller," I whispered to the couple.

And I couldn't miss how their brows both raised, clearly taking my words entirely to heart.

It was enough to make me laugh for what felt like the hundredth time tonight.

"Ana, are you ready?" Cher called out as she walked toward the door with everyone else.

I glanced over my shoulder, "Yeah—" I turned back to Sloan and Karter, "—It was nice meeting you guys," I told them both.

Sloan didn't hesitate to pull me into a hug, "You as well, hopefully, we can make spring break happen," she said.

Karter nodded, "Yeah, I bet Cher's already planning out all the details now," she joked.

I chuckled, "Bet, then I should see you guys soon," I said, sending them both one last smile as I turned on my heel to follow Cher out of the large house.