Page 67 of Made for Wilde

I guide her to the living room, pulling her down with me until we’re sitting on the hardwood floor, our backs against the couch. It’s become a habit, these past weeks. Sometimes we talk here, sometimes we just sit in silence, watching the fire. It’s our space, this small square of floor between the coffee table and the hearth.

“I know this is hard.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders, tucking her against my side. “And I know you’re scared. But we’ll figure it out. Together.”

Charlotte rests her head on my shoulder. “Promise?”

“I promise.” I press a kiss to her temple. “When we tell him, I’ll be right there with you. I’ll take whatever he throws at me.”

“He might never forgive us.” Her voice is small, wounded.

The thought cuts deep. Jason is the closest thing to family I have besides Dana. Losing his friendship would carve a hole in my life that nothing could fill. But losing Charlotte? That’s unthinkable.

“He might be angry at first.” I choose my words carefully. “But he loves you more than anything in this world. He’ll come around eventually.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

I turn her face toward mine, making sure she sees the certainty in my eyes. “Then we’ll deal with that too. But I’m not going anywhere, Charlotte. You need to know that. Whatever happens with your dad, with the beauty school, with anything. I’m in this. All the way.”

Her eyes search mine, looking for any hint of doubt. She won’t find any. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.

“I’m in this too.” She reaches up, her palm warm against my cheek. “All the way.”

FOURTEEN

CHARLOTTE

I pushopen the glass door of Piney Creek Diner and the scent of coffee and fried food hits me. The lunch crowd buzzes with conversation as servers weave between checkered tablecloths with steaming plates.

I scan the room, my stomach fluttering with a mix of anticipation and a slight queasiness I try to ignore. Then I see him. My dad waves from a corner booth, his face lighting up with that smile reserved just for me.

“There’s my girl,” Dad calls out as I make my way toward him.

I plaster on my brightest smile, pushing down the guilt that threatens to choke me. “Hey, Dad.”

He stands to hug me, his strong arms wrapping around me like they have a thousand times before. He smells like the same brand of aftershave that he’s worn since I was little. I breathe through my mouth, trying to calm the weird flip-flop in my stomach.

“You look great, kiddo.” Dad releases me and slides back into his side of the booth. “Tired, maybe, but great.”

I settle into the vinyl seat across from him, suddenly aware of how accurate his assessment is. Between the long hoursat beauty school, and now secretly moving in with Koda, exhaustion has become my default state.

“Beauty school is kicking my butt.” I pick up the menu even though I’ve memorized it over years of father-daughter lunches. “Finals are coming up.”

Dad beams with pride. “You’re going to ace them. You’ve got your mother’s talent.”

The waitress appears with waters, saving me from responding. My mouth feels suddenly dry, so I take a long sip. The cold liquid hits my empty stomach with a jolt that makes me wince.

“You okay?” Dad’s eyes narrow with concern.

I nod quickly. “Just hungry, I think.”

Dad orders his usual burger with extra pickles and I decide to play it safe with soup and a salad. As the waitress walks away, Dad leans forward, elbows on the table.

“So tell me everything. How are classes? How’s Sarah and the apartment?”

The questions hit me rapid-fire, each one striking closer to the lie I’m living. I focus on the easiest one first.

“Classes are good. I’m specializing in color techniques this semester.” I fiddle with my silverware, arranging it perfectly parallel on the napkin. “Sarah’s good too. She got that internship at Blissful Salon for the summer.”

Dad nods, genuinely interested in the details of my life. “That’s great. She always seemed like a go-getter.”