"Oh girl," Amara sang as she walked into Celeste’s room, the paper bags in her hands crinkled with every step. "I t Dominic Cross for the first ti in my life," she crooned like she was still drunk on the mory.
Celeste barely looked up from where she sat. She was huddled in the corner of the room, with the blanket around her shoulders like armor.
"He looked so unreal. I couldn’t believe it," Amara continued as she walked to the small side table and dropped the groceries. She grinned and turned to Celeste. "God, I see why Landon don’t—"
Her words died in her throat when her gaze landed fully on Celeste’s face.
She froze.
Celeste didn’t look like soone who had just been kissed by a man like Dominic. She looked... hollow.
Like sothing precious had been ripped from her. Hold on, she has never seen her friend this down and hopeless.
"C?" Amara’s voice softened as she stepped closer. "What’s going on? What happened?"
Celeste blinked slowly. Her lashes were damp. Her coffee sat untouched on the floor. Her fingers clutched the edge of the blanket tightly.
"Talk to ," Amara pleaded, kneeling in front of her. "You’re scaring . Did sothing happen with Landon?"
Celeste shook her head.
"Dominic," she whispered. His na alone seed to be too much for her to call at the mont.
Amara’s brows lifted in alarm. "Dominic? What about him?"
She quickly made so ntal calculations. She rembers Dominic left with her. Did he touch her against her will?
Celeste exhaled shakily. Her lips quivered for a mont before she could find the strength to speak.
"I slept at his penthouse."
Amara’s eyes went wide. "You what?" She paused, and animated with her hands. "I thought he’d bring you here."
"I was drunk. He picked up. Took care of . Cleaned up. Put in his bed. Just... nothing happened. We talked. I wore his shirt. Slept. That was all."
Amara stared at her, stunned.
"Okay, but—"
Celeste cut in. "It wasn’t that night that broke . It was this morning. He made coffee. Let stay in bed. And then—"
Her breath hitched, and she covered her face with her hands for a second, willing herself not to cry.
She hated she wasn’t crying, and she still didn’t want to cry.
Amara waited, gently touching her knee. "And then?"
"He got a call. From Landon’s father."
Amara blinked. "Wait. Wait, wait. Hold up. What?" Her chest heaved up and down. "Do they know? About you and Dominic?"
Celeste lowered her hands. "Not that. Landon’s father is his brother. Rember? Landon is his nephew."
"Jesus Christ," Amara whispered. "You’re telling ..."
"Yes."
"So what did the call say?"
Celeste swallowed and looked down. Her voice turned paper-thin. "There’s brunch today in the family house, and he’s taking soone else."
Amara stared. "Like a date?"
Celeste nodded. "A woman. His brother said she’s perfect. Better than the last." She chuckled bitterly. "They would be a perfect match if Roman says that. I still rember how hard it was for him to accept ."
Amara sat back on her heels, stunned into silence. "C... I don’t even know what to say."
"I know. I shouldn’t care," Celeste said with a hollow laugh. "I’m engaged to Landon. I shouldn’t care who he takes anywhere."
"But you do."
Celeste’s eyes shimred. "I do. And that’s what hurts. I do."
Amara reached up and gently tucked a stray strand of Celeste’s hair behind her ear.
"You want to say what everyone would say, C? That you were just vulnerable? That he was there at the right ti? That it’s all a mistake?"
Celeste didn’t answer.
Amara leaned closer. "But it’s not a mistake if your heart’s screaming louder than your mind. And I think that’s what’s happening here."
Celeste looked at her like she was about to fall apart again. "What do I do, Amara?"
"First? Breathe. We figure out the rest one mont at a ti. But you don’t bottle this up. Not from . I’ve got you. Always."
Celeste’s lips trembled. A tear rolled down her cheek. Amara moved in and hugged her tight. Celeste’s body trembled.
"I think I love him now," she said with a shaky voice. "I wanted to play tough but I love him," she cried.
Amara said nothing. She just held Celeste, patted her on the back. She even humd a little sound when Celeste’s body began to tremble more.
After a long mont, Amara pulled back slightly. She wiped Celeste’s eyes, and stared deep into her.
"So... are you still going to marry Landon?"
Celeste blinked at her. She didn’t have an answer.
Amara sighed. "That’s fair. We’ll put that in the ’pending’ folder."
Celeste let out a soft laugh.
"But girl," Amara added, holding her by the shoulders now, looking into her eyes. "No matter what... Landon, Dominic, or whatever...you don’t lose yourself in the ss. Don’t. I’m not letting that happen."
Celeste nodded, her eyes full. "Thank you."
Amara gave her a soft shake and then let her go. She stood up to stretch. "Okay. That’s enough pain for one hour. I brought snacks."
Celeste chuckled quietly. Her voice was still thick with emotion. "What would I do without you?"
"Crash and burn, obviously," Amara said with a wink. "I brought chocolate croissants, kettle chips, and that weird French soda you pretend not to like."
Celeste wiped her cheeks again. "Thank God one of us has sense."
"Two of us, babe. One of us just had it knocked around by a devastatingly attractive man with good taste in silk sheets."
Celeste let out a low laugh, wrapping her blanket tighter. Amara busied herself at the table, opening the paper bags and passing her the croissant wrapped in parchnt.
Celeste bit slowly into her pastry and closed her eyes. "Oh my God, Amara. This is magic."
"Told you," Amara said, popping a chip into her mouth. "Now tell the real question."
"What?"
"Do you think he’s falling for you too?"
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