Her mom slowly nodded. “Itisa good opportunity, honey. It is. I just—” She shook her head. “You know, you are right. You’re more than fully grown, and if you think Charlotte has grown as well, then… it’s your prerogative.”
Her mom’s doubtful look didn’t match her words, but Sutton wasn’t going to push it. She was very grateful, though, when Lucy ran up to her from behind, calling excitedly and grabbing for the phone: “Grandma!”
The thing was,Suttonwasn’tlying to her mom.
In spite of the initial bumpiness between them, things between her and Charlotte had been going so well in the last few weeks.
The truth she’d accepted when Charlotte had babysat Lucy was that she really did trust her. Regardless of their history and everything between them, she trusted Charlotte with something more precious than her own life.
She trusted Charlotte, she had a good time with Charlotte, and she simply enjoyedbeingwith Charlotte, whether they were chatting, exchanging stories, or talking about work.
The last few weeks had been a true reminder of that. Even though they’d gotten so entangled those years ago, the baseline was that just existing with Charlotte wasfun. They’d enjoyed spending time together and talking for months before they’d slept together, and that time together had always been so easy.
That ease melted right over them again, now that Sutton allowed it to.
Their meetings were stillworking—they did discuss the book, reviewing the stories, Sutton’s writing—and yet, they would often devolve into hangouts.
It was easy for it to happen, when Charlotte would tell Sutton about her day or would mention Caleb and Dean or would ask how Sutton’s had gone or how Regan’s birthday or Lucy’s school play was.
Leaning into this wasso much easierthan it had been in the first few weeks, when she’d kept her guard up and tried to be professional. So. Much. Easier.
She faced Charlotte now, her knees tucked up under her with her shoes kicked off as they sat on the couch in Charlotte’s office. Her tablet, notebook, and recorder were long forgotten now, given that they’d spent two hours discussing their latest notes.
“Pleasetell me they didn’t get caught,” Sutton managed to get out through a fit of laughter, muffling her giggles against the fist she was using to prop her head up.
Charlotte mirrored her pose, heels long dropped off. “Sutton, don’t you think you would have heard about the sex scandal if the mayor of New York’s husband was caught under his desk? Even if hereally waslooking for the penny he’d found on the sidewalk that he proclaimed brought him good luck.”
“Well, Dean’s secretary walking in on that position wasn’t very lucky.”
The surprised laugh that escaped Charlotte made Sutton smile triumphantly.
Something that she couldn’t quite kick from the past was that making Charlotte laugh like that—real, sheer laughter—always felt like a victory.
She didn’t have to ask to know that Charlotte didn’t laugh like this, often or with many others. She knew it, in her bones.
She didn’t know if it made her foolish or ridiculous or silly, but it made her feel a particular kind of special, that she was able to do this. To relax with Charlotte and laugh with her and see atrueside of her. It had always been that way. But there was no point in questioning it or looking too deeply at that. It justwas.
“I would say you’re quite right about that,” Charlotte agreed as her laughter died down.
Before Sutton could answer, her phone vibrated, and she looked down at the text Regan had sent.
Regan—8:03 p.m.
legit no rush, my precious starfish, but I’m just wondering when to expect you home so I can give my glorious wife an ETA on dinner.
Luce is all ready for bed
Sutton’s eyes widened when she registered the time.
Sutton—8:04 p.m.
Sorry! Didn’t realize how late it was. I’ll be home soon
She bit her lip as she looked up at Charlotte, unsurprised at the knowing look in those golden-brown eyes.
“Time to head out?”
Sutton bit the inside of her cheek as she nodded. Absurdly, she wanted to apologize. Which reallywasludicrous because the apology owed was really only the one she’d given to Regan. And yet it was so simple to get caught up with Charlotte that cutting their time together “short” felt… criminal.