Zac’s words echoed in Charlotte’s mind like a curse, refusing to let her rest. They kept swirling in her head, leaving her distracted and uneasy.
So much so that when she visited Sean at the hospital the next day, she lookedpletely lost in thought.
“Lottic<b>, </b>what’s on your mind?” Sean asked,
Hershes flittered as she turned her face away, avoiding his eyes. “Um… what’s the <b>deal </b><b>with </b>that judy o
Se an gave her a look that was hard to read, then smiled faintly. “Are you jealous?”
Charlotte puffed out her cheels and tried to act indifferent. “No, I’m not. <b>You </b>just never mentioned her before, so I was curious.”
But the <b>truth </b>was, she was more than just jealous. The fact that this woman had kidnapped Jodie and even tried to stab her had Charlotte simmering with anger on top of everything else.
“Where do you keep attracting these crazy women?” she grumbled “She’spletely unhinged.”
Sean beckoned her over with a finger, “Lottie,e here,”
She obeyed and sat down at the edge of his <b>hospital </b>bed.
Taking her hand in his, Sean grew serious. “We were high school ssmates. She used <b>to </b>chase after me pretty Intensely. But I <b>made </b>it clear I wasn’t interested. Later, we ended up at the same college<b>, </b>and she kept trying, but I never gave her any hope.”
Charlotte lowered her eyes and pouted, “That’s it?”
Sean gave her cheeka light pinds. “That’s it. We barely talked. I didn’t even add her on any socials.
Charlotte was quiet for a moment before adding again,
en why’d she krep at it for so long?Ten years, Sean. That’s <b>not </b>ten days or ten months.”
Sean gave a helpless littleugh. “I honestly have no idea. Everyone around me knew how old I was to her. We barely spoke a handful of times in all those years.”
<b>Charlotte </b>leaned in closer and gave a little huff. “A handful? How <b>many’s </b><b>a </b>handful?+
Seanchuckled “rive, six, seven, maybe eight sentences.
“<b>And </b><b>that’s </b>not <b>a </b>lot to you?” she said, feigning outrage.
Sean looked at her,pletely taken with how adorable she was being. His eyes were filled with affection, and he couldn’t stop smiling. <b>“</b><b>It </b><b>was </b>nothing, mally. <b>Just </b>the first few times she confessed, Thad to say <b>something </b>to tum her <b>down</b>. After that<b>, </b><b>we </b>hardly <b>spoke </b>at <b>all</b>.”
Charlotte narrowed her eyes, still suspicious. “You <b>didn’t </b>feel even a little something for her? She’s pretty, you know,”
Not at all,” sean said, locking eyes with her. “There’s only ever been one person in my heart. <b>No </b>room for anyone else.
Curiotte tilted her head, pretending not to get il “Someone else? Who?”
Sean’s eyes twinlded with amusement. “Who <b>do </b>you think?”
She roumbled under her breath, “Well, if you don’t say it, how would I know?”
To Sean<b>, </b><b>she </b>was clearly just being yful. She looked so sweet and coy that his heart felt like it was melting on the <b>spot</b>.
He couldn’t resist her. With a smile in his voice, he said, “It’s you. It’s always bern you.”
Charlotte turned her face away, still avoiding <b>his </b>gaze. “Shirconfesard to you in high school, but I <b>was </b><b>just </b><b>a </b>kid back then. You couldn’t have liked me at that. point.”
Sean answered without hesitation, “I wasn’t thinking about dating in high school.”
That made Charlotte curious. She looked at him with wide alipond–shaped eyes, hershes fluttering. “Then when did you start liking me?”
al
Sean thought about it. “At first, ally did see you as a little sister. I’m not even when those feelings <b>changed</b>. It just kind of happene