𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦, ʟᴜᴋᴇ ʜᴜɢʜᴇs

twenty-two

LUKE and Charlotte-Alexandria walked back into the lake house later that night. The fire was out, and a few lamps were left on, casting a warm, golden glow over the living room. The house was quiet, the laughter and chatter of the day fading into the calm of the evening. They both bid each other goodnight at the base of the stairs.

But before they could part, Luke reached out, gently pulling her closer. He placed a tender kiss on her forehead, lingering there for a moment longer than usual. The warmth of the gesture made Charlotte's heart swell, and she whispered, "Goodnight, Luke," in a voice soft with affection.

"Goodnight, Alex," he murmured back, his voice low and comforting.

With a small smile, she turned and headed up the stairs, slipping into her room. She kicked off her sandals and let out a sigh, the events of the day still buzzing in her mind. She moved to the mirror, picking up her brush to work through the loose curls that had escaped throughout the day. As she brushed, she caught a glimpse of something in the reflection that made her freeze.

Quickly turning around, she let out a small gasp.

Quinn was sitting casually in the chair against the wall, a relaxed but observant look on his face. He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her surprise.

"Quinn!" she hissed, clutching her brush a little tighter. "You scared me half to death!"

He chuckled, leaning back in the chair with an easy grin. "Didn't mean to. Just wanted to have a little chat before you called it a night."

Charlotte took a deep breath, calming her racing heart. She set the brush down and crossed her arms, giving him a mock glare. "You could've knocked, you know."

"Where's the fun in that?" he teased, before his expression softened. "Mind if I join you for a bit?"

She gestured to the bed, indicating for him to sit if he wanted to. "Sure, what's on your mind?"

Quinn stayed where he was, his gaze steady on her. "Luke."

The mention of his name made Charlotte's heart skip a beat, and she averted her eyes, trying to focus on the wrinkle in the bedspread. "What about him?"

Quinn studied her for a moment, then sighed, leaning forward. "Look, I've seen the way you two are around each other. It's... different. He's different. And honestly? It's been a while since I've seen him like this."

She swallowed, the warmth from Luke's earlier kiss still lingering. "I don't know what you mean."

"Yeah, you do," Quinn said gently. "You make him happy, Alex. Happier than he's been in a long time. But I also see that you're both... I don't know, cautious?"

Charlotte looked up, meeting Quinn's gaze. "We're just... figuring things out."

He nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "That's good. I just want you to know that, whatever happens, I'm rooting for you two. But... just be honest with each other, okay? He's my brother, and I don't want to see either of you hurt."

Her heart softened at his words, and she managed a small smile. "I care about him a lot, Quinn. I'd never want to hurt him."

"I know," Quinn said with a reassuring smile. "And I don't think you will. Just... don't be afraid to let things happen, you know?"

She nodded, understanding the weight of what he was saying. "Thanks, Quinn."

"Anytime," he said, standing up and stretching. "Now, I'll let you get some rest. Big day tomorrow."

Charlotte chuckled softly, feeling a little lighter after their conversation. "Goodnight, Quinn."

"Night, Alex," he replied, slipping out of the room as quietly as he had entered.