The second the call ended, the phone started ringing again.

“Charlotte.......” Stella saw Anthony's name flash across the screen. Her fingers tightened around the phone before she handed it over, whispering, "It's him again."

She'd already hung up on Anthony once. No way was she brave enough to do it a second time. Anthony would never get mad at Charlotte, but if he decided to turn that anger on her... nope, not worth the risk. The very thought made her uneasy.

Charlotte took the phone, hit decline without a second thought, and tossed it straight into her bag.

"What are you so nervous about? I've got your back." Charlotte wrapped an arm around Stella's shoulders, her tone easy, her mouth quirked in a lazy grin. “Let's go find something delicious."

"Sounds perfect.” Stella's smile lit up her whole face. The others glanced over, then exchanged silent looks, wisely keeping their thoughts to themselves. Honestly, none of this surprised them anymore. If anything, they seemed a little too entertained by the drama.

On the other side of the city, Anthony wrapped up a long drone rehearsal and finally had a minute to breathe. He grabbed his phone and rang Charlotte.

No answer on the first try. Anthony's steps slowed. His face looked worn out and more than a little frustrated.

"Charlotte's at The Cabinda University, watching Shirley's competition. She's probably not somewhere she can answer,” Hans piped up, picking up on the tension in Anthony's face and doing his best to smooth things over.

A competition? Even if she couldn't take the call, Charlotte would usually text back, even if it was just a short reply to keep him from worrying. Anthony frowned deeper, pressing his lips together before dialing her again.

After a few seconds, the call went straight to voicemail.

"We're sorry, the number you have dialed is powered off..."

Anthony stopped right where he was. You could almost feel the temperature drop around him. That curt, robotic voice made Hans go pale, nearly losing his balance.

Was Charlotte eutting him off on

purpose? What did Anthony do to set her off? Maybe she was mad because he'd been 'd been so swamped

with the whole proposal thing today that he never called to check on her. That possibility started to make a lot of sense.

Anthony sighed, brow tight, and called Andrew.

No response. Maybe Andrew just didn't dare answer.

Staring at his phone, Anthony gave a helpless sort of smile as he spoke, his voice low and rough. "Get the car.”

“Sir, where to?” Hans asked quietly.

Anthony glanced at the address on his phone's screen-the one Andrew had risked everything to text him. A sly smile curved on Anthony's lips. "I'm going to win my wife back."

On the top floor of The Oak & Vine, Charlotte, Andrew, Stella, Shirley, and Parrish gathered around a table. The conversation swirled around the craziness of the day.

"If Karan hadn't been so shady, this honor would never have fallen to me," Shirley said with a laugh. She took a huge sip of bubble tea that puffed out her cheeks. "Honestly, I got lucky."

"Did they tell you when you'll start?" Stella asked, her voice gentle as she nudged a piece of cake onto

Shirley's plate. As she spoke, she glanced at Andrew across the table; his expression was anything but cheerful.

"Not yet," Shirley replied with a shake of her head. "Mr. Lane said it

depends on what Apex decides. Then she added, "It shouldn't be Long. At the latest I'll have to do at the start of sophomore year."

At that, Stella and Parrish both looked over at Andrew. The semester was nearly over, just a couple of months until sophomore year began. When that day came, Shirley might be gone for three years.