Page 88 of Atlas Uncharted

She looked up suddenly. “You nervous?” she asked.

I shook my head. “No.” And I wasn’t. This wasn’t my first book signing. It wasn’t even my first as a best-selling author.

She smirked like she knew exactly what I was thinking. “You should be proud of yourself. You got another bestseller. You got the man. The kid. The ring. The success. The peace.”

“I guess you’re right,” I nodded.

I picked up my lipstick, slowly dragging the deep red across my lips, watching her out of the corner of my eye.

“I just saw on Instagram, they’re talking about Ashlen.”

“So?” I rebutted.

“You ever think about that night?” she asked casually.

I stilled for half a second, but I recovered fast, walking over to grab a bobby pin from my dresser.

“I try not to dwell on the past, sis. That’s how people get caught up.”

She smirked. “Caught up in what?”

“Exactly,” I laughed.

“No regrets?”

I snorted, shaking my head. “I don’t regret shit.”

Ebony grinned. “Me neither.”

Silence stretched between us for a moment. The weight of unspoken things settled into the space, comfortable and unshakable.

I finished with my lipstick and pressed my lips together, blotting the excess. “Time to go.”

Ebony grabbed her bag, heading for the door.

I gave myself one final look, smoothed my hands down my dress, and smiled.

Everything was exactly as it should be.

The End