Girl Get Rid Of That Jerk by Melissa Johns

Chapter 497

They leaned side by side against the ship's railing, letting the cool ocean breeze tangle their hair. Carolyn raised her wine glass and tapped it gently against Allison's. The clink rang out, sharp and clear in the night air.

Carolyn took a long sip. Her cheeks were flushed-she'd had more than enough to drink tonight, and she was definitely tipsy.

She patted Allison's shoulder, her voice a little unsteady but sincere. "Allie, I'm really sorry about what happened earlier. Tessa's the one who marked that card. She did it on purpose. I swear, I had no idea. It wasn't my idea, and I never would've agreed to it."

Allison sipped her wine, smiling. "Honestly? For a second, I did wonder about you. But when you called Tessa out in front of everyone, that cleared things up for me. I believe you."

Carolyn let out a soft laugh. "I figured you would."

The party was long over, the rest of the guests already tucked away in their rooms. Only the sounds of the waves and wind were left.

Carolyn tucked a wild strand of hair behind her ear, her lips curling into a gentle smile. "To you and Joshua-may you two last forever." Her words were warm and real.

"Thank you." Allison looked her in the eye. "But I have to ask-you were so

determined to keep Joshua and me in separate rooms at first. What changed your mind tonight?"

gave a half-shrug, almost laughing at herself. "I finally saw the truth, I guess. And I

the wind pull her hair back. Her voice

to keep you apart because I was jealous. I didn't want you two together. Back then, I still

was pulled out of the water, Joshua didn't just let it go. He had

surprised. "I had

got what he deserved,"

then continued. "But what really made me give up was that game we played

sounded distant, lost

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that before. He's always had girls confessing to him. There was

dare. A girl told him she liked

Allison's curiosity showed in her

small, wry laugh. "He just looked at her and said,

never talked to her