“What did you just say?" I asked.
“Alex is your cousin," Charlotte repeated slowly.
The second time she said it, my heart stilled. I heard her for the first time. I just couldn't believe what she was saying.
“Alex?" I asked. “My best friend Alex?"
They nodded their heads, again watching me as if I were about to bolt.
“Alex?" I repeated. “Redhead Alex?"
They nodded again and shared a worried glance. I couldn't contain the laugh of disbelief that left my mouth.
“We understand that you're shocked," he said, sharing another glance with my mother.
Shocked didn't even begin to cover what I felt. The person I was closest to in the entire world, the very same girl I shared almost every day of my childhood with. They were telling me we were blood-related.
Not only blood-related, but she
