Chapter 110. Aladdin Cosplay: pt. 1

I’ve been buzzing about this cosplay thing with Luca for weeks. Ever since Mom announced the family vacation to Disneyland, we’ve been texting non-stop, plotting every detail. “Sash, you’re gonna kill it as Jasmine,” he’d message me late at night, his words popping up with those fire emojis that made my stomach flip a little. Not in a weird way—Luca’s my stepbrother, after all—but there’s always been this playful energy between us, like we’re in on some secret joke the rest of the world doesn’t get. He’s 24 now, all grown up with that easy grin and those broad shoulders from his gym obsession, but to me, he’s still the guy who snuck me candy when our parents weren’t looking.

We’d video call, him holding up sketches of Aladdin’s vest, me twirling in front of the camera with fabric swatches for my outfit. “Imagine the pics we’ll get,” I’d say, laughing as I struck a pose. “Private story only—none of that family-friendly crap.” Luca would chuckle, deep and teasing. “Yeah, keep it