Page 26 of What's in a Kiss?

“Take it easy, guys,” Eli says.

Masha adds, “Yeah, tonight’s moreSixteen CandlesthanSaw.”

“Sorry, everyone,” I say, trying to be playful. “Glasswell, behave!”

“What do I have to do, Olivia?” he whispers once Masha and Eli turn away.

What is he talking about? I stare at him, wondering what he means.

Before I can ask, Masha clinks her fork against her flute. “Gather ’round! Bridezilla’s gonnatoast.”

We join her on the couch overlooking the western view. The ocean shimmers golden in the distance, and it’s hard to believe Mash and I were out there fishing only yesterday, cranking tunes and cracking jokes.

If I could go back and redo today, land a different Lyfter out of LAX, and prevent Glasswell from crossing my path until this moment—would I feel less vulnerable?

I sit in the center of the love seat, across from Masha and Eli, forcing Glasswell to take a solo chair. Except he doesn’t. He sits himself next to me, and when his hip nudges mine, he has the nerve to apologize. “Sorry, you weren’t saving this for the chef, were you?”

I scoot over, conserving the energy it takes to brawl with Glasswell. I need to focus on my favorite couple.

Eli holds Masha’s hand and twists her antique ring around her finger. He kisses her shoulder, and it makes her laugh and blush. I love their pet names for each other—Burton and Taylor—and that when Eli’s performance season finishes next year, they’re taking off six months to teach English in Sri Lanka.

My mom has made offhand remarks about how she thinks I idolize their relationship at the expense of my own romances. It isn’t true. I don’t want what they have—their idea of a wild night is wading through a Netflix queue. I don’t think they’re perfect.He’s got a jealous streak, and she has no idea, literally no idea, how to handle trash. But I know each of these two souls has found a worthy partner. And I take pride in having played a small role in bringing their love into the world. Plus, I can’t wait for the babies. I’m going to kiss my godchildren’s cheeks so much they’ll think that’s all life is.

“So listen,” Masha says, holding her flute aloft. “I know we’re saving the formal speeches for the wedding, but I must thank Olivia. For everything.” She beams at me. “BBS, babe.”

“BBS, Mash,” I say and raise my glass.

“Tomorrow,” Masha continues, “some crazy shit might go down. My babushka is threatening to bring her rabbi because our officiant isn’t ‘real.’ But tonight?” She looks at each of us. “It feels good to float inside this bubble of love.”

“I’ll drink to the bubble of love,” Eli says, lifting his spumante flute. “And to Olivia, who planned this party, and who kicked off this love affair ten years ago when she ditched me at senior prom.”

“I sure can pick ’em,” I say as I raise my flute.

“It was an equal opportunity ditching.” Masha laughs, acknowledging Glasswell’s role.

“Well, here we are,” Glasswell says and dutifully lifts his flute aloft. “I couldn’t be happier for you two.”

Since it’s all about your happiness,I think. I can feel myself going off the deep end. I’m in a maze of mirrors, the loser version of me that Glasswell saw earlier today reflected back at me into infinity. He got into the wrong car, at the wrong time, on the wrong day. He saw the wrong version of me.

And I can’t seem to move past it.

I drink, but as I do, I reflect on how much I’ve compartmentalized my prom night humiliation over the years. I thought I’d outgrown it, but it turns out I’d just built a wall around it. I promise myself I’m not going to ruin Masha’s wedding weekend by spiraling now.

A promise I promptly break.

Eli clears his throat. “And I’d like to say thank you to Jake. For making the time to be here this weekend. I know it wasn’t easy.”

When Masha coos her agreement, I can’t help myself. I stick a finger in my ear like I can’t be hearing right.

“What, uh, what do you meannot easy?” I laugh. “I feel like Delta makes first class pretty easy.”

Masha kicks me under the table. When I look at her, she mouths—and not discreetly—Au-ror-a.

I roll my eyes. “We’re supposed to feel bad for him because his girlfriend couldn’t make it?”

“It’s her loss, man,” Eli reassures. “There are many brighter days ahead.”

Does he mean Jake and Aurora broke up?

---