Page 36 of What's in a Kiss?

Out of curiosity, I nod, and Glasswell puts a beautiful Montblanc pen into my hand. I glance at its inscription.Olivia Dusk, Zombie Hospital.

Zombie Hospital? As in the TV drama where exhausted, lovelorn doctors operate on the undead? Masha and I are addicted toZombie Hospital, mostly because of its leading man, Miguel Bernardeau. But I’m not so big a fan I’d shell out for a fancy pen... right?

The girl fishes into her purse and pulls out a receipt. “Can you make it out to Janelle and writeFollow your dreams?”

Glasswell gives me his shoulder to write on, and in a bewildered daze, I do. When I hand the receipt back to Janelle, a smile fills her face.

“TYSM!” She beams and bounds away.

“Glasswell,” I say. “What the howling heap of hell was that?”

Instead of answering, he puts his arms out to dance with me again. I see Masha’s parents, Yulia and Lev, a few couples over. I steer Glasswell toward them, until I can catch Yulia’s eye. As soon as I do, I smile, ready to fall into the firm hug she’s beengiving me since elementary school. But when Masha’s mother glances back at me, there’s only cold vacancy in her eyes.

I suck in my breath.

“Yulia.” My voice is intimate, laced with years of sleepovers and dinners. I need Masha’s mother to validate my existence. She’s a central character in the story of my life.

“Beautiful wedding, isn’t it?” she says to me stiffly, then with a smile, “Hello, Jake.”

Glasswell leans in to kiss Yulia, then to shake hands with Lev, who ignores me completely.

“I’m so happy for Mash—” I start to say.

“Everyone’s been civilized.” Yulia gives me a pointed look. “So far.”

Glasswell swoops me away.

“Was that dig aimed atme?” I say to him. “Because that felt like—wait, there’s Masha. Almost alone.”

It’s time to go straight to the source. I pull away from Glasswell and beeline for the far side of the tent. For my best friend, my BBS.

She’s taking a sweet picture with her niece Adora, the flower girl, but as soon as she turns away, I open my mouth—

Masha serves me the hand with a side of death glare. “No.”

I sputter. “No... what?”

“No to you. No to this.”

“Masha!” My voice cracks with emotion.

“This ismyday, Olivia,” she says, her tone ferocious, non-negotiable. “You were invited because Eli is loyal to Jake, but you’re not going to make my wedding day about you.”

“I would never—” I break off and look at Masha’s familyclosing in around her. They look protective, wary. And not surprised.

“Why is everyone acting like this?”

“Because we know what to expect from you.”

“Olivia has an early call tomorrow,” Glasswell says, taking my arm, “we should probably get going—”

Since when does Glasswell speak for me in fights with my best friend? Since when do I have two fights with my BBS in the space of twenty-odd hours?

“This is all his fault,” I point at Glasswell, who shakes his head at me.

He leans close. “No one’s going to get that joke. Let’s go—”

“Hold on,” I say, “we’re talking.”

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