Maddy glanced instinctively toward the floor, as though she could see through it. ‘They’ve just carried on.’
‘Of course they have,’ Eva said. ‘Free alcohol and formal wear? They’ll be there all night.’
‘It was supposed to be my wedding,’ Maddy said.
Eva softened slightly. ‘It still can be.’
Maddy looked back at her sharply. ‘Can it?’
‘I think…’ Eva stopped, reconsidered. ‘I think there’s a version of today that still ends with you married, yes.’
‘To Adam.’
Eva didn’t answer. She was not sure how to go on. This was crazy. All of this was crazy.
Eva stepped closer again, not quite touching her, but close enough that she could feel the warmth of Maddy. ‘Maddy. What doyouwant to happen today?’
Maddy’s eyes dropped. ‘I don’t know,’ she admitted. ‘I thought I did. I really thought I did. It was simple. It was good. Adam is good for me.’
Eva didn’t agree with that. But it wasn’t the time to take a pickaxe to Adam. She wasn’t competing with him for Maddy. Eva wanted to… she didn’t know what she wanted, actually. She was still teetering on the brink.
‘But then…you,’ Maddy sighed.
Eva wanted to kiss Maddy very badly. But she wouldn’t. Not now. There were enough complications without her ending up taking the bride on a landing.
‘I didn’t mean forthatto happen,’ Eva said after a moment.
‘I know.’
‘I reallydidn’t,’ Eva added. ‘I don’t do this. Not ever, and certainly not in the middle of someone else’s wedding.’
Maddy’s mouth quirked despite herself. ‘Well, that’s very comforting.’
Another cheer rose from below. Someone started clapping in rhythm.
‘God, they’re going to start dancing,’ Maddy muttered.
‘There’s probably an uncle warming up as we speak,’ Eva said.
Maddy let out a small laugh, then immediately pressed her lips together like she wasn’t allowed to find any of this funny.
‘This is a disaster,’ she said.
‘Yes,’ Eva agreed.
‘My wedding is collapsing in stages.’
‘Also, yes.’
‘And I’m standing here, having this conversation instead of literally anything else I’m supposed to be doing.’
Eva looked at her. Maddy looked back.
‘What am I supposed todo?’ Maddy demanded.
Eva hesitated. She always had an answer. She always knew what to do. But now…
‘I don’t know,’ she said quietly and honestly.
