“I still haven’t decided if that’s either incredibly romantic or incredibly creepy.”
“I’d hate to say it, but it might both. I heard it after I said it—but it’s all true.”
We reach our suite. Julian holds the door for me—257 years of gentleman training on full display—and I slip inside, already reaching for my phone.
The messages are exactly what I expected.
SAGE: HOW WAS THE REHEARSAL DINNER
SAGE: Did your mom behave
SAGE: Did PRESTON behave
SAGE: More importantly did YOUR VAMPIRE BOYFRIEND behave
SAGE: I can’t believe I just typed that sentence with a straight face
SAGE: Actually I didn’t type it with a straight face
SAGE: I’m sitting here grinning like an idiot because my best friend is living a romcom that might be a paranormal romance
SAGE: ANSWER ME POPPY
I kick off my heels—finally—and sink into the couch, tucking my legs beneath me.
ME: The dinner was... eventful.
The response is immediate.
SAGE: EVENTFUL???
SAGE: Define eventful
SAGE: Good eventful or bad eventful
SAGE: “Someone made a passive-aggressive toast” eventful or “vampires attacked” eventful
ME: The first one. Mom gave a speech that was basically “Violet is perfect and Poppy exists,” but then we had a really nice moment together.
ME: Preston gave a speech that was basically saying “Serenity is so much better than my last girlfriend,” and “I see through performances unlike SOME people.”
SAGE: Ugh! What is wrong with him
SAGE: What did Julian do
ME: He gave his own speech. Defended me. Defended influencing. Made Preston look like a smug hypocrite.
SAGE: I love him
SAGE: I mean I know he’s YOURS and also possibly UNDEAD but I love him
ME: Speaking of love...
ME: I have fallen for him 100%
SAGE: No doubts
ME: None
