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“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