"Same skill set. Both involve managing people's poor life choices."
Camilla reaches over and squeezes my hand. "You sure you're okay?"
"I'm sure. Now let's go celebrate the fact that Jay somehow convinced you to say yes."
The energyat Sonder tonight is different—charged, almost electric.
They're doing an eighties and nineties throwback night, and the entire bar is drowning in nostalgia. Depeche Mode, The Cure, New Order—the kind of music that makes everyone feel something even if they don't know why.
We find a table in the back, and Camilla orders shots before I can even sit down.
"To new beginnings," Marcus says, raising his glass.
"To getting rid of cheating assholes," Camilla adds with a wink.
"To surviving another day in this chaos," I finish.
We throw them back, tequila burning warm.
Camilla sets her glass down, then looks at us with nervous excitement.
"So," she starts, fidgeting with her ring. "I wanted to ask you both something. Now that it's official and we're actually planning this thing..."
"Oh god," Marcus says dramatically. "She's going to make us wear matching outfits, isn't she?"
"Shut up," Camilla laughs. "I want you both in my bridal party. You're my people. I can't imagine standing up there without you."
After everything—ending my engagement, the confrontation with Wes, whatever is happening with Nate—being asked to stand beside my best friend feels like a reminder that good things still exist.
"Are you kidding?" I grab her hand. "Of course. I'd be honored."
Marcus nods enthusiastically. "Obviously yes. But I have questions about the dress code because if you put me in a tux that doesn't fit right, I will complain the entire time."
"You're in charge of all the tuxes," Camilla says. "If I left that up to Jay, everyone would be wearing shorts and hoodies down the aisle."
We all laugh.
"Speaking of disasters," Marcus says, turning to me. "How are you doing? Like, actually?"
I take a long sip of my vodka soda. "Define 'doing.'"
"Wes hasn't tried contacting you again, has he?" Camilla asks, concern creasing her brow.
"Oh, he did better than that." I set down my drink. "He showed up at the cabin this morning."
Marcus's mouth falls open. "He WHAT?"
Alex straightens in his seat. “Please tell me you documented everything."
“Yeah, he just showed up. Unannounced."
"That fucking—" Camilla starts, but I hold up a hand.
"It gets better. When he grabbed my arm.—"
The table goes silent.
"He grabbed you?" Marcus's voice has gone dangerously quiet.
