Page 101 of Kiss Slay Replay

“Don’t insult my home state. It can be trashy but it doesn’t smell like trash,” I say. “And answer my question. Please.”

He shrugs. “This is what ten thousand dollars’ worth of flowers smells like.”

“Ten thousand?” Luke asks.

“Shush,” Cassie says, gently elbowing him.

“At least,” Wyatt says.

Ravi stands in the center arch, a manicured hand stroking the back of his neck, pretty fingers winding through his curls. Tanya.

I could go over now. Maybe I should. Maybe a polite hello would fix everything, set it all right. You haven’t exactly been friendly, either, Ravi said when I confronted him about giving me the cold shoulder. He asked me to give him time.

All I have is today.

“You sure you’re okay? Should we get a drink?” Cassie asks, tugging on my hand.

“Um…yeah. Let’s do that.” What difference does it make, really, if I have a drink before the polite hello?

—

The hour gets away from me. A drink turns into two. Our clique sequesters on a set of couches; we talk among ourselves. I lose track of Ravi and Tanya, where they are in the crowd. I spot Danny arriving late, getting swept into the sea of guests. Vicky and Olivia having what is likely the most insufferable conversation of all time—probably about Italy.

I’m about to let myself off the hook when there he is. Alone. At the bar.

Ravi.

He hasn’t seen me in weeks, but I saw him a today ago.

What do I have to lose?

I slink away from my friends without saying a word. I walk over to the bar, my hands still shaking, my legs unsteady. My body holds every today inside it, the experiences remaining in the ache of my muscles, enduring in the way my shoulders meet my ears, my posture defensive, my senses on high alert. I slow my breathing and try to relax.

Ravi turns. He sees me.

I see you.

I swear, time stops.

Tick, tock.

His voice in my head, as the zombies beat down the door.

There are no other timelines. No alternate universes. There’s only this.

I look up, and for a split second, the sky goes dark.

Get out of my head. Let me go. Let me go.

“Hi. I’m Willa,” I say, reaching out to shake his hand.

He stares at my hand, furrows his brow.

“I’m trying to break the tension with a bit,” I say.

“This is a bit?”

“I’m reintroducing myself.”