Page 2 of Kiss Slay Replay

“It’s going to suck for a while, Willa. Until it doesn’t.”

I stumble over to the wall, put my back against it. Slide down to the floor. “What if it sucks forever?”

“Then it sucks forever.” There’s rustling in the background. She’s multitasking. Cleaning, probably. “But it’s not gonna. Everything is temporary. Good and bad.”

“Good? What is this gah-uhd of which you speak? Never heard of it. Unfamiliar.”

“Willa.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“Look. You’re doing it,” she says. “It’s happening. You’re in it. You’re in the suck. Only way out is through.”

“Or,” I say, hugging my knees tight to my chest, “or I can turn around and go back. Retreat, retreat.”

“It’s too late for that. And what story worth telling starts with a retreat?”

“Oof. You’re right.”

“I love you. You’re gonna get through it. And I get to see you so soon! We’re all gonna be together.”

“Keyword ‘all.’ Including my ex.”

She sighs again. She is a world-class sigher. So full of emotion. Of pure exasperation. “You had the opportunity to veto.”

“I wasn’t going to have him disinvited to the wedding. That puts Steph and Jace in a weird spot. I don’t know. I feel like I’m already the villain.”

“Villain? Really? Villain. That’s a little—”

“Dramatic? Have we met? Have we been friends for fifteen years?”

“Fifteen? Don’t round up on me. How dare you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“We’ve been friends for thirteen years. Thirteen. Next month, actually. Aww.”

“Lucky me. Lucky you.”

“Lucky us,” she says. “I really do love you, Willa Ann Sullivan. And I know you’ll get through this. Go watch something extremely messed up. Go watch a murder show. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Nothing gives you perspective like a true crime doc. And if that’s too real, a nice classic slasher bloodbath. Or a creature feature will do the trick. Giant monsters. Haunted real estate. Aliens. You know that’s what I do when I’m hanging off a cliff.”

“I have always envied your grip strength.”

“Take my advice.”

“I did! I’ve told you. All I watch lately is horror.”

“You’re still in the kiddie pool. You need to come over to the deep end.”

“Let me get my floaties on. Jeez.”

“I’m sending you another list of recs. Trust me. You’ll find them all surprisingly soothing. A reminder it could always be worse.”

“Worse? I don’t think so.”

“Okay, that’s it!” she says, faking outrage. “I’m hanging up!”

“Noooo!”