Page 84 of The Statistically Unlikely Reunion

My announcement is greeted with silence, because probably, considering an itinerary that includes privately chartered whale watching, helicopter rides, and Jeep-guided tours to Shipwreck Beach and the WWII tanker parked there, no one was expecting I’d suggest a cat nonprofit.

“My roommate’s allergic, so I’ve never considered getting one, but the Lānaʻi Cat Sanctuary is home to over eight hundred homeless and feral cats. It also has⁠—”

Khloe interrupts me, looking pointedly at her slim watch. “Sounds like a great photo op.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the truce-not-truce, Lucas perjures himself shamelessly. “I’ll come with. I love cats.”

Even though I know he’s allergic.

Considering there were already a few paparazzi interested back when it was just one of the Shindler twins getting married to a potential future congressman, it wasn’t hard to generate additional interest. It turns out even non-paparazzi photojournalists want to visit Lānaʻi while calling it a business trip.

As we exit the hotel in our different groups, there are more people than before taking pictures and taking notice.

It’s hard to tell which are sneaky photographers and which are nosy tourists who either saw today’s headlines or just have FOMO.

Either way, it’s more attention than I’ve been used to in my post-Tatum life.

Lucas plants a solid hand on my back as he guides me to a rented Range Rover.

“Don’t tell me Brody’s converted you,” I tease, remembering Brody’s Yellowstone car.

“I had to rent this one, which is surprising given most families keep spares for vacationing, right?”

I’m still smiling as Lucas greets the two other wedding guests who are joining us. He knows far more of Brody’s circle than I do, and I’m comfortable hanging back while Vera goes upstairs for her forgotten sunscreen. (“Because at my age, you’re always forgetting something—the true blessing is remembering while I can still do something about it.”)

And because I’m looking at Lucas and thinking about ways in which we could, maybe, not talk about the past and enjoy a few days here together, I don’t hear Khloe approaching from behind.

“The nostalgia will wear off, you know.”

Now that she’s standing right next to me, I can smell her cloying perfume. I turn and see the wholly inappropriate shawl-jacket she’s wearing over a teeny bralet to go . . . biking.

“The private jokes and the reminiscing about past glory will only get you so far.”

It’s obvious Lucas has evolved from the cute-but-anxious nerd that at least some girls were interested in to Lucas Murray, the tech entrepreneur all the . . . women want. Now that he’s no longer rail-thin, he’s objectively handsome. More than that, it’s clear from the way he still speaks of his family, from the way he’s maintained his friendships, that he’s still kind and honorable and . . . good in a way few people are.

I can see why Khloe would want to stake her claim, can picture the headline now: Best Friends Marry Star Twins. It’s a Christmas card wrapped in a Hallmark movie.

“Lucas and I are just friends now.”

“Sure—but exes on a romantic island together? Especially during an old college buddy’s wedding? I mean, it’s easy to see how Lucas would fall back into old habits, how you might misinterpret.”

It’s obviously spite disguised as concern, and I see no reason to respond.

The truth is that Khloe has nothing to fear from me. Six years ago, I couldn’t stay with Lucas without being a burden. The same is true now.

“You can see your lives are on different trajectories, right?” Khloe continues, her tone slightly harsher. “The pictures will be good for Vi, but I mean, I’ve looked you up. After everyone kept talking about how wonderful you were, and then learning you were engaged to Tatum Huang. You barely have any presence online. The ICPC stuff was years ago, and beyond being decoration for Tatum, you’ve accomplished nothing real. Lucas has been on the cover of Forbes, and Brody is running for Congress.”

Lucas’s back is still to me as he continues chatting with the other two guests. Once upon a time, this level of socialization would have seemed torturous to him. Once upon a time, being upset with me or Brody, or anything, would have necessitated at least an hour of walking and calming down. Now, he recovers almost instantaneously. He has charm he can just . . . turn on.

The elevator doors open and Vera exits, but Khloe isn’t done.

“I’ve known former models who peaked early. They latch themselves onto someone, become a fading ornament. Albatross, the way us plebians usually interpret the word. Anchor.”

And even though she’s not here, I hear my mother’s voice: The tuó shuāi jiā.

And my father’s as well: I’m the money-losing commodity. I embody... wasted potential.

As Vera approaches, Khloe pats me on the shoulder as if she hasn’t just gouged at every single doubt I’ve held about myself over the years.