The Upside of Unrequited

32

THERE’S NO REHEARSAL DINNER. THERE’S no rehearsal anything. But all the out-of-town people get here on Saturday night, and it’s actually starting to feel real.

Grandma Betty is at the Marriott, and my Suso grandparents are staying at the bed and breakfast up the road. I think my moms’ college friends are getting in tomorrow morning.

But Abby’s coming tonight. With Nick. And she’s staying at our house.

I set up the air mattress in my room, and Cassie moves her stuff in. I don’t even care that we’ll basically have to sleep on top of each other. It’s the first Suso slumber party in over a year.

The doorbell rings just as we’re putting dinner dishes away, and I catapult into the foyer. I move so quickly, I actually skid across the hardwood.

“Oh my God.” Abby’s in the doorway, jumping up and down.

“You’re here!”

“I’m here! You’re here!” She inhales deeply. “Ahh! You smell like Molly.”

“Wait, is that—”

“It’s a good thing!”

Which makes me think of Reid. And his deodorant. I shouldn’t blush.

“I can’t believe you’re actually here.”

“I’m here. And look who I brought!” She beams, stepping back. “Molly, this is Nick. Nick, Molly.”

It’s funny the way some people look just like their pictures. Like Simon. But Nick is actually cuter in person. Way, way cuter. He has these magnetic brown eyes that don’t entirely translate in photos.

“Hey.” He stands awkwardly in the foyer with a big canvas duffel bag. “Thanks for letting me come to this.”

“Are you kidding? Of course!”

Outside, I hear the beep of the car locking. Moments later, Isaac appears, dragging two suitcases. “Hey, Mo,” he says, practically kneeling to hug me. Isaac is six foot four. No joke. He makes Reid look short.

It occurs to me that he’s a nice height for Olivia.

But no. Nope. She doesn’t want that. Banish the thought.

Nick and Isaac take the bunk beds in Cassie’s room. It’s actually funny, having Abby and Isaac here without their parents. Uncle Albert and Aunt Wanda are staying in Isaac’s studio apartment on U Street—which is honestly a half step up from a frat house.

“What’d your mom think of your flip cup table?” Cassie asks him.

Isaac grins. “Tablecloth and vase of flowers.”

“Genius.”

As soon as Abby shuts my bedroom door, Cassie bursts out with it. “Molly has a—drumroll please—boyfriend.”

“What?” Abby gasps. “Oh my God. You kissed him. Really? Oh my God!”

“I KNOW,” Cassie says. “And she didn’t even tell me.” She flops backward on the air mattress.

“I didn’t tell anyone,” I say.

“Except our moms.”

“I didn’t tell them! They found out.”

“Oh, I’d like to know this story,” Abby says.

“There’s not really a story. Patty heard us.”

Abby and Cassie burst out laughing.

“What?” I ask. I feel myself smiling.

“Heard you doing what?” Abby asks.

THIS AGAIN.

“Not that. God. Talking. Just talking.”

“Sure.”

“Maybe kissing.”

“There you go,” Cassie says. She picks up a pillow, throws it at me, misses, picks it up again, and smacks me.

“Pillow fight!” Abby yells, making her voice super high. “This is the fantasy, right? Should I tell Nick this is happening?”

Cassie nods. “Tell him we’re pouring honey on our boobs.”

Abby laughs, pulling out her phone.

“Wait, seriously? Are you texting him that?” Cassie clambers toward Abby, who smoothly twists away from her. “Wait, let me see.”

“Nope.” Abby grins. “This is confidential.”

“My ass is confidential.”

“Let’s hope so.”

And it’s funny, watching them bicker. It’s like falling backward through time. I feel perfectly content. I don’t even want to talk. I just like being here.

I text Reid. I think you’re going to have to dance with me tomorrow.

Three dots.

Ohhhh no. I don’t dance.

AND YET.

You have NO IDEA how clumsy I am, Molly.

I laugh. I have some idea . . .

My dance moves have actually killed people.

“Look at this one giggling into her phone,” Abby says.

I look up, smiling guiltily—and I catch a sudden glimpse of myself in the mirror across the room.

It’s the weirdest thing. My hair is unbrushed. I’m wearing what may actually be one of Nadine’s maternity shirts. And pajama pants. And there’s a spot of toothpaste in the corner of my mouth.

But for the first time in maybe ever, I feel really beautiful.