Page 76 of Last Night Was Fun

“Piper, chill out. I’m coming,” she protested when her sister nearly pulled her arm from its socket. “Where is Ben sleeping if you’re kicking him out?”

“I don’t know, with his brother. Or with your boyfriend. He’ll figure it out.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

Piper let out a loud, drunken honk and cackled. “Okay, Emmy. Whatever you say.”

When they made it to the villa’s walkway, Piper pulled her along the path. She stopped at the door and turned around to face Emmy. Her face was suddenly sobered. “Emmy, the truth is, I’m getting married tomorrow, and I feel like tonight is the last night I’m a kid, so I want to spend it with you.”

There on the doorstep of a seaside Mexican villa under a full moon, Emmy’s heart cracked wide open. Her tears returned, and she threw her arms around her sister.

“I love you, Piper.”

Piper stiffened in surprise, unused to her emotionally reserved sister being so open, but she quickly softened and wrapped her arms around her. “I love you too, Em. Thank you for being here. And for fixing everything. Sorry I took you away from your boyfriend tonight.”

Emmy pulled back and wiped her eyes as she rolled them. “He’s not my boyfriend.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” Piper said, and booped her on the nose.

Inside, they got ready for sleep. Emmy borrowed a tee to sleep in and used a spare toothbrush from the hotel. They were settled into the same bed, facing each other like they used to when they’d stay up late and swap secrets as kids, when Emmy felt an overwhelming need to tell her sister something.

The moment Piper had interrupted between her and Gabe was one of the realest things Emmy had ever felt, and telling Piper the truth about him would make everything real. And there in the dark, bundled in a king-size princess bed sharing air with her lifelong confidante, she wanted it to be real.

“Pipes, I have to tell you something,” she whispered.

“Hmm?” Piper sleepily hummed.

Emmy was suddenly ten years old again with her head on her sister’s pillow.

“GabeisTexting Guy.”

Piper pulled in a tiny, sharp breath. “What? Really?”

“Yes. We had no idea until the other day. Ididinvite Texting Guy to the wedding, and it turned out to be him. We were both completely shocked. Isn’t that wild?”

Emmy chewed her lip, waiting for her sister’s judgment. Thepounding in her chest made her realize how important knowing what Piper thought of the situation was to her.

“No, that’s... perfect,” Piper said on a dreamy exhale. “You’re perfect. Good night, Em.”

Emmy closed her eyes and fell asleep with a smile.

Chapter14

In the morning, Emmy woke to a firm swat on her butt. She peeled open her eyes to see her sister hanging over her with a half-deranged grin and pink jelly stickers beneath her shining eyes.

“Wake up! I’m getting married today!” Piper bellowed and shoved off the bed. She ran out of the room barefoot with her silky white bridal robe fluttering in her wake.

Emmy sat up with a groan but couldn’t deny the excitement bubbling in her heart.

“Breakfast is coming in twenty minutes, and the girls will be here at ten!” Piper shouted from the kitchen, where Emmy heard the distinct pop of a champagne bottle.

She’d just swung her bare legs over the bed’s edge when Piper reappeared with two champagne flutes blushing pale orange.A dash for colorwas how Piper had always preferred the orange juice in her mimosas.

“Good morning,” Emmy greeted when Piper handed her a flute.

“Good morning. Cheers.” Piper clinked her glass and sipped.

Emmy sipped the fizzy bubbles and smiled. “Happy wedding day.”