Page 110 of Never Not Friends

I nod to the living room. “You better get in there. See if you won. I’ll be there in a second. I just want to put out a little more fruit in case people want some before they leave.”

Camila obeys, giving me a few minutes alone in the kitchen. By the time I make it back out there, Juliet is standing, thanking everyone for coming.

“I also need to thank my very best friend.” Her eyes swing to me, and I feel the enormous weight of her stare. “Emma.” That smile. So genuine. So unaware of every feeling I’ve been hiding from her all these years. “Thank you for throwing me the best bridal shower. You’ve been the most amazing maid of honor, and I don’t know what I would’ve done without you the last few weeks.”

I can’t respond.

Because I don’t feel like the most amazing maid of honor or best friend.

Before this morning, I had a solid plan.

I just needed to endure the wedding. Move on from Vinny. And date Shane.

That plan is no longer enough.

If I’m not careful, I’ll turn out to be the villain in Juliet’s story.

And that can’t happen.

I need to protect my best friend at all costs.

No more being alone with Vinny.

No more private conversations talking about the past.

More than ever, I’m all about Shane now.

Because loving Vinny when he didn’t want me was painful.

But loving him when I know he might feel something too is disastrous.

VINNY

“I can’t believe I waited until the last minute to finalize our wedding slideshow.” Juliet’s sitting on the floor, her back against the couch as she flips through pictures on her phone, but since it’s connected to the TV, I can see them too. “Technically, this whole wedding is last minute, so I guess it’s just how it is.”

“Yeah.” I force a smile.

That’s what I’ve been doing the last few days. The equivalent of just smile and wave.

I did it Saturday night when Juliet was showing me every present we got from the bridal shower. And again, yesterday, at my bachelor party, which really was just lunch and golfing with Nate, Hess, and a few guys from work.

I’m present, but not really present.

Like how I’m here right now, sitting on the couch, but not really invested in our wedding slideshow.

I just can’t get my head right.

One minute, I’m standing in the kitchen with Emma, fighting for my life not to do something stupid both of us would regret. And the next, I’m with Juliet, planning out wedding details.

I’m on this weird emotional rollercoaster, and I desperately want off.

The story of my life has always been pretty simple. Emma ended us. Juliet pursued me. And then I stayed with her because I love her.

Except, one conversation with Emma somehow made none of it simple anymore.

Now I keep replaying everything.

What would’ve happened if I’d known the truth when we were fifteen?