Page 182 of Never Not Friends

“I get it.” Vinny shrugs. “There are always consequences to every choice. I’m man enough to accept whatever they are.”

“Can the guys get together on their own?” Nate asks.

Carly laughs. “Sure, if that’s what you want to do.”

“Would it be alright if we invite Shane too?” Hess looks at me. “I really liked him.”

“Uh, that would probably be awkward for Vinny,” Camila says.

Hess laughs. “Why would it be awkward for Vinny? He’s the one that got the girl in the end?”

“I did not come here when I’m so busy at work to plan out your boys’ night out.” Blair dismisses the men. “I want to know what the fallout was with Juliet.”

“I’ve only talked to her once since the wedding,” I say. “I text her all the time, but she doesn’t ever answer me back. Obviously, she’s still pretty upset and hurt.”

“Yeah, but she’s doing okay,” Carly adds. “I just talked to her the other day, and she likes her new dental office in Peoria. She loves the girls she works with. I wouldn’t say she’s over all of it, but she’s doing better than I expected.”

Camila nods. “We’ve texted a little too, and I agree. She’s going to be okay. She’s moving on.”

“I’m glad you guys have been reaching out to her.” I smile at them. “She needs friend support right now.”

“I haven’t reached out to her.” Blair shrugs. Then she notices all of us looking at her. “What? I was out of the country. Like I said, I’m busy.”

“Well, one thing is for certain,” Carly says, ignoring Blair. “Juliet did tell me she doesn’t regret stopping the wedding. She said there were things about their relationship she’d been questioning for a long time. But she’s still mad at Emma for not saying something beforehand and avoiding all the wedding drama.”

“I should’ve.” I shrug. “I just didn’t know how.”

“We get it.” Carly gives me a sympathetic smile. “It was a messy situation. I might’ve done the same thing if I were in your shoes.”

“Is she mad that you two got together so soon after the wedding?” Nate asks. “You waited two weeks, right?”

My shoulders lift. “She told me she didn’t care what Vinny and I did, but I don’t know if I believe her.”

Blair sits up taller. “She shouldn’t be mad. Vinny and Juliet are over, and these two have serious history.” She gestures between us. “Is there really some magic amount of time that everyone expects them to wait just out of politeness? Them being together is going to hurt Juliet no matter what. So why prolong the inevitable?” She lifts her glass for dramatics. “I say, all is fair in love and war.”

“I did think about waiting more time than we did. But that’s what I’ve always done. I’ve put what I wanted aside for Juliet’s happiness, and it made a mess out of everything. So I decided not to do that anymore.” I look at Vinny. “I know it looks fast. Maybe it is fast. But I love him. I’ve been waiting for twelve years to be with him. I don’t want to wait anymore.”

That’s when Vinny leans in and kisses me.

“Does that not freak anyone else out?” Hess’s eyes go wide.

“Awwww.” Carly smiles. “I think it’s adorable!”

I break the kiss and hide my face in Vinny’s shoulder.

But I’m not actually embarrassed.

I’m deliriously happy.

And I’m glad my friends are here to see it.

Hopefully, someday, Juliet will be back at this table with us too.

EMMA

My hands move as fast as my brain works.

The card game is not called Speed! for nothing.