Page 102 of The Plus-One List

“I’ll be right up close to the front,” he promises. “Right where you can see me.”

I can’t speak. I just nod.

A woman dressed in black wearing a headset comes over to me. “Maid of honor?” she says in accented English.

Another nod.

“This way.” She drags me away from Agustín to a small side room. Rachel and the other bridesmaids are already inside, drinking champagne. “El!” Rachel cries, coming over to hug me, her white skirts billowing out around her, her gauzy veil trailing down her back. She looks unbelievably gorgeous.

I flash back to that day in the fitting room of Atelier Unveiled—the day I first heard about the plus-one list. The day I didn’t realize was about to change my life forever.

I clasp Rachel’s hands in mine and try desperately to ignore the other women in the room, and the huge courtyard on the other side of this door, and the fact that I will have to give a speech later.

“Rachel,” I croak. “I’m so happy for you.”

And I am. I really am.

My throat swells up, and I see tears glitter in her eyes.

“We can’t start crying yet,” she teases, but her voice catches.

“No,” I agree.

The woman in black mutters something into her headset. “It’s time,” she says.

The other girls squeal and give Rachel hugs. There are only five of us bridesmaids, and the only one whose name I know is Mandy. She smiles at me and I smile back—today, we’re all on the same team. Rachel takes a deep breath as Mandy hands her the bouquet, a dream of lilies and peonies.

“Let’s do this,” Rachel says.

45Eloise

I do not remember much of the ceremony.

I remember an organ playing. The chapel is smaller than I expected, which is nice. There’s a huge golden altar, with winged angels, and a big painting of the Virgin of Guadalupe. It’s all extremely Catholic and not Rachel. Definitely an Alvarez family decision.

But in the end, the room, the altar, the angels, don’t matter. Rachel’s face is lit up like the sun as she says her vows. Diego looks like he won the freaking lottery, which I appreciate and also totally agree with.

I stand by my best friend’s side, like I’d promised I would. Even with sweat beading at the nape of my neck, and my knees quivering like Jell-O, and my pulse sprinting, I am there for her.

And through it all, Agustín’s face shines through the crowd, right in the second row, like he promised. A beacon keeping me still. Keeping me calm.

“You may now kiss the bride,” the priest says.

Diego dips her low, and we all cheer.

My best friend is married, at last.

46Agustín

As soon as Rachel and Diego walk out of the chapel, to the great cheers of the waiting guests, I find Eloise.

She’s trembling, and a bead of sweat trickles down her temple, but she’s smiling too.

“Oh,” she gasps when she sees me, flinging her arms around my neck. I think partly from relief and partly to steady herself. Her legs buckle, but I’m there to catch her.

“You did great,” I whisper in her ear.

“Well, I didn’t faint,” she whispers back.