Ah, right.
And you?
I look up. We’re standing in front of the Inn. There’s a kind of fountain surrounding a large fire. The glow of the flames is reflected in the building’s warm glass walls. It looks decadent and cozy at the same time. Luxurious in that subtle,Aspen-likeway.
At the Inn.
I’ll be over there soon.He adds two heart emojis, and I smile at my display.
Is Jason Hawk there too?I ask.
Yeah.A spooky GIF of the Cheshire Cat appears right after. I laugh out loud. Gwen, Levi, and Aaron look at me questioningly. I wave them off but follow behind them while continuing to stare at my phone.How so?
I want to meet him, I write.I’m such a huuuge fan.
Knox replies:.
I answer:You just sent me a period.
I came across the button while pushing him down the pipe.
I bite my lower lip.But, but,I write.?
He’s lying on the ground, Paisley. He’s not moving.
But, but.
It is what it is.
He sends me a GIF of a dancing pig in a gold sequin dress.
While I’m looking for a suitable GIF to answer with, Gwen grabs my phone out of my hand.
“Enough,” she says. “We’re attheparty of the year, and you arenotgoing to spend it with your head bent over your phone.”
We’re almost at the door, which is flanked by two men in dark suits. I wink.
“You said that this was real informal, Gwen.”
“I did not.” She digs about in her handbag and pulls out a pair of heels. They are so high—I swear, in just two minutes I’d have two broken bones.
“You said there’d be good beer. Thatimpliessomething informal.”
“Otherwise you wouldn’t have come,” Aaron says while pushing me to the side in order to make room for a group of women moving toward the entrance.
“And now I’m coming with you?”
“Yeah,” Gwen says.
“No.”
Levi sighs. “You can’t say no. You’re already in front of the door.”
I purse my lips and have a quick look at myself. Winter boots flecked with white because they’re old and I never had enough money to get them winter-proofed, black skinny jeans, and my down jacket, beneath which I’m wearing my baggy wool sweater.
“They’ll never let me in. Oh my God, Gwen,what is that?”
Gwen starts and stumbles in her heels. “What?”
