I take the world’s longest sip of champagne, set down the glass on the bar top, and head for the dance floor, only slightly wobbly.
I tap Shawna firmly on the shoulder and challenge her to a dance-off.
Okay, no. The champagne hasn’t hit me fast enough to be that confident in my dancing ability. I vaguely recall my mom telling me that Shawna did dance team in high school.
My target is the person on the dance floor who actually does exude that kind of confidence, despite her rather unorthodox movement technique.
I grab Kira’s hand with a dramatic flourish and she bursts out laughing. She immediately asks me to dip her. I comply, barely keeping my footing because shecommits—letting herself go completely limp in my arms. She requests other moves: I spin her around, pull her through my legs, dip her about seven more times. We do every viral dance she can remember—sometimes being chronically online pays off.
When the song ends, I find myself looking around the edge of the dance floor for Nick. Instead, my eyes connect with Shawna’s. Maybe I’m imagining things, but I swear there’s some kind of knowing expression on her face.
When the song ends, she leans close to Nick, says something I can’t quite hear, pats him on the back, and leaves the tent.
I must have intimidated her with the Tootsie Slide.
Nick makes his way over to us. “Everything okay?” I ask, twirling Kira again.
“Yeah. I think Shawna was a little…confused.” He lets outa huge sigh. “I told her I’m not available,” he says. “Because I’m in a new relationship. And it’s kind of promising.”
Kira attacks him with a bear hug, demanding to be dipped.
“Kind of?”
“It would probably be more promising if we weren’t sneaking around behind her mother’s back like fifteen-year-olds,” he whispers. His tone is amused, but there’s a serious undercurrent that gives me pause. “I need to get Kira over to Nora’s.”
“We’re going to King’s Island tomorrow,” Kira says. “Mom, Dad, Grandma, Auntie Zoey—”
“You didn’t mention that,” I say.
We’re still in the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by twinkle lights and sentimental music. But instead of Nick holding me in his arms and rocking side to side, I’m picturing him taking pictures at an amusement park with his ex-wife’s family in front of the Beast roller coaster.
“Kira really likes when everyone’s together,” he says. “Come over later tonight if you’re not too tired?”
“Maybe. I should probably find my mom…”
Shawna and Christinawork fast.
“How long have you been lying to me?”
Mom corners me outside the bridal suite as I’m leaving the women’s restroom.
“What?” I’m a little less steady than I was an hour ago.
“About Nick. Christina is my colleague. Do you have any idea how embarrassed Shawna is? How humiliatedIfeel right now? Being the last person to know about my own daughter?”
“Mom, that wasn’t—”
“On mywedding day?”
“It happened after you came up with this whole setup scheme,” I say.
“ ‘Scheme?’ I saw two people in the same stage of life who I thought might hit it off.”
“And I was afraid to tell you—”
“You suddenly took an interest in the neighborafterI told you about Shawna?” She tilts her head, scanning my face, like she’s looking for a key piece of evidence. “Did you do this on purpose?”
“What? No! It just happened. And I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d blow up at me and say it’s a bad idea. Which is exactly what’s happening right now.”
