“Of course you didn’t,” I say. “You never do. You still have no idea that your actions have consequences.”
“Don’t talk to me about consequences,” Joanna says. “You don’t know the first thing about responsibility.” She turns to me. I want to slap her, or scream, but my hands and face feel frozen.
“You’re wrong,” I say.
“Whatever,” Joanna says. “I have to go get married.”
And with that, she yanks open the door and disappears into the hallway.
I was so stupid. My sister was there, after the premiere, in the other room. She overheard everything I said to Cassandra. And she knew about Jake. I can’t believe I ever thought she had changed. I can’t believe I started to think that for one moment she might have considered that the universe does not spin solely around her.
And then, all at once, I feel a rush of guilt so strong, it eclipses even the anger. How could I have doubted Cassandra? I’d let myself wonder if my best friend sold me out.
I make my way downstairs. My sister is being sequestered in our parents’ room. Guests are starting to arrive.
I look outside. I’m greeted by relatives and friends of my parents. They all want to congratulate and kiss me. I feel dazed. Worse than I do with flashbulbs on a red carpet. Where is Cassandra?
Funny how just a few minutes ago I was scared of seeing her. What I would say. How I would deal with feeling so guarded around her, not sure if she ratted me out. But now I just want to talk to her, hug her, make it right.
“Yo, Patrick!”
I turn around to see the two of them—Jake and Cassandra. He’s wearing a suit, and she has on her yellow dress with white polka dots. They look so warm and familiar, I immediately feel my throat constrict.
And then I throw my arms around both their necks. “Whoa,” Cassandra coughs out into my ear. “Careful with the grip. What kind of protein powder are they feeding you out there?”
I pull back and take them in—smiling widely.
“Dude,” Jake says. “I can’t believe your sister is getting married.”
“Annabelle is almost three,” Cassandra says. “Believe.”
I walk with them up the aisle to seats on the right-hand side in a middle row.
Jake goes in first, but Cassandra keeps standing.
“Hey…,” she says, cautiously.
“Hi. Listen, I’m sorry about the last few weeks. Things have just been—”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to explain.”
“No, I do,” I say. “I want to.”
“Okay, but me first.”
I laugh. Cassandra’s patience hasn’t improved over the years. “Shoot.”
“My parents are taking me to Cabo—finally!—and Jake was supposed to come, but he wants to do a Habitat trip that week. I know your schedule is crazy, and you might have to leave—”
“I’m in.”
Cassandra stops, mouth open. “Really?”
“Yeah,” I say. “I seriously cannot think of anything I’d rather do than lie on the beach with you for a week.”
“Four days,” she says, but she’s already moving to hug me, and then she starts squealing in my ear. “We have so much to catch up on.”
“You have no idea,” I say, holding tight.
