Nico’s smile is tight when he looks back at May. “He said he’d meet us here. Had to check something on the roof for the ceremony.”
I whip my head back to her face just in time to see a crack in her perfect, unflappable expression.
She bites her lip.
“I’ll go get him,” I declare.
“I’m going with her,” Nico loftily proclaims.
“No.” I put a hand up in thehaltposition. “I have to go to my room to get my clutch, too?—”
Nico raises his eyebrows.
“Definitelyno. Then we will all be very late for photos.”
“That sounds like a challenge,” he whispers.
“It’s not. It’s a fact.”
“I should inform you,” he says, deadly serious now, “that I am extremely competitive. Mathletes, remember? Science Olympiad? Speed, time?—”
I bolt. “Stay away from me, nerd!”
His laughter echoes behind me.
I start on the roof patio where the ceremony’s being held, but I don’t find him. What I do find is… well, magic.
The whole rooftop has been transformed into a kind of floral dreamscape. The arch is massive, built entirely of blush and cream flowers, vines twisting together. There are tiny white flowers woven into the backs of the chairs. Gauzy drapes floatin the breeze, soft and translucent and impossibly elegant. Everything is delicate and romantic and expensive in a subtle, effortless way. I definitely don’t take notes.
a rooftop in bloom?—
so soft it nearly shatters.
love tucked
into every petal,
every ribbon of wind.
an altar at the edge of sky.
forever
doesn’t feel so far.
Nice, Annie, I compliment myself.
I clock the string quartet tuning near the glass railing, their instruments gleaming like jewels in the sun. The wedding planner is crouched next to them.
“Looks perfect,” I call out, flashing her a thumbs-up. “Did you see Tom?”
She shakes her head, distracted.
Of course not. Probably snuck off to the bar for some overpriced scotch to center his soul. Whatever. I spin around and hop into the elevator, punching the button for my floor.
As the doors open, I’m greeted by the rhythmicbang, bang, bangof something heavy slamming against drywall. I freeze. It’s the door across the hall, vibrating like it’s about to shake off its hinges. Then, a high, breathy moan echoes through the corridor.
My brows lift. Damn. Get it, girl.
