She beamed. “Yup.”
He squeezed me likeI’drun the forty in 4.22. I might try if it got me the heck out of here. His fingers spread over my hand—the one sporting the ridiculous diamond on it. I could pay off my mom’s mortgage with this thing. I peeked over at him. How could he sit next to me, fingers threaded through mine, and not know that I was freaking out inside? That my heart was trying to claw its way out of my chest?
“Smile, guys.” Anna lifted her phone to snap a picture. Madden slipped his arm around my waist and leaned his head against mine. But I couldn’t smile. “I promise not to post it,” Anna coaxed. “Now show me the ring.” I lifted my hand and hopefully managed to not look like I was going to puke. When she was done and the guys hopped right back into theirfootball talk she caught my eye and cocked her head as if to tell me to be happy.
How could I be happy with my own personal Sword of Damocles hanging over me?
My phone buzzed in my lap. I turned away from Madden and checked it. It was Brooklyn on our Three Besties text thread.
Brooklyn: Tally, Anna says you have a panicked look in your eye. Hot hockey player slaps a two-carat diamond on your hand and you’re freaking out? Most girls would kill to be in your shoes. What’s wrong?
I glanced up at Anna and gave her anAre you serious?look.
She shrugged as if to say sorry, not sorry.
My fingers flew over the keypad.
Me: I’m fine.
Anna: No, you’re not. You keep eyeing the exit like you’re going to make a break for it any minute.
Brooklyn: I thought you loved Madden? You’ve been dating for four years. This is the next logical step.
Me: You two are so confusing. A month ago you were encouraging me to go after Ashton, who, speaking of the devil, looks very comfy with his date.
Now he and Persephone were holding hands. She said something I couldn’t hear, making everyone at the other end of the table laugh.
Watching the older Duprees interact made me feel like I was in a different zip code. Like they were at the grownup table and the rest of us were at a kid table, not invited.
I wished Mom, Theo, and Charlie had stayed.
Anna: You would know. You can’t keep your eyes off him.
Me: Whatever. I just want to know why the coward won’t look at me.
I’d been trying to make him all night. He’d look anywhere but. At the ceiling, at the cellist, at the smudges on his water glass, atPersephone.
Brooklyn: Ashton brought a date?
Brooklyn: Ashton’s at your engagement celebration dinner?
Me: Why wouldn’t he be?
Brooklyn: …
Brooklyn: …
I glanced up at Anna…whose face was red.
Me: What aren’t you two telling me?
Brooklyn: …
Anna: Yes. Holden invited him.
Me: Of course, he’s here. Everyone is. Except you, Brooklyn.
Which miffed me. Clearly, she’d known. They’d allknown.
