I’m frozen. Can’t follow. Reeling, angry, hurt. And aware that we both messed up.
The crowd looks confused, as if wondering why we’re not laughing along with them.
Apparently, all’s well that ends well doesn’t work in real life.
Peony follows Winnie out.
Austin appears at my side. “I’m so sorry, man. I thought it would be funny, break the ice?—”
“It’s not your fault. It’s mine.” My voice sounds hollow.
Silver Sam appears with Buttercup on a leash, overtly disobeying the building code. “Son, you’ve gotta grovel. Hands and knees. I’m talking flowers, chocolate, jewelry, skywriting?—”
“Sir, I don’t think?—”
“Skydiving! Dive right into her life! Grand gestures! Romance!” he exclaims.
Oreo barks in agreement.
“That’s … a lot,” I manage.
“Love is a lot,” Sam says sagely.
Hayes, still in half the Gus the squirrel costume, waddles over and pats my shoulder with a giant mascot paw.
The absurdity of the moment—advice from an elderly man with a mule, comfort from a guy in a squirrel suit—would be funny if my heart wasn’t breaking.
I look toward the exit where Winnie disappeared.
Inside, the Ball continues around me. Music plays. People dance. Life goes on.
But my world has tilted. Imploded.
We’re not broken up. We were never officially together.
But we’re broken.
And I have no idea how to fix it.
I let my guard down. Trusted someone. Fell in love.
Everything has crumbled, fallen apart.
The worst thing is that I did this. I could’ve stopped it. Same for her.
We’re both guilty. Both hurt. We each stand on opposite sides of the same mistake.
Outside, Winnie is on the steps with Peony.
Inside, I’m alone while surrounded by the entire town.
And between us, the wreckage of two stupid bets that turned into something real.
But can we salvage this or did we just destroy the best thing either of us ever had?
35
WINNIE
