I am happy to report that Kennedy Sloane ignored me the entire time. Wouldn’t make eye contact! She appeared greatly displeased when I entered the studio and ten dancers surrounded me to ask about my new boyfriend and my summer vacation. It’s a shame I’m not the sort of person to gloat about that sort of thing. I mean, I did thoroughly enjoy it for ten minutes, but I’m not dwelling on it or anything.
When I get back to my apartment, I’m planning to call Johnny after I take a shower, but I nearly drop my phone when I see that I have a bunch of texts from him.
JOHNNY
Hi. Letting you know that I’ve been at my house in Palo Alto since last night, but I am not currently optimal. I am not sick. I am just clearing my head and giving you space. Like you wanted.
Nit clear my head of phlegm because I am nit suck.
Sick. Not sick.
Nit wearing glasses.
Hope you’re well.
Wait. Is that right?
There are too many emoji options.
Too soon?
Well, I guessnot optimalandnit suckis code fordrunk, but I’m not going to look a gift emoji in the mouth.
ME
JOHNNY
ME
I can’t tell if this is progress or if John Brandt is broken, but there’s some kind of change, and that’s good.
When I get out of the shower, I see a missed call notification from my brother and a text from him that just says:Call me ASAP.
Normally, I would text back:Okay. How’s it going, ASAP?
But I’m feeling somewhat adult-ish now, so I call him back immediately.
“Hey,” says my brother when he answers.
“What’s up, ASAP?”Okay, so I will always be a child when it comes to my brother.
“I’m engaged.”
“What?! To Katie?!”
“Yes, genius. I’m engaged to the woman formerly known as my girlfriend.”
“Congratulations. I’m so happy for you. I can’t wait to be related to her,” I say.
“Yeah. Thanks for not totally repelling her the other night.”
“My pleasure. Mom and Dad must be thrilled.”
“They are…”
“What’s wrong?”
“I just talked to Johnny to tell him, and I asked him to be my best man,” he tells me.