“Are you guys ever going to stop making fun of my shoes?”
“I could finance medical school with what you spend on footwear,” Ellie said.
“But they’re so pretty. Anyway, Daniel and I have been together since high school, so we’re not going to wait too long. We know we’re right together.”
“You guys broke up for a while, didn’t you?” Ellie asked. “In college?”
Grace put a stare on Ellie, and squinted her eyes.What the hell,she mouthed as she brought her mojito to her lips.
“Yeah,” Charlotte said. “But just for a couple of months. Besides that, we’ve been together for close to ten years now.”
“Of course,” Ellie said. “That’s my point.” She glanced briefly at Grace with a suppressed grin. “You guys took a break to see other people and then decidedyou were right for each other. It’s the best way to do it. Make sure, you know.”
“I was a mess for two months. Never left my house that summer. Daniel was the same way. Neither of us dated anyone, just took a break and then ran back to each other.”
“Well,” Ellie said, “you two did it the right way. Took a break, got into other things.” Another quick smirk at Grace. “And then found each other again.”
“Yes,” Grace said. “You’re great together. You, Daniel, and your outrageously overpriced shoes. Cheers to you guys. Really, Char. We’re so happy for you.”
They touched glasses.
“So Ellie will be at Duke. And where did you end up?” Charlotte asked.
“Cornell. In New York,” Grace said.
“Neurology, right?”
“Neurosurgery.”
“Wow!” Charlotte said. “That sounds so . . . I don’t know.Serious.”
Grace looked back at Ellie. “OB-GYN is serious, too. And seriously difficult. But, yes, I’m expecting it to be a challenge.”
“And Julian?” Charlotte asked.
“Julian and I placed together.”
“Aww,” Charlotte said. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. So when are we all coming back here foryourwedding?”
Grace smiled. “Who knows? Maybe after residency.”
Ellie Reiser had met Julian Crist a handful of times over the last year and a half since he and Grace started dating. The first time Julian had caught Grace’s eye, Ellie knew, was during the summer after second yearwhen Grace went off to do volunteer work in India. She met Julian on that trip, both spending a three-week stint aiding in a general-surgery clinic in Delhi. Despite that Julian was at NYU and Grace was in Boston, the miles didn’t seem to hurt their relationship. Grace and Ellie had discussed the pros and cons of a serious relationship during medical school and what sort of distractions it might cause. And about how difficult long-distance relationships were to maintain. Ellie had gently warned her friend to be careful going into the crucial third year of medical school. Eighteen months later, Grace and Julian were going strong, were damn near inseparable, and were both heading off to a highly competitive surgical residency, where they would be pitted against one another.
Ellie stirred her mojito at the thatched-roof beach bar, sitting on a stool and looking out toward Pitons Bay and the sun waltzing over the calm water. Julian walked up next to her.
“Hey,” he said.
Ellie smiled. “Hi, Julian.”
“I’ve hardly had a chance to talk with you this trip.”
“I know. This is the first afternoon the bridesmaids haven’t been ordered around. I think Charlotte saw that we were all stressed out and pissed off that we came to this beautiful resort and haven’t had the chance to enjoy it.”
“You guys are good friends,” Julian said. “I don’t even talk with anyone from high school anymore.”
“Really? We’re like a cult.”
“No kidding. I’m feeling a little like an outsider.”
