“Evan, you have to fix this!” my stepmother said over Imogen’s wailing.
“This is the groom’s side’s event,” I said. “Let them handle it. We have the wedding under control.”
“Actually, we don’t,” Mika said in concern. “Imogen’s changed so much about the wedding that I don’t even know what’s going on. It is going to be an epic disaster. We have no bridesmaids, no caterer, since Imogen fired her, and I have five corgi puppies in my apartment tearing up the place.”
“I thought you needed sixty times that number,” I said tiredly as Imogen’s mother tried to calm her daughter.
Mika slumped down at one of the tables. Someone had fixed the breaker, and the power came back on. We winced at the carnage.
“Don’t worry,” my stepmother assured the irate restaurant manager. “Evan will pay for it.”
“I never should have allowed myself to become involved,” I said, leaning back to rest my head against the wall.
“You and me both,” Mika said.
“No, I mean all of this—getting involved with Camilla, getting involved with Ivy.”
“What’s wrong with Ivy?” Mika asked. “I thought you liked her.”
“I thought I loved her,” I said bitterly.
“What did you do…?” Mika said.
I scowled at Camilla.
“Don’t tell me you’re getting back with her,” Mika admonished.
“No way. But—” I grimaced.
“Oh god,” Mika said in horror. “She’s not pregnant, is she? Please tell me there’s something else—anything else!”
I nodded dumbly.
“We don’t know if it’s yours,” Mika said in a low voice as several restaurant workers with mops started to clean the floor. “You need to demand a paternity test.”
“I can’t deal with that right now. Besides, I checked the legality of it. You can’t demand a test until the child is born. I’m going to have to suffer for the next six months.”
“This is a disaster!” my sister groaned.
“I know. And all the alcohol is on the floor.”
“Great news, everyone! We’re going to Olive Garden!” Teddy announced, standing on a table. “Anyone who wants to keep partying at the rehearsal dinner, let’s go!”
Imogen wailed louder.
“I’m going home,” I said.
“Is the party over already?” my friend Sebastian asked, confused, from the doorway.
“Might as well be,” I said.
“You look rough, dude,” Sebastian commented, “and it’s only six o’clock. Where’s Ivy? I took one of those cookies from her gift bags to my little brother, and all he’s been talking about the past few weeks is that dang cookie. I need to see if they can make more.”
“She cheated on me,” I blurted out.
“No!” Mika said in horror and grabbed my arm.
“Are you sure?” Sebastian asked skeptically.
