“The best what?” I asked. “The best sister? The best friend? The best future college field hockey player?”
Penn had emailed me my acceptance letter yesterday. Tears had streaked down my face as Austin shook my shoulders in celebration. I was in—officiallyin. And fuck it, I knew I was going to kick ass on Franklin Field next year.
“Yes, as long as you kick ass at physical therapy,” my brother said now. “But really, justthe best, Mads.”
I smiled. “Austin…”
We hugged, and when I hurried out of the barn to welcome the bridesmaids, everyone shouted, “Don’t run!”
***
Compared to tomorrow’s two hundred guests, the rehearsal dinner was super exclusive—only immediate family and the wedding party (and Wit). We would caravan to St. Paul’s in Princeton for a late-afternoon ceremony rehearsal, and I’d tried to turn my room into a bridal suite for Katie and the bridesmaids. There was an assortment of snacks and a cooler of water bottles, sodas, and little bottles of prosecco (that Dad had bought because I wasn’t twenty-one).
Katie looked fresh-faced from her spa day, and she beamed while presenting us each with a garment bag. “Tomorrow’s gowns are so elegant,” she said. “My mother has beautiful taste, but Ireallylove these…”
All the dresses were whimsical and jewel-toned; Meredith’s was a luxurious turquoise, while Reese’s was a warm amber and mine a deep purple. All silk, the dresses wouldn’t withstand the December chill, so we gasped when Katie gave us cable knit sweaters to wear on top. They were cream and cropped. “I’m obsessed,” I said, the others agreeing. “I’mobsessed, Katie!”
“Thank you!” she said. “I know it’s unconventional, but I hoped you might wear them tonight. My dress is white, and I have a gold sweater to go with it.”
“Do we owe you anything?” Paige asked, and it was then that I realized I hadn’t been the only one who’d thought the bridesmaid life wasn’t cheap.
Katie shook her head. “You’ve all given me so many gifts, so this is my gift to you.”
We changed into our dresses—Amanda insisted my boot tied the whole look together—before starting on hair and makeup. “So, Mads,” Reese said as I weaved Katie’s long blond hair into a braid crown. “Who would you give your First Impression Rose to?”
I sighed as the others laughed. In the mirror, Katie smiled slyly at me. Of course we would come full circle with myBachelorettespin-off. “Easy,” I said. “First Impression Rose goes to Davis, especially since he’s now a really great friend.”
“Front-runner?” Yasmin asked.
I grinned. “Connor.”
I loved Connor McCallister with everything I had. It just wasn’t wonderstruck love.
“Yes!” the group cheered before the subject switched. No one wanted to talk about “Here for the Wrong Reasons.”
“Okay, Amanda,” Paige said. “Smoky eye: yes or no?”
Katie coughed. “Excuse me, ladies, but you didn’t ask Mads about her Final Rose.”
The bridesmaids all cocked their heads. It had been a little over a month, but I still hadn’t mentioned Marco. “Hold on!” Meredith suddenly started bouncing on her tiptoes. “Hold the hell on—is it your ridiculously handsome Princeton friend? Whose family has a monopoly on all the best restaurants in town? Marco something?”
I glanced away to grin.
“Katie!” Meredith exclaimed after I coyly suggested they check out his boutonniere tomorrow. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!”
Katie shrugged. “It wasn’t my news to tell.”
“I only knew because they kept staring starry-eyed at each other during setup earlier,” Amanda said. “It’ll be so obvious once you see them together.”
“Yes, yes, yes.” I smirked after the squealing stopped. “It seems I’ve ended up with a promising plus-one, after all…”
***
Mrs. Gallant started crying the second she walked into the barn after our successful ceremony rehearsal. Luckily, we had plenty of tissues on hand. “I don’t know what to say,” she told my parents. “Thank you so much.” She shook her head. “This is absolutely enchanting.”
“It took a village!” I smiled, feeling Da squeeze my shoulders at the same time Dad said, “It was all Mads.”
I couldn’t help but glow with pride as I asked Nana’s Man Friend, tonight’s bartender, for a flute of sparkling cider. Afterward, I went to find my seat at the center table and smiled to myself.Madeline, my place card read, in Katie’s neat handwriting.
