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“Do you trust me?” The ultimate question.

“Are you going to try to cure me again?”

She’s suspicious. And she has every right to be. Because I am.

“Yeah.” I give her a cunning smile. “I think this might work, or at least help you. Will you let me?”

Emma studies me, her eyes searching mine, silently asking if I can really cure her of this. “If it doesn’t work, I swear I will keep you up every night I can’t sleep.”

“I can handle that.” I chuckle. “Get your jacket.”

“What?” This takes her by surprise. “We’re leaving?”

I scoff. “Did you think I was going to try to hypnotize you or something?”

Emma groans like she’d like to change her mind. But she knows I won’t let her.

The chiffon of my blush-pink dress billows like it’s made of the breeze. I spin around, allowing it to flare out around me.

“You look beautiful.” Jonathan admires me from the tree where lanterns hang from ribbons and sway on the branches.

“You look like a dream,” I say, then giggle. “Get it?” Jonathan rolls his eyes, but smiles. “But you do. Floral print vests become you, Mr. Reeves.”

“Only when you’re taking it off, Mrs…” he pauses, as if asking permission. My radiant smile is all he needs. He finishes with a whisper as if it’s a secret for just the two of us. “Reeves.”

I rush to him and let him pick me up and swing me around, kissing my neck.

“You’re already in character, I see,” Jaz says from somewhere within the trees. She’s wearing a deep purple blouse with billowing sleeves and pinstripe pants. Her braids are twisted into a tower atop her head. She looks regal and…glowing. Then I realize it’s the powder on her cheeks.

“I think everyone is here if you’d like to join us.”

Jaz and Darcy invited us to join them to celebrate the summer solstice and asked everyone to dress in the theme of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Collin made a dumb remark about it being the beginning of summer but shut it when Danika gave him a threatening look.

Jonathan and I never made it past the giant mushroom path. Darcy’s been working with a florist since they moved here our freshman year. I can tell she enhanced her skills, or perhaps they helped, because this corner of the farm that leads to the woods is absolutely magical.

Pastel colored ribbons float from limbs, swaying in the breeze, along with more tea light lanterns. Because it is the longest day of the year, most are filled with flowers.

Painted stones continue to point the way. Some are a solid color, while others have hearts, flowers or fairies painted on them.

Jonathan presses the hand he’s holding to his lips. I smile up at him.

Ethereal notes from a harp and some other stringed instruments float through the forest, drawing us in. We continue to follow Jaz into a small clearing, and my breath leaves me.

Across from us, a wisteria arch is a colorful explosion of summer flowers and ivy. Low tables are scattered on either side of the entry, surrounded by fluffy pillows and set on flower-shaped rugs. The forest is dimmer here, so the colored uplights around the trees create a mystical ambiance. String lights and flower garlands drape across the space like a tent top.

What surprises me most is that everyone is here. Not just our friends, but Jaz and Sadie’s parents, along with their siblings. And… my parents, along with Danika’s and Jane, Collin’s mom. I look around curiously. Jonathan wraps an arm around me as everyone smiles at one another, like they’re all in on something I have yet to figure out.

Darcy appears beside Jaz. She looks like she stepped out of a fairytale—flowers sticking out of her short, wavy hair. Her freckles shimmer with the same pixie dust as Jaz’s. Her dress is short peach with a white shimmery organza overlay that drapes to the floor.

“We’re so happy you are all here to celebrate the solstice with us. It is the longest day of the year, as we transition into summer,” Jaz says.

And Darcy picks up where Jaz left off. “It’s not just the celebration of the first day of summer, but the first day Jaz and I commit our lives to each other.” She leaps with her arms raised. “Surprise! We’re having a heart ceremony!”

The hummingbirds fluttering in my chest want to burst free. They’re getting—not married. Committed? Heart-committed? Whatever. They’re promising themselves to each other. Today!

I refrain from rushing to them and hugging them both. Jonathan laughs, adoring my jittery excitement. I look around. “What do we do?”

Jonathan shrugs.