Page 67 of The One Where They Fall in Love

Lucy

She is the most miserable maid of honor I could ever have. (I still love her tho.) If you can make her happy, get up here and do something about it.

Lucy

Hudson Hollow, New York. Haul ass, lover boy.

Twenty-Nine

Elle

I think Lucy might be the most chill bride in the history of weddings.

I’ve been at her house for almost a week now—helping her run errands, pitching tents (never thought I’d say that), setting up tables, and on and on. And through it all, Lucy has laughed, made jokes, and eyed her future hubby like she just wants to squeeze him all the time.

But me and my heart can’t catch a damn break.

I’m not sure where to go from here. When Lucy first told me she loved Liam, I basically pushed her onto a bus upstate. I don’t think I can do that for myself. I don’t know that I can stand in front of Oliver and ask him to give us a chance. To bet onme.

So here I am, the night before my best friend’s wedding, which I will be attendingalone, jumping on a bouncy castle in my pajamas.

Naturally.

I would love to be able to text Oliver right now andtell him that I got a bouncy castle for Lucy’s bachelorette party. I wish I could tell him that such a place asAdultBouncyCastleRentals.comexists. But I’m not ready. I don’t know how to make the grand gesture like Lucy did. I’m good at pushing people past their limits, but I can rarely see past my own. Maybe that will be my undoing.

I kicked Liam out of his own house about four hours ago, before any of the festivities began. I sent Lucy to the next town over, Catskill, in search of a specific margarita mix that I know doesn’t exist, and I created the most epic bachelorette party in the history of womankind. Liam’s sister Jill and her friend Nora were a huge help. But really I should get all the credit. Because this isawesome.

“Elle, is that an ice cream truck?” Lucy calls, bouncing down so she is seated at the edge of the mesh. Liam and Lucy’s backyard is on a bit of a slope, so the party is mostly happening on the front lawn. The bouncy castle is to the right of the front door, so we can see the truck coming down the block. I invited the old couple across the street, Al and Mella, because we’re literally partying right in their face. They’re the first ones to the ice cream truck.

“You bet your ass it’s an ice cream truck. All soft serve, babe,” I say, joining her in sliding out of the castle.

“You seriously get me. I couldn’t have asked for anything better than this.” She pauses for a moment, taking in the scene around her. “I can’t wait to rub this in Liam’s face.”

“Rude,” a deep voice says behind her. I smirk at the sight of Liam coming around the corner of the bouncy castle with a devilish grin. He runs a hand through his hair, scuffing itup in a way that makes him look “deliciously disheveled” as Lucy once described him.

“What are you doing here?” Lucy squeals, pushing his chest.

“It’s a small town. You think I wouldn’t find out you had a bouncy castle? We heard the ice cream truck all the way down Main Street!” he explains excitedly. “You think I was going to drink beers on a boat when you have ice cream? We’re crashing this shit,Mamma Miastyle!”

A hoard of men whose names I don’t know except for Max, the owner of the town’s grocery store, and Liam’s friend Brett, come hurtling up the beach like a pack of children descending on a playground.

“Elle, can you believe this?” Lucy wraps her arms around me and squeezes.

“That I threw a better party than Brett? 100 percent.”

By the end of the night, Lucy tells me that she doesn’t need a wedding after that. “That was the time of my life, Elle. Surrounded by people I love, being silly. I would say I felt like a kid, but I don’t know that I remember having that much fun when I was a kid.”

“Me neither,” I sigh, jumping into bed with her. Liam has once again been kicked out of his house, but he took it like the champ—or beta hero—that he is. Lucy’s wedding will be small, mostly consisting of relatives from the town. Most of her family is staying at a hotel in Catskill, because the one bed and breakfast in town only had two rooms. It’s just Lucy and me in her house tonight. I’m her only bridesmaid. Brett is Liam’s best man. It will be small and fun, just like tonight. Very Lucy.

“Are you excited?” I ask her when we’re both lying downin bed, staring at the ceiling.

“At the idea of being a bride? I don’t know if I’d sayexcited.” She turns over and faces me, curling her arms around a pillow. “I made this wedding as small as humanly possible. You know I don’t like to be the center of attention.”

“But this is the day girls—”

“Girls dream of, I know, I know,” she finishes for me. “I don’t buy into that. I didn’t dream of a wedding growing up. Sure, I love romance novels, but that was never the part of the story I focused on. I wanted thelife—the person who would make me breakfast on Saturdays, know my order at our favorite restaurant, who would be my permanent plus one, run to the pharmacy at 2 a.m. when I’m sick, or always offer me his elbow when I get old andcrotchety.” I giggle at the way she says the word. “I want more than just this one day. I’m excited for all the days that follow it. That’s what I always dreamed about.”

I let out a quiet exhale, trying to hide the sniffle in my nose. I didn’t realize that tears had pooled in my eyes until she finished speaking. I swallow hard, but a single tear manages to escape down the cheek facing away from Lucy. I quickly wipe it away with the sleeve of my sweatshirt.