Page 108 of Never Not Friends

“I don’t feel that great.” I keep moving, untangling the pennant banner that, moments ago, Vinny fought me on.

“Oh, no. Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” I glance her way—barely—just so she doesn’t get suspicious.

“I come bearing a fruit tray.”

“Oh, good.”

“What can I help with?”

“Uh…” I nod to the table, still trying to hide my breakdown. “You could lay out the tablecloth and set up where the food will go.”

The door swings open again. “Sorry, I’m late.”

Camila.

And I’m so grateful another person is here to take the pressure off me.

The two of them exchange greetings while I sneak past them. “I’m just going to run to the bathroom real quick. Just keep decorating!”

Just before I close the bathroom door, I hear Carly explain, “She doesn’t feel well.”

I flip on the bathroom light and stare at myself in the mirror.

Red, puffy eyes give away all my horrible, horrible secrets.

I groan, my hands grabbing the counter, holding my weight as I lean against my palms.

After everything that just happened between Vinny and me, how can I go back out there and put on a bridal shower for Juliet?

I’m running on empty.

But then I think about Juliet, about all the times when she’s shown up for me, and I know I have to do this. For her.

I lean closer to the mirror. “Lock in, Emma.” I give myself a very sharp glare. “LOCK. IN.”

My head falls.

I close my eyes and inhale a deep breath.

You do this all the time. You bury your feelings and take care of everyone else. Today is no different. You can do this.

It’s the pep talk I needed, although something about it feels oddly unhealthy, considering my emotional state right now. But there’s no time to unpack it.

I push off the counter and spend the next few minutes splashing water on my face and fanning my puffy eyes until I look normal.

Juliet’s shower will be perfect.

It’ll just be a test of my acting ability.

“Okay, Juliet,” Carly says, reading off her paper. “Who said ‘I love you’ first? You or Vinny?”

Everyone turns toward Juliet.

She laughs from her chair by the fireplace. There’s a pile of tissue paper, gift bags, and wadded-up wrapping scraps surrounding her.

“I said I love you first.”