Page 58 of Never Not Friends

It’s substantially worse.

Because where I used to just dream about Vinny or think about what might have been, now I’m living it.

The effortless connection.

Conversations that flow naturally.

Ordinary moments that become special.

How being around him feels easy.

And it makes this whole mess that much harder for me.

I laugh, dropping my eyes. “There’s no way Juliet’s going to let you skydive right before your wedding.”

“Yeah, I guess not.” His shoulders fall, and he scoots back into the booth.

The people pleaser inside me feels terrible that I shot down his dream. All I want to do is bring back that smile. “Vinny, I⁠—”

Juliet plops down on the bench, nudging my shoulder. “Emma! We need you out there dancing.”

“With who?”

“All of us. Me, Carly, Camila.”

“Um, you all have boyfriends or husbands to dance with. I’d be, like, the seventh wheel.”

“No way!” Juliet shakes her head. “These are fast songs.”

But right on cue, the music changes to something slow, and couples begin to pair off. Carly with Nate. Camila with Hess.

I give her a look. “See?”

“It’s fine. Vinny”—she motions to him—“go dance with Emma for her birthday.”

Like the obligatory kid that’s left over after a schoolyard pick for teams.

“No!” The amount of adamance behind my voice is alarming.

His eyes meet mine, and it’s so dark in here I can’t tell if I’m seeing disappointment behind his stare again or maybe it’s relief. “Jules, she doesn’t want to dance with me.”

“Then it’s her loss.” She jumps to her feet, grabbing Vinny’s hands. “I’ll dance with you.”

“I don’t really feel like it.” But he’s scooting out of the booth, trying to keep up with her tugs anyway.

She calls back to me, “If you change your mind, he’s all yours whenever you want him. Just come and claim him.”

A humorless laugh puffs over my lips as they walk to the dance floor hand in hand.

And it’s like the wind is knocked out of me as I watch.

Their bodies are close. I can’t tell where Juliet ends and Vinny begins.

She tickles his neck.

His hand is low on her waist.

I’ve seen it before, but the depth of the pain always seems to shock me.