[ Quote Aesthetic of the Chapterish ]

...

I take another sip of beer, but I can't taste it. Nothing is real right now.

A rush of excitement floods, coursing through my veins. Is it excitement? Is it just nerves? I ignore Nate and Travis asking what shot I want. I don't answer Brody when he calls my name.

I just see her.

There's something romantic about seeing someone again after a long time. Like maybe, if we're different people now, and if it's not too much to ask, we can meet again for the first time.

Emmy walks across the marble floor, pulling a handsome man behind her. Josh.

"Finallllly!" Lauren shouts. "Emmy and beau are here."

"Need another drink?" I ask Cece.

"I'm okay right now." She holds up her half full sangria thing.

The group hugs the way the group always hugs. My nerves are on fire knowing any second Emmy will have worked her way through the whole group until she ends up next to me and Cece.

She drops her arms from around Whit's neck and finally turns to face me.

Shit. I think I haven't seen my favorite shade of blue in one year.

I have a split second to decide how to play this.

Emmy didn't choose Paris. She didn't choose me. Didn't choose us.

I hated her. For wasting my plane ticket. For breaking my heart. I never wanted to forgive her. Even this morning. But now I have Cece.

And my split second to decide is over.

"Hey," I say, almost smiling.

"Hi," Emmy answers, the faintest trace of a smile dancing on the corner of her lips.

"Hey! You must be Emmy." Cece is already hugging her.

Then she's hugging Josh and I'm just standing here, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

But it doesn't.

I shake Josh's hand and decide this is okay.

They order drinks and the rest is history.

It doesn't bother me how well Cece and Emmy seem to get along. It's a relief, actually.

"Okay, now that everyone is here," Brody says over the noise of the group.

"Yes, yes. Itinerary!" Lauren says.

Behind her, Emmy and Trix are back at it, whispering shit between themselves with Meg laughing.

"So, after this quick pow-wow, we'll have dinner upstairs. Then tomorrow I'm thinking picnic across the street in Central Park?" Lauren says.

"Think we can bop into SoHo tomorrow?" Cece asks next to me. "Miranda told me about this awesome boutique with vintage consignment."

"We can probably sneak away," I tell her, ignoring Emmy's laugh that I can hear across the bar. Slices like a dull knife.

I steal a quick glance and see her and Josh, deep in conversation with Travis. I do my best to kill off the bit of green jelly rising in me.

I sip my beer and start talking to Brody about wedding stuff. Apparently, Marissa and Penn, the other two bridesmaids, had to cancel their NYC appearance last minute.

Lauren is not happy about it. First world problems alive and thriving.

"How long you guys in town for? Just the weekend?" Brody asks.

"Yes, we've got to get back early Sunday." I answer.

"Shoot Sunday night," Cece elaborates.

"More perfume?" Brody teases.

"Something like that. Just filling in for a friend," Cece says. "Practicing lighting."

"Sure." Brody nods.

Alex and Nate work their way over to us again, both still shocked I proposed after their impromptu visit.

"Date set yet?" Nate asks, cheery.

"Will these weddings ever end?" Brody asks.

We all laugh, but in my head I am quick to tally.

Trix and Travis, check. Alex and Whit, check. Lauren and Brody up next. Meg and Nate, engaged. Me and Cece, engaged. That leaves...

Emmy and Josh mosey over, escorted by Trix, her long hair flying behind her, and Travis.

"What's everyone chatting about over here?" Trix asks airily.

"Engagements. Weddings," Brody answers.

"Don't leave out elopements," Emmy says, rolling her eyes at Alex.

"You'll never let me forget it." He shakes his head, laughing.

About twenty minutes later, Lauren dismisses everyone from the bar and tells us all to meet at 6 PM for dinner. The group disperses, and Cece heads up in the elevator with Whit and Lauren.

"I'll pick you up from Lauren's room once I get our key," I tell her.

"Perf," Cece says, pecking my cheek.

I overhear them asking about what kind of wedding Cece wants and which celebrities will be in attendance as I walk away.

I exit the bar into the lobby and see one other person standing at the front desk.

"Checking in?" I ask.

"Oh!"

Emmy spins to face me, looking shocked. Much more how I expected her to look at seeing me again.

"You scared me, oh my God," she laughs.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to." I apologize, half smiling.

"I'm waiting for my key cards," she says. "The guy went in the room to get one but never came back."

"Gotcha."

I stick my hands in my pant pockets and wait beside her for my turn to check in. I don't know what else I should say. If I should say anything at all.

"Josh seems great–"

"—Cece's awesome"

We blurt out at the same time, both catching ourselves and laughing.

"Josh is great. You guys seem very real and happy," I say finally.

"We do. We are. Speaking of real... Congratulations," she says, super smiley. Almost too smiley.

"Thanks," I say, frowning. "It was sort of sudden. Just happened."

"You don't need to explain. I'm happy for you guys," Emmy says.

"This is nice," I tell her. I know she understands this to be us chatting about our prospective futures.

"It is," she agrees.

"Look, about–"

"Let's not," she says, holding up a hand, but smiling.

"Not what?"

"Not whatever this is," she says, indicating me about to speak. "It's okay. We don't have to do it."

"We don't?" I half ask, half agree.

"Nope." She shakes her head.

"Addressing it by not addressing it," I say knowingly.

"Precisely," Emmy says.

I give a noncommittal shrug, but it kills me. There's so much left unsaid between us. You could write an entire book. A whole trilogy.

I can't believe she's okay not saying anything.

"Sorry about that. Had to open a new box of blanks," the concierge says, emerging from the room behind the desk. "All set then, Miss Rhodes."

"Thank you," Emmy says, taking the two cards. She turns to me. "And I will see you later I guess."

"6 PM sharp," I mimic Lauren.

Emmy waltzes away without looking back. I barely hear the guy asking for my last name to confirm my reservation.