afety pins and giggles that come a little too easy. She looks stunning,

red in, takes her seat besi

met them. My mom and Noah's mom smile at each other like they haven't spent the past year trading polite

away with it. The room laughs. Cheers. The cake is cut. My face hurts f

es the d

holds my waist like he's done it a million times, and I shift slightly, concealing my discomfort. I don't hate Peter. He's k

s changed. Across the room, Noah dances with our mom, making her beam and even giggle. She think

a asks, breathle

I say. "I can't beli

nagers. I smile like it is carved

she grins. "It's Mrs.

a second, I feel lighter. Maybe this isn't my happy end

gh

oah laughing now, twirling his

lucky, Elen

hief dancing in her smil

the best day of her life. Th

of a long, aching day. And

ttering in the headlights, everyone shouting blessings int

ike a spell, then let

e I reach the car. "I'll ca

but I tell him I'm going with my parents

doesn't pul

h's never pul

't get to choo

Don't you like him?" A beat. She doesn't wait for the answer. "I mean, what's not to like? He's a grea

my eyes. And tune her out. It's what I always do. Survival skill. If I didn't k

Dad's voice drifts through the car, his

say, too qui

next target. "

r since she found that pack of beer Elena's boyfriend smuggled in, I've been branded guilty. Elena

an alcoholi

nk, Mom. I'm

oice neutral. "It w

shing past his words like they don't matter. "You s

gers through my hair, only to meet resistance, pins, stiff and unforgiving. A fresh wave of irritation ro

dy. Don't stop, honey, let's just go home. You shouldn't snack so

t the edges, pretend it's not there. Letting it loose woul

y because of Elena's existence. It takes less than a minute before the con

tend to sleep.It's the

sleep th

this morning, when we rushed out in a whirlwind of bags and

-brown strands tumble free. Mechanically, I pull them back into a small, messy ponytail. Routine. Familiarity. I brush my teeth, catch sight of m

ping into the hallway, I check. My mother lurks

tice Elena's doo

. With money tight after the wedding, they didn't plan to go anywhere, they're sta

bout it, Ray.

door, but then I see

frozen in film. And as I scan the collection covering her wall

le name. But somehow, she has me up there, woven

win, and I should forget Noah. I should acce

be happy

I make the decision. Nothing will change between the t

, that is all Noah

oor with tha

go t

not s