Page 102 of Wish You Would

We went quiet. Whether Anya was letting me get my shit together or plotting the best way to dispose of a body, I couldn’t be sure. “Everlong” morphed into a song I didn’t recognize, melancholy and dark. I closed my eyes and let the notes flow over me. As I listened, the melody took on a familiar shape. A laugh sputtered from me as the singer’s voice melted over the chorus of “I Fall to Pieces.”

I could feel Anya’s confusion as I dissolved into what could only be described as hysterics. Leaning forward, I pulled my knees up and rested my head on them, body shaking with laughter.

“I can’t tell if you’re laughing or crying,” she said, “but either way, I don’t think I’m equipped to handle this.”

Which only made me laugh harder. “Not crying,” I managed. “Just haunted.”

“Yeah, that didn’t clear anything up.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to get it together. Whether it was a sign or the universe was taunting me, I couldn’t tell. Either way, I was sure the ghosts of my cruise ship power couple were having a good laugh from the other side.

Resting my head against the wall, I let out a slow breath and wiped the tears—this time from laughter—from my eyes. “Sorry,” I said to Anya, who was still looking at me like I’d lost my mind. “Long story. I could explain if you—”

“No, no. I’m good.” She shook her head, eyes wide with horror. Her face said Please stop talking. I had to press my lips together to hold back another bout of giggles.

“I had time to think while you were having your little meltdown,” she went on when she decided the coast was clear. “And I’ve come to a conclusion.”

I straightened, all traces of laughter gone. She looked me over one last time, as if deciding if I was ready. Or worthy. Either way, I passed. “I think,” she said as she shoved away from the wall and stood. “That you’re both idiots.”

I frowned up at her. “Is that supposed to be helpful?”

She shrugged, then held out her hand to help me up. I hesitated for a moment before I took it. Once we were face to face again, she continued. “Since you’re both idiots, and it wasn’t only you fucking things up, I’m willing to help you out.”

My heart jumped, despite the fact that it had no idea where this was going. My brain reeled the excitement in. “Explain yourself.”

At this, Anya merely grinned and threw her arm over my shoulder. “Just trust me,” she said. “And thank me later.”

41

41 PARKER

I LOVE YOU ALWAYS FOREVER

“I simply do not understand,” Simon said as we walked away from The Ledge, “how you have backslid so drastically, so quickly.”

I cut him a sidelong glare. “You know what I don’t understand?” I stepped around a couple that had stopped to kiss in the middle of the sidewalk, treating them to a glare, too. “Why my best friend feels like now is the time to call me out.”

Simon jogged a few steps to catch up to me. I put effort into slowing my step, just now realizing I’d been speed walking. He fell in beside me. “Now, now. Don’t be like that,” he said once he’d caught his breath. “You know I adore you—worship you, even—and want nothing but the best for you.” He ignored my skeptical look and continued. “Which is why I—”

“Which is why you’re in full support of my fleeing the scene before Gigi could see me.” I reached over and squeezed his arm. “Thanks, man. You truly are the best.”

He looked at my hand, then back to my face. Then, he stopped. Just stopped. In the middle of a crowded sidewalk. Raising his chin against the onslaught of swears and glares as the crowd parted around him, he said, “No.”

“Sorry,” I said to the disgruntled people as I backtracked to join him. “So, so sorry.” Once I reached him, I grabbed his arm and yanked him out of the flow of traffic. “What do you mean, no?”

“No,” he said again, folding his arms over the rubber duck print of his button-down. “I did not cancel my Saturday night plans of an everything shower, a face mask, and a Love Island marathon, get all prettied up for the public, and drag my cute ass out of my apartment to watch you be all, Character growth? Don’t know her.”

“Simon,” I started, but he put a finger up and shook his head. “Nuh-uh. You don’t get a pass here, doll.”

I leaned a shoulder against the cool brick wall and crossed my arms over my chest. My mind replayed the evening, from convincing Simon to go to the show, to the very moment the lights illuminated Gigi onstage. She’d been captivating, magnetic. From the first note, to the very last.

Closing my eyes, I relived the second she spotted me in the crowd. I still didn’t know how—there were hundreds and hundreds of people in the audience. But her eyes found mine as if she’d known I was there all along, she was waiting for the right moment to catch my eye. And, oh, had it been the right moment.

I could still feel the way her voice vibrated through me as she sang, burrowing in and filling me up. I could still feel the words making themselves at home.

I missed you.

I missed you, too, I wanted to say. I miss you.

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