Page 36 of March

“No, you did,” Bryce said, dropping the popcorn back into the bowl. “It was awkward tonight, wasn’t it?”

“She’s still in love with you, Bry. We all know it,” Megan noted, sitting down next to her.

“I knew that, but I didn’t know the whole story, apparently. She told me she’d gone ring-shopping.”

“Yeah, I know,” Megan said.

“She finally told you,” Kelsey echoed and sat on the arm of the sofa behind Megan instead of the empty seat that was next to Bryce.

“Tonight, right before you two showed up. I don’t know what to do. I know we’re not supposed to be together.”

“We do, too,” Kelsey agreed. “And she’ll just need some time. I think she held out until you met Sophie, but now, she’s trying to push herself to move on, but it’s harder than it looks.”

“Tell me about it,” Megan said softly.

“Huh?” Kelsey asked.

Bryce’s phone pinged on the table, and that ping was a specific one that she set to indicate an incoming email. She looked hopefully at Megan and then at Kelsey.

“Pick it up,” Kelsey encouraged.

“Check it,” Megan added.

Bryce sat up and reached for her phone. She unlocked it and opened her email app while Megan leaned over her shoulder and Kelsey leaned over Megan’s.

Bryce,

Your friends were named Megan, Sean – or maybe Shawn because I don’t know how she spells it – and Kelsey. My friend was named Jill. Your hair was short and black, and I ran my hands through it over and over again. When we danced, you kissed my neck, and I think about that every single day. We joked about sugar mamas because we were nervous, and when you kissed me, I was pressed against a wall, and we were tucked away from the whole world in the corner. You startedjumping when the fight broke out, trying to find a way for us to get out of there, and then, you were gone. I gave you a little more than you were asking for because I wanted you to know FOR SURE that it’s me.

Your Sophie

“Holy shit! It’s her,” Kelsey said.

“It’s fucking her,” Megan added.

“Did you just curse? You never curse. That was cute, Megs,” Kelsey noted. “Say it again.”

“Shut up.” Megan laughed. “Bryce, you found her. You really found her.” She patted Bryce on the leg. “Holy crap.”

“No, go back to ‘fuck.’ That was funnier. Say, ‘Fuck,’ again.”

“I’m going to fucking hit you in the shoulder again – but, like, playfully because I’m not mean – if you don’t stop distracting Bryce from this important moment she’s having,” Megan replied.

“It’s her,” Bryce said softly. “Sophie…”

“Why don’t we skip the drinks and popcorn? Megan and I can head out and leave you alone. Sophie just responded, so she’s probably waiting on you now,” Kelsey suggested.

“Yeah, we’ll go, but we want updates,” Megan told her as she stood and reached for Kelsey’s hand, which Kelsey had held out for her. “Updates, Bry. Text us.”

“Okay,” she replied but hadn’t really heard what Megan had said.

A minute later, Bryce was alone in her house with three unfinished beers and a half-eaten bowl of popcorn. She didn’t know what to do; what to say to Sophie next. She still couldn’t believe the fact that she’d found her. It was late, after eleven, so she didn’t want to wake the woman up if Sophie had sent the message and gone to bed, but that was ridiculous because no one would send a message like that and just go to sleep.

Sophie,

It’s really you? This isn’t some very elaborate prank by a horrible person who found bar security footage or something?

Bryce

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