Page 197 of We Can't Be Friends

“I love you too, Chloe.” His voice cracks and I wonder where else those cracks are.

Whatever is going on with Cal, I have no time to harp on. From my peripheral, I spot the newly engaged couple happily waltzing our way.

Callum and I hurry inside just in time to yell, “Surprise!”

I wrap my best friend in a hug, and she starts crying, tears of joy and surprise. We fall to the floor in a mess of happiness.

“I can’t believe you’re here.”

“I can’t believe you’re engaged.”

I grab her hand, pulling the diamond close to my eyeball. “It’s perfect. Better than the last one.” Emerson was engaged before getting back together with Liam. The wedding was called off when she realized that she never loved the guy like she loved Liam. The entire engagement, ring included, was big and frilly. Nothing like Emerson. She was miserable but stayed with him because she’s a pathological people pleaser. In the end, everything works out, I guess.

“Don’t remind me how gaudy that was.”

“And you actually get to plan the wedding this time.”

She bops my nose. “Nope. My super cool Maid of Honor, who works in events, gets to plan it. Yay her!”

“Only if Tucker gets to be the ring bearer. I’ll get him a tux.”

“Was already thinking that. See! You are already planning it.”

***

Hours of celebrating turns into a tipsy Emerson shouting, “Karaoke! We have to sing karaoke,” and immediately, George calling a ride.

He also signed up for four songs in a row, tipping the DJ to ensure his concert.

Everyone's a bit rowdy, except for Callum.

Everyone is letting loose, dancing, singing along to whoever is on stage, except Callum.

George is showing his song selection to Beatrix. She’s patting his back, embracing his class clown nature. It makes me wonder what the two of them were like as teens. Apparently George still has his journal from the year they met at boarding school.

Audrey and her girlfriend are ordering more drinks at the bar.

Liam has an arm wrapped around Emerson’s waist, the other holding up her hand and telling anyone and everyone that’s his wife. Emerson melts whenever she hears his husky British accent whispermy wifeinto her ear.

Callum is sitting down, sipping on a beer.

I scoot into the table, finding a seat on his lap. Before I take a drink of his beer, he pulls it away from me. “You can’t have this.” A gust of relief rushes over me as I see a flicker of my boyfriend behind his icy fortress.

“Are you going to sing?”

“Do I look like the type to sing karaoke, Henry?”

He didn’t call me Dais or Daisy—he hasn’t all day—and it stings. Did I do something? Did his mom say something? I have hundreds of questions I want to ask but keep throwing out.

Am I losing him? I can’t lose him.

“Yup. Maybe even a duet with me? Do you know "Somebody to Love” fromElla Enchanted?”

“That’s a Queen song.”

“It’s also anElla Enchantedsong. Adler and I performed it once for a school talent show.”

“It’s also not a duet.”

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