Page 34 of Groomsman to Groom

“Partly. I love understanding how things work, breaking complex systems down to their basic components.” She demonstrates by adding garlic to hot oil, the kitchen immediately filling with aromatic sizzling. “I lost her my senior year of college, and cooking is where I feel closest to her. Science might be my career, but this—” she gestures to the organized chaos of the kitchen “—this is my happy place.”

I watch the women working together—not as friends, exactly, but as reluctant collaborators engaged in a common task. Even Gabby seems less venomous as she concentrates on coating chicken breasts, her competitive energy channeled into proving she can bread poultry better than anyone else in the mansion.

Luna works the sauce with surprising dedication, chopping herbs and testing seasoning with the focus of someone determined to excel at any assigned task. But as the kitchenactivity settles into rhythm, I notice her enthusiasm fading, replaced by a distant look that seems incongruous with her usually confident demeanor.

When she slips out onto the terrace, wooden spoon still in hand, I follow.

“I thought I’d join you. The sauce needs to simmer anyway,” I say as I step outside.

Luna startles slightly, then composes herself. “I thought the same thing.”

In the afternoon light, with her guard momentarily lowered, Luna looks different. Younger somehow. More vulnerable than the seductress who dominated the talent show with her dance.

“Everything okay?” I say hesitantly. We’re not friends, especially after the costume incident, but she did seem sorry, and maybe she was just another victim of Gabby’s antics.

“I’m sorry about your dress, really.”

“It was an accident, Luna.” I shrug. “And it turned out just fine.”

“It did. You were great.” Luna sighs. “I just can’t focus on anything. I have a secret, and if I tell you, can you promise not to tellanyone?”

“Of course,” I say, and mean it.

“I sneaked into Hayes’s room last night and we had sex. And now, my feelings are so strong I’m struggling to be okay with this process anymore.”

Her words hit like a bomb. Hayes hadsexwith Luna?

My stomach is burning, and I’m trying not to break into tears of my own. But I swallow everything back and say, “Wow. Okay.”

“I really need to talk to him tonight—about it privately. It’s just, a lot of things are happening in my head that’s not good for my anxiety. And now he has to spend most of the cocktail party with Annabelle.” She twists the wooden spoon between her fingers.

The raw honesty and admission catches me off guard. This isn’t the Luna who comes off as confident and carefree. “Yeah, I can imagine that would be hard.” Actually, Iknowpersonally how hard it is. And now, I feel sick.

Luna stares out at the manicured garden. “We obviously work on the physical side. But Hayes is looking for the mental and emotional connection too. And don’t feel I’ve had time to show him that. What if getting physical with him too early was a huge mistake? And now, my heart’s involved.”

I study her profile as I see something genuine breaking through.

“So give him that mental and emotional connection,” I say.

“That’s the problem.” Her voice drops. “I don’t know how. Opening up, being vulnerable—it’s not something I’m good at.”

“I get that.” I’m working double-time to be a supportive listener as my stomach roils from the thought of Luna and Hayes together—like that.

“I need time, something I don’t have. Tonight, there won’t be enough between twenty women and the key ceremony.” Luna turns to me, unexpected tears glistening in her eyes. “I need more than five minutes of small talk to show him who I really am beneath all...” she gestures to herself, “this.”

And suddenly, I feel for her. Because beneath the competition, isn’t that what we all want? A chance to be seen for who we really are? And now, after hearing Hayes slept with someone who came to his room, I’m not sure he’s the one for me.

It’s just—I don’t know. This show makes us accept behaviors that would never fly in real life, and I have to remember that. At the same time, he could’ve chosen not to go there with anyone. I’m confused, and I need space.

“Use my time,” I hear myself say.

Luna blinks. “What?”

“My time with Hayes tonight. Take it.” I lean against the railing beside her. “I have something else I need to do, anyway.”

Suspicion flickers across her face. “Why would you do that?”

I weigh my words carefully. “Because contrary to what this show tries to manufacture, we don’t all have to be enemies.” I pause, then decide to give her a partial truth. “Plus, I need to head to the garden and add in some changes to my screenplay before I forget.” I do have some notes to make of my own, but I’m meeting Seth to get his script. We were supposed to meet in the morning, but he couldn’t make it because of a staff meeting. Now, it has to happen while everyone is busy at the cocktail party.

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