I squeezed into the little black dress, and had Mackenzie zipper me up. Looking at myself in the mirror, I had to buy a new strapless bra to make it work, but I looked awesome. Mackenzie stood next to me looking just as nice, and I could hear Charity’s sister clunking around in the other room as she put on hers. Charity had wanted us all to try them on before we left for the rehearsal dinner just make sure that we would look good standing next to each other up at the altar. No one had talked about the pregnancy, and I definitely wasn't ready to. So, for now, we just ignored it. Everyone had a smile plastered on his and her face even though at least two of us were dying inside. And by the look on Charity sister's face, she wasn’t extremely happy to be there either. She was also five years older than Charity, and hadn’t married or had any kids of her own. I could tell the cat lady label was going to be attached to her very shortly.

As we stood on the landing, Charity assessed us coming down the stairs, and my dad stood smiling in the entryway. I wanted to say something to him; I wanted to tell him that, even though the woman who split up my family was pregnant, I was playing piano again. I wanted to tell him that I was okay even if I wasn't okay with his choices. I hadn't told anybody about the theater yet; it would come with time. Maybe I would even start taking lessons again, or enter the music program as a minor for my senior year. It would make me happy. And, for now, that's all that mattered, my happiness.

“You all look fabulous. You girls are right. Black is totally in for weddings. Oh, I just can't wait for everyone to see you!” She clapped her hands together tightly, just beneath her chin. She was practically glowing, her smile was so big.

“Okay, now. You three run up and change for the rehearsal dinner; we have to be there in half an hour. Your father and I are going to meet you two at the restaurant, and Leslie's going to ride with us. Give the sisters a little alone time.”

I couldn't tell if she meant her and her sister or me and mine, but either way, I was fine with not riding to the restaurant with them. Charity didn't find it necessary to have an actual rehearsal, which shocked the hell out of me, but I was going to just go eat the food. Mackenzie put on the lilac dress that she had packed specifically for the occasion; I had a bright indigo one that had one strap just off the shoulder, and sat above my knee. Both of our dresses were very simple, but because they were bright colors, we stood out among the crowd of thirty people at the Italian restaurant where they had booked a room. The whole event was catered, and people stood around and talked, while others sat at small tables, indulging in the amazing food.

I sat alone twirling pasta on my fork. Kenz bounced up behind me. Her mood had greatly improved since the other day.

“So, then no date?”

“Nah, Kenz. I'm flying solo tonight. Just us girls.” I tried to plaster a smile on my face, but she could see right through it.

“I'm sorry, Lila.” She placed her hand on my back to comfort me.

“Yeah, me too,” I whispered, staring once again at my plate. “Haven’t exactly come up with a solution there yet.”

“So, there’s still hope?”

I shrugged. “Maybe.”

He hadn’t called after the theater. So I wasn’t sure there was.

We sat at the tables pretty much the entire dinner. It's not that we were avoiding the guests. Mackenzie and I didn't really know anybody. It was clear that many of the people were family members of Charity’s. Her mother looked just like her only twenty years older, and her older sister, Leslie, whom we had met at the house, also had similar features. She was kind of bitter and jaded. I saw her eat multiple slices of cake, but I'm definitely not one to judge. I was doing my own carbo-load.

We were almost done with the dinner when Charity announced they would be doing toasts.

“Did you prep something?” I looked at Mackenzie.

“No! You?”

I shook my head.

“Bathroom?”

I grabbed my glass of wine. “I need air.”

She smiled, and whispered to me. “Call him.”

I grabbed my phone, and decided she was right. It was time to do something about it. But what happened next, I hadn’t been expecting. I rounded the dark corner that connected the catering room with the rest of the restaurant, and I ran smack into Levi.

“What are you doing here?”

He smiled devilishly, “I came to rescue you, looks like you’re already running though.”

I pushed my hands against him. “Tell me about Japan.”

He looked stunned. “What?”

“You’re leaving and you didn’t tell me.”

“That wasn’t part of the arrangement.”

“Yeah, our little deal to protect your heart, but what about mine?”

“Yours?” His mouth dropped open a little.

“Are you going to Japan, yes or no?”

“Yes.” He stood tall, even though the hallway was narrow. We were still pressed against one another. My heart beating rapidly against my check, he could probably feel it too, we were so close.

“Then you shouldn’t be here. I need to protect myself too, Levi. I’m cutting off our deal this time. I can’t do it. I can’t hide my feelings anymore.”

“But all these years…”

I shrugged. “All these years, I was hiding my feelings for you. I don't even think I knew it myself. But I'm telling you now, Levi, I miss you so bad it hurts. And I know I don't deserve another chance, but I’m desperate to try again. But you’re leaving this time. There’s no way we can make this work from Florida to Japan, is there?”

I waited for a response, but he just stood there. His silence told me everything I needed to know. As I watched the hurt in his eyes, my heart broke for what could've been. So, I did the thing that I do best, and I ran. I heard him calling after me, but I couldn't stop, and if he wanted to chase me, he would have. But, instead, I found myself sitting on the beach in the dark alone. I sat on the sand crying, the blue fabric swirling around me like my secrets once had. I thought the truth would set me free, instead it swam around me threatening to drown me with every breath.