Under the Same Stars(29)

“But I think she’s right,” I forced myself to say, a sharp sting in my chest. Tonight had totally unraveled—I wished I could trick myself into thinking coffee with Davis had been a real date. I wanted to look back on my first date fondly, and tonight had been terrible. “I think you invited me to shake her,” I continued. “To either shake her off for good or to shake some sense into her.”

Davis was quiet, and when he did speak, I barely heard him over my thudding heart. “I do like you, Mads. I really like you.”

“I like you, too.” My voice wavered. “Way more than I thought I would, but you’re still in love with somebody else, and I’m not cool with being used as a strategy to get that somebody back. You should’ve been honest with me from the start.”

“Yes, I should’ve.” He exhaled deeply. “I’m sorry. Fuck, I’m such an asshole.”

I tried rubbing the goose bumps from my arms. It was really getting chilly. “It’s okay.”

Davis nodded, then gestured to the dining hall. “Do you want to head in?”

“You should, yeah,” I said before pointing in the opposite direction, toward my car. “I’m gonna take off.”

“Mads, don’t,” he protested once I started walking. He took three large steps to catch up with me. “I know I messed up, but we’ll still have a great time as friends. I’d really like to be friends.”

“I would, too,” I told him truthfully, because we did have so much in common and I liked talking to him. “Just not on this particular night.” I clapped him on the shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Get in there, have fun with your friends, and ask Natalie to dance if that’s what you want to do. But I’m going home.”

I smiled a goodbye.

***

By midnight, I was under my covers with Francine sprawled out across my bed. Almost all the bridesmaids had texted to ask how the night went. She’s not gonna answer you, Yaz, Reese wrote. JProm always has an after-party!

Davis must not have texted her, I thought as I tapped out of the chat and into my chat with Austin. He’d asked how the evening had gone, too.

Private school is overrated, I typed in response.

Not even ten seconds later, the bridesmaid chat buzzed with a new message from freaking Katie: Sources suggest Davis did not receive a rose.

“Oh, how you irk me, Katherine Marie Gallant,” I muttered, though I was fighting a slight smile. Katie was pretty witty in this group chat. “How you irk me so…”

Text bubble after text bubble soon popped, including one from Meredith. It was funny like Katie’s: Mads Fisher-Michaels’s rep has yet to confirm.

I giggled and snuggled deeper into my pillows. But before Francine’s even breathing lulled me to sleep, I circled back to one more text thread.

You want to watch a movie later? I’d texted Connor before pulling out of Hun’s parking lot. I’ll bring snacks!

Tempting… he’d replied. Is Hun’s JProm THAT bad?

Eyes welling up with tears, I called him instead of texting back. “I’m bailing on the dance,” I said as soon as Connor answered. Music and voices mingled in the background. He was out somewhere. “Ready for a rant?”

“Popcorn’s already popped,” Connor said.

I told him everything but made sure to add that Davis wasn’t really a bad guy, that he apologized, and that I even thought we’d be friends someday. “But this night sucks,” I concluded. “A raging dumpster fire…”

Drive safely, he messaged after we’d hung up. Text me when you get home.

Twenty-five minutes later, I wrote, Home!

Connor had immediately hearted the message, but I didn’t expect him to respond beyond that—he was hanging with friends at Lauren Bitterman’s house.

So it’d been a surprise when he texted: Same! I’ll be over with a fire extinguisher in five. Let’s save the night with Top Gun?

Now, after a Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick double feature, I read our messages one more time before locking my phone and closing my eyes. My heart warmed. Connor had showed up for me before, but tonight had been different.

Hadn’t it?





Ten


On April twenty-something, it was time to go bridesmaid dress shopping. Bridesmaids assemble! Amanda had texted, even though the wedding wasn’t until freaking Christmas.

Katie had chosen a store in Philly to start the search, and everyone except Meredith—still living on St. Croix—was coming into town for the festivities. Mrs. Gallant and Amanda had offered to pick me up on their way into the city. Samira had surprised me with a visit, and we were hanging out on the front porch when a silver Audi pulled up my driveway. Samira waved to Amanda and Mrs. Gallant before hugging me and disappearing into the house. I guess she wasn’t in the mood for small talk. “Have fun,” she whispered as a goodbye.

“Was that Samira?” Mrs. Gallant asked once I’d buckled my seat belt. “What’s she doing here?”

“Visiting,” I said. “She got here late last night.”

“That’s nice,” Katie’s mom said lightly, but I caught Amanda purse her lips and take her phone out of the car’s cupholder. Part of me worried she was about to text her sister, since Austin had come home for dinner last night. Katie had a work event.