Page 110 of What's in a Kiss?

Me:I mean, you’ll never hear from me in this realm. In my world, I’m probably going to need an extended girls’ weekend to hold you close and parse this shit.

Me:Not your problem, sorry.

Masha:...

Me:One favor, Mash.

Masha:What

Me:Twenty minutes of your time.

Masha:When

Me:Ten am tomorrow. Lifeguard Tower 28. Bring Eli.

Masha:If I do this, you’ll leave me alone? For real?

Me:Wear white.

“She’ll be here,” I say to Dan, willing it to be true. “We want the same thing.”

“Everybody does,” he says. “Some of them just don’t know it yet.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a familiar blur of movement. Even when she hates me, Masha still walks the same way: her dark, curly head tipped a little to the right, a slight bounce on her heels. I hold my breath in gratitude as she and Eli approach on the boardwalk, hand in hand. He’s wearing jeans and a white polo—I’ll take it. She’s in a short white sundress printed with tiny yellow daisies. My palms sweat as I grip the improvised bridal bouquet. My hands need something to do so they don’t fold Masha in a hug.

She and Eli reach a concrete divider on the boardwalk. I watch as Eli stops her, lifts her in his arms, and carries her, threshold-style, over the ledge.

“I can walk,” she says, laughing. “I’m pregnant, not paralyzed.”

“Why should you exert yourself?” he says, seeming reluctant to put her down even on the other side of the barrier. “You should save your strength.”

“Save your own strength,” she says. “Once we hit the third trimester, lifting me will tear your arms out of your sockets.”

“Who needs arms?” When he kisses her, I let out an adoring sigh.

The sound of it reaches Eli, who looks up and takes in the chuppah. Then me beneath it. He rubs his eyes.

Clearly Masha hasn’t told Eli about meeting me today.

“Morning.” I wave innocently.

Before Masha even sees me, Eli’s got her by the shoulders, turning her back in the direction they came.

“What are you doing?” she asks.

“I think I left the panini press on,” Eli says, darting a glare at me.

“We don’t eat paninis.” Masha laughs, then follows his gaze to me. “Oh.”

“Let’s go, Masha,” Eli says. “You know what the doctor said about stress.”

My best friend slips an arm around her husband’s waist. She lets her breath out, and I love her for doing this for me.

“It’s okay,” she says. “I didn’t tell you why we were coming here because a) I knew you wouldn’t agree to it, and b) the explanation is totally insane. Basically, Olivia needs a favor.”

“And you said yes?” Eli asks slowly. “To what, exactly?”

“A vow renewal,” I say. “It shouldn’t take long.”