Page 124 of Collide

After a few too many drinks,Riley, Philippa, and I decide to have an all-girls sleepover at my apartment. Sitting in our extravagant ballgowns barefoot, half unzipped, makeup disheveled, we share a bottle of wine between us with “Sway” by Bic Runga crooning in the background.

I sink deeper into the plush couch, a glass of wine dangling from my fingertips.

“You know what’s crazy?” Riley breaks the comfortable silence, her voice full of humor.

“Hmm?” Philippa and I echo at the same time.

“You went from no guys to two guys in a matter of weeks,” Riley drawls from her end of the couch, one knee tucked up as she scrolls through her phone. “You been making milkshakes in private?”

“What?” I blurt out, chuckling under my breath.

Philippa, sitting elegantly in an armchair—because, of course, she can’t lounge like a normal person—sips her wine, watching us over the rim of her glass like a cat ready to pounce.

“Don’t ‘what’ me, babe.” Riley grins, eyes glinting with mischief. “You’re in quite the pickle.”

“There really isn’t anything to talk about,” I mutter quickly, heat rushing to my cheeks. “Broderick and I are…” I falter,unsure how to finish that sentence. Friends? Acquaintances forced into the same wedding party? Something more?

“Yes, please,” Philippa purrs, her gaze sharp. “Enlighten us, Elena. What exactly are you?”

I throw my head back against the couch, groaning. “Friends, I guess.”

Riley snorts. “Yeah, you sound real convinced.”

“Sounds like you’re working overtime to assure yourself of that,” Philippa adds, her eyes glimmering.

“It doesn’t matter,” I shoot back. “I’mwithAlex.”

Riley arches a brow. “Oh? So you’ve defined the relationship?”

“Well, not exactly,” I say, swirling my wine glass.

“So, you’re still a free agent.” Riley smirks knowingly.

I roll my eyes. “No. I mean, I want Alex. He’s the one I want.” I say it firmly, like speaking it out loud might make it true.

Philippa exchanges a look with Riley. “If you say so.”

“I do.”

“Okay,” Riley says slowly, a wicked grin spreading. “But let’s say—hypothetically—there wassomethingwith Broderick. What would that be?”

I exhale sharply. “I don’t know. I don’t even know how I ended up in this mess.”

Riley scoffs. “Oh, no, poor you. Two hot, successful men chasing after you. What a nightmare.”

Philippa, ever composed, doesn’t take the bait. “You sound surprised.”

“Of course I’m surprised,” I groan, leaning forward. “I have nothing to compare this to! I wasn’t some serial dater before, Pip. I didn’t—” I hesitate, swirling my wine. “I never thought I’d be here. Torn between two completely different men, trying to figure out how this even happened.”

Riley rolls her eyes. “Well, I know what I want. Alex. No contest.”

Philippa lets out a slow breath. “Of course you’d say that.”

“Obviously! He’s hot, exciting, makes her feelsomething. Admit it, babe, when you’re with him, it’s thrilling.”

I chew my lip but don’t argue. She’s not wrong.

Philippa isn’t impressed. “He’s complicated. You know that, Elena.”