Present Day

I was still counting the wooden squares of the dance floor—thirty-seven, thirty-eight, thirty-nine—when Maya elbowed me hard enough to knock the numbers right out of my head.

"The clown arrived," she muttered.

I looked up just in time to see Josh burst into the villa like a natural disaster with good hair.

"HENRYYYY," he yelled, arms wide. "HONEY, I AM HOME."

Henry laughed before Josh even reached him, and when they finally collided it was all limbs and back-slapping and the kind of hug that said we survived adolescence together. Sophia smiled beside him, already used to the volume, already resigned.

The party had spilled fully onto the grass now—string lights draped between trees, warm yellow bulbs glowing against the night. It should've felt romantic. It did, for about half a second.

That second ended when Josh kissed Henry's cheek loudly and announced, "My boy is so big now."

"Oh my God," Henry groaned. "Please stop."

Josh finally noticed me waving and immediately abandoned everyone else, charging straight at me. I barely had time to brace before he scooped me up and hugged me so tight my feet left the ground.

"How are you, Mads?"

"Barely breathing," I wheezed into his shoulder.

He laughed, put me down, and then—inevitably—turned toward Maya.

"Maya."

"Josh."

If looks could kill, the grass would've been stained red.

Josh blinked once, twice, then decided self-preservation was the better option. He turned away like nothing had happened and scanned the crowd instead.

"Where's my nerd?"

I pointed.

That was all the direction he needed.

Luke was a few steps away, mid-conversation with some guys, when Josh barreled into him and wrapped him in a bear hug. Luke froze for exactly one second—classic—before sighing and returning it, one arm awkwardly patting Josh's back.

"There he is," Josh said, grinning. "Still tall. Still broody. Still looking like he's one inconvenience away from murder."

Luke pulled back just enough to look at him. "You're loud."

"I missed you too."

I watched them from where I stood, a strange warmth settling in my chest. All of us here, under the same lights, older but somehow exactly the same. Josh still too much. Henry still soft. Maya still sharp.

The DJ clapped his hands twice, sharp and loud, cutting through the chatter like a referee with a whistle.

"Alright, alright—attention, beautiful people!" he called out. "If you've got a drink in your hand, keep it. If you've got a phone, take it out. It's time to find out who actually knows the bride and groom."

A collective cheer rolled across the lawn.

Behind him, the staff unfolded a massive white screen—one of those portable projector things that looked way too professional for how chaotic this crowd was about to get. A second later, the first slide popped up: KAHOOT – HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW SOPHIA & HENRY?

Josh dropped into the seat next to me like he'd been assigned there by fate, immediately cracking his knuckles.

"I was born for this," he said. "Competitive trivia is my love language."

Henry sat on Josh's other side, already nervous, already focused, while Sophia leaned into him, smiling like she knew exactly how this was going to end.

Maya, meanwhile, was on her third refill, staring at her phone like it had personally wronged her.

"Drink every time I get one wrong," she announced. "Or right. Or when I feel like it."

The DJ continued, clearly enjoying himself.

"Okay! First question—whoever answers fastest gets the point. Ready?"

The first slide flashed up.

QUESTION 1: What is Sophia's all-time favorite comfort food?

Josh squinted at his phone. "Is it pasta? Everyone loves pasta."

I tapped soup without thinking.

Henry didn't even hesitate.

The answer popped up in big bold letters: TOMATO SOUP WITH GRILLED CHEESE.

Henry's phone chimed. Point.

Sophia laughed and kissed his cheek. "You know me too well."

Josh groaned dramatically. "Already rigged."

The questions kept coming.

QUESTION 2: Who said 'I love you' first?
Henry. Obviously.

QUESTION 3: What city did they first travel to together?
Henry again—Florence.

QUESTION 4: What annoys Sophia the most about Henry?

Maya answered his socks, wrong.
Josh answered his breathing, wrong.
Henry answered when he apologizes too much.

Correct.

"Oh come on," Josh said. "That's adorable, not annoying."

Sophia shrugged. "It's both."

Laughter rippled through the crowd as the scoreboard climbed higher and higher—Henry miles ahead, the rest of us fighting for second like it mattered.

At one point, the DJ leaned into the mic and said, "Okay, at this rate, I'm starting to think we should just crown someone early."

Josh shot up a finger. "Objection. I'm warming up."

The final question flashed.

FINAL QUESTION: Where did Henry plan to propose originally?

The lawn went quiet.

I hesitated.
Josh guessed Paris.
Maya guessed drunk at a bar.

Henry answered without blinking.

"In our kitchen. On a Tuesday. Because she had a bad day."

The screen confirmed it.

CORRECT.

The crowd lost it. Applause, cheers, a few dramatic awws. Sophia covered her face, laughing and crying at the same time.

"And we have a winner!" the DJ announced. "Give it up for the man who clearly read the manual—Henry!"

Josh leaned back in his chair, defeated. "I can't believe I lost to emotional intelligence."

I glanced at Henry, glowing and embarrassed and so completely in love, and felt something soft settle in my chest.

I turned my head without thinking—

The DJ wasn't done with us. Not even close.

He raised a finger like a professor about to announce an exam.
"Oh no, sit down, sit down—round two," he said, grinning. "This one's special."

The slide changed.

KAHOOT – WHO KNOWS THE GROOM BEST?
Subtitle: For those who have known him since before he was hot.

The lawn erupted.

Henry buried his face in his hands. "I hate all of you already."

Josh slammed his palms on the table. "THIS is my moment."

Sophia leaned over and kissed Henry's cheek. "Good luck surviving this."

Everyone pulled their phones back up. Even Maya straightened a little, like she suddenly cared about something other than her drink.

The DJ cleared his throat dramatically.
"Rule stays the same. Fastest correct answer wins. And yes—Henry is playing too."

Henry groaned. "That feels illegal."

QUESTION 1:

What was Henry's worst habit in high school?

Josh answered immediately: Talking too much.
Maya chose: Overthinking.
I tapped: Apologizing for things that weren't his fault.

Henry didn't even answer—he just stared at the screen like it personally attacked him.

CORRECT ANSWER: Apologizing for things that weren't his fault.

Point for me.

Josh turned slowly. "Oh. You're dangerous."

I shrugged. "I observe."

Henry muttered, "I still do that."

Sophia squeezed his hand. "Yes, but now it's cute."

QUESTION 2:

What is Henry's biggest irrational fear?

Maya laughed out loud while answering clowns.
Josh put failure.
I hesitated—then chose disappointing people.

Henry sighed deeply.

CORRECT: Disappointing people.

Another point for me.

Josh pointed accusingly. "Why are you winning?"

"Because I listen," I said sweetly.

QUESTION 3:

What was Henry's first crush?

The entire table leaned forward.

Josh smirked and typed something fast.
Maya squinted suspiciously.
I froze, thumb hovering.

Henry's ears turned red.

The answer popped up.

A girl named Emma from middle school who sat in front of him in math class.

Josh whooped. "I KNEW IT!"

Maya groaned. "I forgot about Emma!"

Henry groaned louder. "Why is this public knowledge?"

Sophia laughed so hard she had to lean on him. "You never told me her name!"

He whispered, "I didn't think it mattered anymore."

QUESTION 4:

What is Henry's go-to order at a café?

Everyone answered fast.

CORRECT: Cappuccino with extra foam.

Point for Luke.

I blinked and turned to look at him.

He hadn't reacted at all—just slipped his phone back onto the table like it was nothing.

Josh noticed. "Hold on. You knew that?"

Luke shrugged. "He orders it every time."

Henry stared at him. "You remember that?"

"You get foam on your nose," Luke said simply. "It's... noticeable."

Maya burst out laughing. "Oh my God, that's adorable."

FINAL QUESTION:

The DJ smiled like a menace.

Who was the first person Henry ever told he loved? (Not romantically.)

The air shifted. Just slightly.

Phones hovered. Fingers hesitated.

I didn't answer right away.

Josh slowly lowered his phone, thoughtful.
Maya stopped smiling.

Henry swallowed.

Then the answer appeared.

Luke.

Silence.

Then applause—soft at first, then louder.

Henry looked at Luke, embarrassed but honest. "You were the first person who made me feel like I wasn't too much."

Luke looked... stunned. He blinked once, then looked away, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I forgot about that," he said quietly.

The DJ cleared his throat, suddenly gentler.
"And with that... we have our winner."

The scoreboard flashed.

1st place: Maddie
2nd place: Josh
3rd place: Luke

Josh leaned back, defeated. "I lost to emotional intelligence again."

Maya raised her glass. "To knowing people."

Henry stood up, lifted his drink, and smiled at all of us.
"To friends who stay."

I lifted mine too—eyes flicking, just for a second, to Luke.

He was already looking at me.

The DJ clapped his hands again, absolutely thriving.

"Alright, alright—time for a classic," he announced. "Bride and groom, please take your seats."

Sophia and Henry were guided to two chairs in the middle of the grass, placed back-to-back. Someone handed each of them a white heel and a black dress shoe.

Sophia lifted the heel. "Why does this feel threatening?"

Henry inspected the shoe like it might betray him. "I already feel judged."

The DJ held up a stack of cards for the guests. One side said BRIDE, the other GROOM.

"Rules are simple," he said. "I'll ask a question. The couple answers by raising the shoe that matches who they think fits best. You—" he pointed at all of us "—answer with your cards. Let's see how well you really know them."

Josh cracked his knuckles. "I was born for this."

Maya squinted. "I'm emotionally invested now."

I flipped my card between my fingers, already smiling.

⸻

QUESTION 1:

Who said 'I love you' first?

Sophia instantly raised the heel.
Henry hesitated—then slowly raised the heel too.

The crowd howled.

I lifted BRIDE.
Luke lifted BRIDE without blinking.
Josh lifted BRIDE and yelled, "WE ALL KNEW."

Sophia laughed, twisting in her chair. "I told him after three weeks!"

Henry groaned. "I was waiting for the right moment!"

The DJ grinned. "Point for honesty."

⸻

QUESTION 2:

Who takes longer to get ready?

Henry raised the heel immediately.

Sophia paused... then raised the shoe.

Gasps. Laughter.

I lifted GROOM.
Luke did the same.
Josh flipped his card back and forth, then committed to GROOM.

Sophia laughed. "He re-irons shirts that don't need ironing!"

Henry protested, "Precision matters!"

Luke muttered, "It really does."

I shot him a look. "Don't encourage him."

⸻

QUESTION 3:

Who is more stubborn?

Both shoes went up at the same time.

The crowd lost it.

Maya slammed BRIDE on the table.
Josh raised GROOM.
I hesitated... then lifted BOTH by flipping my card dramatically back and forth.

Sophia laughed. "See? That's why it works."

Henry nodded. "We cancel each other out."

The DJ wiped fake tears. "Beautiful."

⸻

QUESTION 4:

Who is more likely to forget where they put their phone?

Sophia raised the shoe.
Henry raised the shoe.

Unanimous.

Josh leaned toward me. "I've seen him look for his phone while holding it."

Luke added quietly, "Twice."

Henry sighed. "I feel attacked."

⸻

QUESTION 5:

Who is the bigger romantic?

Sophia didn't even hesitate—shoe up.

Henry paused... then lifted the shoe too, smiling to himself.

I lifted GROOM.

Luke did too.

Josh squinted, faking surprise. "Wait—really?"

Sophia twisted in her chair. "He writes me notes. Like—actual notes."

Henry cleared his throat. "They help me say things."

"You are still soft as ever." Josh commented.

⸻

FINAL QUESTION:

The DJ's voice dropped theatrically.

Who will cry first at the altar?

Sophia raised the heel.

Henry didn't even answer—he just laughed.

I lifted GROOM.
Maya lifted GROOM while already wiping her eyes.
Josh lifted GROOM confidently.
Luke lifted GROOM... then glanced at Henry and added, quietly, "I'll be close."

Sophia laughed so hard she actually snorted.

The DJ clapped. "Ladies and gentlemen—give it up for the couple who clearly know each other a little too well."

Applause filled the garden. Lights flickered softly overhead. Sophia and Henry finally turned to face each other, laughing, glowing, a little emotional.

I looked at them—really looked.

And for just a second, the noise faded.

Then Josh leaned over and whispered, "If I ever do this, I'm refusing the shoe game."

I snorted. "Bold of you to assume you'd make it that far."

"Why ? you don't believe I can do it?"

"You were the one that said you would never marry"

"More than once." Luke murmured making Josh roll his eyes.

"Whatever."