I barely had time to breathe before Maya grabbed my arm.

"Where were you?" she whisper-yelled, dragging me into place beside her. "You were so late. Sophia was this close to losing it and you weren't there."

"I'm sorry," I whispered back quickly. "I overslept. I had to rush everything, I didn't even have time to stop anywhere. I'm really sorry."

Maya squinted at me like she didn't fully believe it.

Then she waved it off.

"Whatever. You're here now. That's what matters."

I nodded, exhaling softly as I finally took my place.

Everything... slowed.

The chairs were filled, soft chatter settling into quiet anticipation. The air was warm—perfectly warm—the kind that sits gently on your skin without suffocating you. The Tuscan sun filtered through the trees, casting soft golden light across the aisle.

It was beautiful.

Effortlessly beautiful.

On the other side, Henry stood at the altar—already nervous, already shifting his weight like he didn't know what to do with himself.

Luke stood beside him, one hand on his shoulder, saying something low, probably trying to calm him down.

Josh, on the other hand, was doing the exact opposite—leaning in, whispering something that made Henry groan and shove him lightly.

I smiled.

That felt... normal.

Familiar.

And then—

The music started.

Soft violins filled the space, delicate and emotional, wrapping around everyone like a quiet signal that this was it.

All heads turned.

Sophia appeared.

And for a second—

Everything else disappeared.

She looked... unreal.

Not just beautiful.

Not just stunning.

But happy in a way that made it impossible to look away.

Henry didn't even try to hold it together.

The second he saw her, his face broke completely—eyes watering, a full, unashamed cry escaping him.

A few soft laughs rippled through the guests.

Sophia smiled through it, shaking her head slightly like she expected nothing less.

George walked her down the aisle slowly, his expression full of pride, something deeper underneath it.

And when he finally placed her hand in Henry's—

There it was.

That moment.

That quiet, simple transfer of something so big it couldn't even be named properly.

George stepped back.

Henry held her hands like they were the only thing keeping him standing.

And the ceremony began.

The pastor's voice was calm, steady, filling the space with words that felt... heavier than they should.

He spoke about love.

About how it wasn't just something you found—but something that found you.

About how sometimes two people meet, and something shifts in a way that can't be undone.

"That when two souls recognize each other," he said, "they don't always understand it immediately. Sometimes they fight it. Sometimes they ignore it. Sometimes they walk away from it."

My chest tightened.

I didn't mean to—

But my eyes moved.

And there he was.

Already looking at me.

Like he knew.

Like he felt it too.

The words.

The weight of them.

The way they didn't just belong to Sophia and Henry.

But to something else.

Something... unfinished that had finally found its way back.

"They are two halves of the same piece," the pastor continued, "meant to meet, meant to love, meant to find their way back to each other—even if it takes time."

Time.

Years.

Almosts.

Missed chances.

My breath caught slightly.

"Maddie."

Maya's voice snapped me out of it.

I blinked, turning toward her.

"What?"

Her eyes narrowed at me.

"What the hell is going on with you and Luke?"

I froze.

"What? Nothing."

"Nothing?" she repeated, clearly not convinced. "Did you fight again? Because honestly, thank God this is almost over. I'm so sorry I even had the idea of you two fake dating. I know you hate him and he hates you—"

"I don't—" I started.

She kept going.

"—and I forced you into this whole thing for three days. That's on me. Also maybe on Josh, because I was drinking because of Josh—"

"Yeah," I muttered, "you're going to have to explain that to me too."

"I will," she said quickly. "But seriously, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pushed this."

I looked back ahead.

At Sophia.

At Henry.

At the way they looked at each other like nothing else existed.

Then, quieter—

"It's fine."

Maya frowned.

"What do you mean it's fine? You hate him."

I hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then—

"We survived each other," I said, almost under my breath. "Between all the... differences."

Maya studied me.

Then slowly nodded.

"Huh. Well. That's... good, I guess."

I nodded too.

But my eyes drifted again.

Back to him.

And this time—

He didn't look away.

"And you may now kiss the bride."

Henry didn't hesitate.

He didn't even pretend to be calm about it.

He pulled Sophia in like he'd been waiting his entire life for that exact second—and kissed her like the whole world had just aligned properly for the first time.

The crowd erupted.

Claps, cheers, whistles.

Josh yelled something inappropriate.

Maya laughed.

I smiled so hard my cheeks hurt.

Sophia pulled back, laughing through it, and Henry just looked at her like he still couldn't believe she was real.

And for a moment—

It was simple.

Pure.

Exactly what love was supposed to look like.

—

The ceremony melted into celebration.

Champagne glasses.

Soft music.

People moving, laughing, talking louder now that everything official was done.

The sun was higher, warmer, the kind of golden afternoon that made everything feel lighter.

We gathered near the garden area, drinks in hand, still riding the high of it all.

And that's when it started.

Maya and Josh.

Of course.

"I'm telling you," Maya said, already a little too animated, "this man—this man—was ready to run."

"I was not running," Josh defended.

"You were literally packing your bag."

"That's called preparation."

"That's called being a coward."

"Survivor," he corrected.

"Coward," she shot back.

Henry laughed, shaking his head. "I mean... Josh settling down? That's something I never thought I'd see."

Josh smirked, wrapping an arm casually around Maya's waist.

"Yeah," he said. "Neither did I."

A beat.

Then, softer—but still very much Josh—

"Till I found the right one."

There was a collective pause.

Then—

"Ohhhh," Sophia cooed, clapping her hands like she had just witnessed the greatest love story ever told.

Maya rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the smile.

Josh looked way too proud of himself.

"This is so good!" Sophia continued, practically glowing. "There are two couples in the group now—we can do double dates!"

My stomach flipped.

I felt it before I even looked at him.

Luke.

We glanced at each other.

Just for a second.

That silent question—

Do we say something?

Do we not?

And then—

"Two?" Dylan's voice cut in.

Of course.

Of course he was there.

"Pretty sure it's three," he added casually. "Luke and Maddie are dating, aren't you?"

Before I could even think—

"Yeah."

Luke.

Natural. Easy. Like breathing.

Sophia blinked, then quickly laughed. "Oh—yeah, yeah! Sorry! I completely forgot about you two."

"Chill," Luke said lightly. "It's okay."

I forced a small smile.

This was still the plan.

Right?

Before I could settle into that thought—

Victoria appeared.

Of course she did.

With Ben and Tessa trailing behind her.

"So technically," she said, slipping right into the circle, "you can make it four. Dylan's here with his girlfriend too."

Luke didn't even look at her.

"I mean, you can," he said casually. "But I prefer dates with just my girlfriend."

My heart skipped.

I looked at him.

He looked at me.

And something in his eyes said—

I meant that.

Victoria laughed.

Sharp.

"Oh please. Luke, you were never that type. Don't start lying now."

"I'm not lying," he said calmly. "I'd rather spend every minute of every day with her than with all of you."

My eyes widened slightly.

Okay. That's a lot.

I subtly shook my head at him.

Careful.

He ignored me.

Of course he did.

Victoria tilted her head.

"So now you're romantic?"

"No," he said. "I'm just being truthful."

She scoffed. "As if you ever were."

"Maybe not with you," he replied. "But I am with her."

Silence.

Heavy.

Then—

Victoria laughed again, but it didn't sound as confident this time.

"Oh, please. Are you seriously telling me you like her more than me?"

Luke finally looked at her.

And there was no hesitation.

"No comparison, Victoria. You know that."

A beat.

"That's why we broke up."

The air shifted.

Everyone felt it.

The kind of silence that makes people stop mid-breath.

I shook my head slightly at him.

Stop.

He didn't.

Victoria's expression cracked.

Just a little.

Then more.

"I hate you," she snapped—looking straight at me.

I blinked. "What? I didn't—"

"Exactly," she cut in. "You didn't do anything. And somehow that makes it worse."

Her eyes moved to Luke.

Sharp. Hurt. Angry.

"I was obsessed with you," she said, voice trembling now. "And all you ever saw—was her. It's pathetic."

No one moved.

No one spoke.

"I wasted so much time," she continued. "On both of you."

Then she shook her head, laughing bitterly.

"I hope you're never happy. Honestly. I hope you just disappear out of my life."

And with that—

She walked away.

Leaving silence behind.

Real silence.

The kind that lingers.

Everyone looked at us.

At me.

At Luke.

Maya was the first to break.

"What the hell was that?" she asked, eyes locked on Luke.

He shrugged.

Too casually.

"Who knows. She's kind of crazy."

Maya didn't buy it for a second.

"Luke."

Her tone sharpened.

"What does she mean?"

He didn't answer.

Maya turned to me.

"Do you know about this?"

I shook my head. "No."

Which wasn't a lie.

Just... not the full truth.

Her eyes snapped back to Luke.

"Wait—" she paused. "Did you like Maddie?"

A beat.

"Oh my God," she whispered. "Did you like Maddie all along?"

Luke didn't even try to dodge it.

"I think it was quite obvious."

Josh burst out laughing.

Henry followed.

Sophia just looked between us like her brain was buffering.

Maya—

Maya lost it.

"Oh my God," she repeated, turning to me. "Oh my God, you liked her? Like liked liked Maddie? All along?"

I swallowed.

"I—"

"How are you not freaking out?" she demanded.

"I am freaking out," I said quickly. "Internally. Very intensely."

She narrowed her eyes.

Then looked at Luke.

Then back at me.

Then again.

Processing.

Reprocessing.

Something clicked.

Her expression shifted.

Wait.

Wait.

Her eyes widened.

"Wait."

A pause.

"What is going on?"