I race over to the phone to see a picture of Raj and the groomsmen all wearing some type of wizard hat with purple stars popping off of it like three dimensional mockery of Divya's wedding plans.

"Don't worry, Divya," Carla says, pulling the phone out of her hand. "I'm sure it's just a silly picture meant as a joke. It's fine."

"Yeah, he's just teasing," Lorena adds.

"He should know me well enough to know that I wouldn't want to see that on my wedding day." Divya's almost hyperventilating at this point, so we make her sit down, the hairstylists following us and continuing to work. When they say they'll work through anything, they aren't kidding.

"Maybe someone else sent it from his phone," Lorena offers.

"Totally seems like a thing Tyrone would do," I add. Partially for her sake, but mostly because it is true. One of the many reasons his breaking it off with me was for the best, in the end.

"Oh God, that is totally something Tyrone would do," Carla agrees. "I'm sure it's just them being silly. Let's wait and see what they're wearing when we get there before we freak."

Divya doesn't seem convinced.

"What if I get Enrique to go over there and check up on them? Would that make you feel better?"

Divya nods almost imperceptibly, probably because two women are poking the back of her head with hundreds of hair pins.

"On it," I say, pulling my own phone out of my pocket and sending a quick text to Enrique.

Almost immediately, I receive his reply. I'm on my way over. Do you ladies need me to bring anything to you first?

"He's going to go make sure everything okay," I say to Divya, before telling Enrique we're fine.

Good to hear, is his reply. I'll see you at the wedding.

Yes, I'll see him at the wedding.

Except when we are finally dressed, hairstyled, and ready to go, Enrique is nowhere to be found.

Hey are you coming with us? I text him, delaying an extra few minutes pretending not to be able to find my shoe.

Carla bangs on the door and yells that we need to leave, just as Enrique's text comes in. No, I'm still busy. I'll see you there, though.

I waste no time running out of the room and into the limo waiting by the front door.

"Sorry. I found my shoe, though!" I say as I slide into the back seat, hoping they'll buy my excuse.

The conversation about bouquets and seating arrangements continues as though I didn't say anything at all, so I join in, telling Divya how beautiful her floral arrangements are as the limo pulls out into traffic and off toward Divya and Raj's almost elopement.

* * *

Divya's wedding is about to start and I cannot find Enrique anywhere. Which is weird given the whole plan was to stay together to look good at this wedding.

He was supposed to make such a good impression today that I'd want to stay with him for at least another week? Well, so far he is failing that. Hard.

A knot has firmly settled around me, making air hard to come by, but I'm trying to forget about how I'll look or what it all means, because Divya looks like she might lose her lunch.

I peek out from behind the silk curtain that hides us from the crowd. If you can call less than twenty people a crowd. The gathered friends and family all sit quietly talking to each other and Raj's eyes sparkle in the low light with a joy that is so whole and sincere I can't help but want to watch Divya marry him today.

"You can do this," I say, returning to her side. "Everyone is out there so excited to be here with you. And Raj looks like he's about ready to explode with joy." I press my hand into Divya's arm as she bounces on her heels. "You ready?"

"Not really, but I have to be, right?"

I don't mean for my stare to be so intense when I stop her from bouncing. "You don't have to be ready. You don't have to do this. I can go out there right now and tell everyone 'sorry it's off, Raj and Divya are eloping from their elopement'. I'll even give you a head start."

Carla snorts her laughter beside me and I glare at her, but it doesn't stop a fit of giggles she pretends to hide behind her hand.

Divya sighs, rubbing her hands down her arms. "You don't have to do that, I was just... I was just hoping my parents might have come."

"They did come," Enrique appears to our left and the tension falls out of my shoulders. "Sorry I'm late," he adds for my sake. "Raj sent me on a last minute errand that took longer than expected."

I guess that answers my unasked question of where he was. His hair rustles in the breeze and I have a sudden urge to kiss him.

"They came? I can't believe my parents are here." Divya can't contain her joy as her parents wrap her into a hug.

"She deserved to have her parents here for this," Enrique says, as we both watch the family hug with tenderness.

"She did." I sigh. "Do you regret not having your parents at our wedding?"

I don't know why I asked that. And I have no idea why I care. Well, maybe I have a little idea. His arm wrapped around me certainly isn't hurting his cause.

"No. Not really. I don't think I would have wanted any extra witnesses to getting drunk and making... well, a decision."

A good decision or a bad decision?

I don't have time to ask him before Divya's parents shift their hug to me, giving Enrique the opportunity to sneak out with nothing more than a kiss on the cheek. Somehow that's even more confusing than when I thought he'd decided to skip the wedding.

I'm still reeling from his departure when Divya's dad releases me from a hug and turns back to Divya. "We are so glad we're all here to celebrate our little girl. We couldn't be more proud of both of you."

"I do hope you will forgive our lateness," Divya's mom interjects as she pulls back from the hug. "It was difficult to find a flight on three day's notice."

Divya's face falls. I'm about to jump in to defend her when her mother continues. "But it is a beautiful thing that you are getting married. A beautiful thing we must celebrate. No matter our disagreements, that man is going to be your husband. And you are going to be his wife. And I want you to know, Divya, that we are going to be here for you both. We are so very happy for you."

"Thank you," Divya's eyes well with tears and Lorena jumps in with a handkerchief to stop the mascara from dripping down her face, leaving stains like SUV tracks in the desert sand.

"And Divya, I want you to have these." She produces several beautiful gold pieces of jewellery. "I know you have many beautiful pieces already but it is tradition in our family for mothers to give these to their daughters. Maybe one day you will be able to give them to your daughter. They are for good luck."

Lorena's handkerchief is no match for the tears streaming down Divya's face as the string quartet plays some version of the wedding march, beckoning us all up the aisle.

"May I?" Her dad asks, arm outstretched.

Divya's too choked up to answer, just threading her arm through his and nodding.

I'm leaving her in good hands as I make my way up the aisle towards Raj and his groomsmen. One thing I will say for that man is he's sure and steady as a rock. There is not an ounce of fear or nerves as he waits for Divya to join him.

Enrique is sitting in the third row, and when I catch his glance, it bears a shocking resemblance to the one I just witnessed in Raj. Something very much like stability and earnest... love? Does Enrique love me?

I shoot a small smile his way and make it to the end of the aisle, refusing to look at him for the rest of the wedding, lest I forget something important like the rings.

Staying present is hard when I know Enrique-my husband-is watching me with some kind of longing glance despite the very interesting dress I have on.

When Divya and Raj say their vows, I do risk a glance over at Tyrone standing opposite me. The smile we share is one of a past we will never be able to fully put behind us. But suddenly that doesn't seem so bad. His eyes drift to Emiko and they softly stare at each other as Divya and Raj are pronounced officially married.

Nothing like a wedding to bring out love in the air.

If only I knew what that felt like.

Enrique's stare sears my skin. Maybe I do know a little bit of what that feels like.