At least, that’s what I told my friends I wanted. But by the sounds of clinking glasses and ambient music spilling out from behind Landon’s apartment door, I somehow get the feeling tonight’s party isn’t going to be as chill as I anticipated.
“Do you think I have to knock at my own apartment?” Landon asks, his dark brows knitting together as he digs in his pocket for his keys.
I lift a shoulder, weaving my fingers into the spaces between his. “They probably wouldn’t even hear you over the music.”
We decide to just walk in, finding the door unlocked. Inside, we’re greeted by a dozen friendly faces, a few of them unexpected. I knew we’d have all the regulars, but it looks like Ana’s hot-tempered boyfriend, Jason, turned up for the party, along with Grant and Jordie, who I haven’t seen since the wedding. When Becca said that this party would be a good way to get everyone together, she really meant everyone. As much as I put up a fight about it, I really am grateful to have all my favorite people together one last time before we leave.
“Hey, hey! Right on time,” Owen calls from the kitchen, lifting two beer bottles in the air so as not to spill them as he weaves through the crowd.
Landon’s apartment is spacious, but it’s still a one-bedroom, not really designed to hold two dozen people. Becca follows a few steps behind Owen, and pulls me in for a big hug.
“Welcome to the first, and therefore best, engagement slash wedding slash going-away party you’ve ever been to.” She gestures to the sparkly silver banner above the couch that reads CONGRATULATIONS! and another right below it that reads BON VOYAGE.
“For some reason, the party store didn’t sell any combination wedding and going-away party banners.” Bailey emerges from the crowded kitchen and hands me a flute of champagne.
“This is too much,” I say, gasping as I take in the black and silver balloons dotting the corners of the room, along with the twinkle lights draped along the granite countertops. It feels like New Year’s Eve in September, in the best possible way.
“Just wait till you see the games!” Ana pulls me into the living room, showing off the trivia game she’s made out of a poster board. She’s written MARRIAGE BOOT CAMP 101 in big bold letters across the top, and each colorful square has a different question written on it, meant to test how well couples know each other.
Apparently, when I said tonight should be low-key and casual, what Ana heard was annoying party games, the kind you play at a baby shower or bridal party. Yes, because I’m sure my new husband is going to love answering trivia questions and diapering a baby doll. Except Landon’s smile hasn’t faded once, and his rich laughter floats across the room to me even now.
God, I’m so lucky to have him.
Once everyone has a drink and a plate of appetizers, we congregate in the living room, pairing off into couples to play the game. Jordie and Grant, the only single guys here, are good sports about being a “Bro Power Couple,” insisting that they’ll beat all the actual couples, which gets a good laugh.
“Come here, Jason.” Ana waves over her boyfriend, who has been sitting on the couch scrolling through his phone since we got here. “We’re starting the game.”
Reluctantly, Jason pockets his phone and stalks over to where Ana’s seated on the carpet, divvying out poker chips to use as game pieces and explaining the rules—roll the dice, move your poker chip that many spaces, and answer the question you land on about your significant other. Clearly, she put a lot of work into this. Honestly, my heart could burst, no matter how cheesy it is.
“The guests of honor get to go first,” Ana says, handing off the dice to Landon.
He rolls them on the board, moves the chip along, and lands on a square marked FAVORITE MOVIE.
“Piece of cake,” he says, shooting me a knowing grin. “Annie.”
I nod enthusiastically. “Got it. And yours is Shawshank Redemption.”
“Yup.”
We high-five, both of us beaming with pride. Not bad for a couple that’s only been together for three months.
“Us next!” Becca giddily snatches up the dice, giving them a roll. She and Owen ace the question about favorite sports teams, which seems unfair seeing as they both say the Seattle Ice Hawks.
After a few more couples ace their questions, including Jordie and Grant, Ana and Jason are up.
“You know this one,” Ana says, clapping her hands between words for emphasis. “My favorite animal! It’s easy!”
Her boyfriend has clueless written all over his face. “I don’t know it. Can I just guess?”
She lets out an exasperated huff, turning toward the group. “Can I give him a clue?”
“Go for it.” Asher shrugs. “You made the game.”
“When we went to the pumpkin patch and they had that petting zoo . . .” She nods toward him, waiting for him to fill in the blanks. “Remember? There was one animal I really, really wanted to pet? Even though there were tons of little kids in line?”
Jason stares at her blankly. “Dog?”
“Oh my God.” She rolls her eyes, throwing her hands up with a frustrated groan. “It’s a goat. Specifically, I love baby goats. You totally knew that.”
“Well, sorry I haven’t memorized every damn thing about you, Ana.” Jason’s jaw tics, his dark eyes narrowing to a squint. “Not every word out of your mouth is fucking gold, you know.”
“Cool it, dude,” Landon says in a low voice, giving Jason a nudge. “It’s just a game.”
“Whatever. This is fucking stupid,” Jason says on a sigh.
Ana shoots her boyfriend a pleading look. “Can we take it easy on the f-bombs tonight and just relax?” She reaches out to rest a hand on his shoulder, but he shrugs out of her reach.
“Don’t fucking tell me to relax.” He pushes to his feet, stepping over the game board and toward the door. “I’ll catch you guys later.”
And just like that, he’s gone, leaving his teary-eyed girlfriend on the floor, confused and hurt.
For a stunned moment, everyone is quiet. The only sound is the ventilation system kicking on and a soft whoosh of air. Ana looks stunned, shaken, and my heart aches for her.
“I . . . I . . .” Ana stammers, her gaze darting between me and the door. “I’m so sorry. I think maybe I should just go.”
“You don’t have to leave, Ana,” I say, giving her a pleading look.
“I know, but I just . . .” She shakes her head. I can tell she’s about three minutes away from real tears.
Crap. I remember being in that situation at the brunch table in Vegas. All I wanted was to run away before my friends saw me cry.
“Whatever you want to do,” I say. “It’s up to you.”
“I think it’s better if I just go,” she says quietly.
“I can take you,” Grant says, rising and holding out a hand to help Ana to her feet. “As much as Jordie and I are a power couple at this game, I’d better quit while I’m ahead.”
Something inside me squeezes at the sight of this huge, hulking man of few words and even fewer emotions offering to be her savior for the night.
Then again, I recall the way Grant’s jaw muscles flexed when Jason verbally sparred with Ana in the kitchen earlier. It was like he was grinding his molars to avoid getting between them. And while I’ve never seen him offer to drive someone home before, you’d have to be blind not to notice the way Grant sometimes looks at Ana. Then again, how could you not look at Ana in any way but with fondness? She’s adorable and tiny. And sweet, like one of those little elves who lives in a tree house baking cookies.