In the lobby, Alicia was walking Agatha around in her jeweled harness yelling, “T-minus two, T-minus two,” to her staff, and older guests complained to the front desk about the heat.

I found Aiden in his room in a robe. He hugged me, and I savored his scent as if we were two homoerotic pals who would rarely see each other again post-marriage.

“Dude, you are not ready at all,” he said, taking in my sandy toes and barely buttoned shirt.

“I’ll be fine.”

I rubbed his hair, which was back to Gram-level sculpting.

The room was quiet. He and Rachel were following the straight-person tradition where you’re not supposed to interact with your fiancé before the wedding ceremony, allowing each person their last few hours of “freedom.”

“How are you doing?”

“I don’t know, Pen.” His voice was shaky.

I took a deep breath and imagined everything beneath the façade of a beautiful wedding. “I should tell you something.”

“Yes?” he said.

“The Rhiz asked me to go over and talk to your family about your wedding. But I couldn’t. I was afraid they would hate me. After you came over the Blithe’s, I had an idea. I did a little stalking and found your dad’s gym. I talked to his coach, who was surprisingly nice for someone highly invested in normative masculinity. And we set up a match between you and your dad. Today.”

“Today?” He pulled back.

“During the reception, out on a semi-hidden dune. With only select spectators.”

“Holy shit.”

“Is that okay?”

“Did I ask you to get involved with him?”

“No. But I know that it’s important.”

“He’s really coming?”

“He’s really coming.”

“What about my mom? And Ava?”

“Alicia gave me invitations to leave for them, and I have not heard back.”

He walked over to the window and turned around.

“He agreed to fight me?”

“Yes, three rounds. We had to go back and forth about the weight differential because he’s a big guy.”

“I don’t know, Pen. I’m already freaking out enough as it is.”

“Yes, it’s a lot, but think how good it will feel to face him, to punch him, even.”

“Hm. What about my gloves?”

“Alicia has them.”

“I’m blaming you if this all falls apart.”

“Please do.”

The crowd was nearly silent. At the front of the wedding party, closest to the water, the older relatives sat on armchairs that had been carried all the way from the inn. From the second standing row, I could see Rachel’s grandmother in a navy turban that blocked some folks’ view. I felt a camaraderie with her. I was also trying to further my own agenda.

I laughed silently to myself, rolling the eggs in my pockets. Stone had her eyes closed and seemed to be enjoying the breeze, the pause. Her gown was slightly more neutral than gold. The hair stylist had blown out her hair and it felt soft and lustrous to my touch. Around her neck, a long necklace held a single sapphire. I was in a sand-colored suit, my first. Aiden had taken me to a trans tailor who wrapped measuring tape across the important junctures of my bod. In our inn room, I’d almost wept with pleasure, looking at myself, properly attired.