So that leads to the question: What is my ex–best friend doing tonight instead? I wonder if she baked cookies with Neda, and if they’re sharing a blanket and watching a quintessential high school movie like 10 Things I Hate About You. I wonder if Gideon made her a prom-inspired playlist. I wonder if her mom called in reinforcements and she’s being treated to an at-home mani-pedi. I wonder if she’s staring at her phone, debating whether to text me.

Sure, I never fantasized about prom, but if I was one of those girls who had? Every version of the night would have placed me and Parisa at the dance together, making the best of things like we desperately tried to do all through high school. No version would have had me wrapping up a twelve-hour shift in the seafood department, late into the night, at Lunardi’s. This is not exactly how I wanted to be spending a Saturday night either, but by the time I clock out, hang up my apron, and get into Elena’s car, my feet hurt so bad that I can almost pretend I’ve been dancing in high heels all night.

“Happy prom,” she says.

“Thanks, but it’s midnight. Technically, it’s not even prom night anymore.” I roll down the window and then apologize for the stench I’ve brought into the car. “I had to work seafood tonight. I never want to look at raw scallops ever again.”

“Well, that doesn’t sound like fun at all, but there’s a little surprise for you at home.”

When we arrive at our apartment, I find a corsage placed on my bed and a box of chocolates.

“Wes sent those over,” Julia tells me.

If I had fantasized about prom, I realize, I probably would not have placed me and Wes there together, at least not as anything more than just friends. But sometimes reality is so much better than what you can make up in your head. I smile and slide the corsage onto my wrist. I feel exhausted, but I don’t even bother taking a shower or changing out of my work uniform before I sit at my computer to video-chat with Wes. It’s the middle of the night in New York, but he promised he’d wait up for me. And seeing his face at the end of the day is the life raft I need. I can’t help but laugh when his face fills up the screen, and I notice he’s wearing one of those cheesy tuxedo T-shirts. Life will never be boring with Wes Bowen in it.

“I feel so underdressed,” I say.

“No way,” Wes replies. “Your Lunardi’s polo shirt is super hot.”

“How do you think the rest of the school is celebrating prom?”