Members of our team started trickling in, fresh from the pregaming that had taken place at a bar down the street. The reporters from Vogue and Architectural Digest checked in, along with photographers from New York magazine and Vanity Fair.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Perrine and Lola saunter in, hands linked. And behind them, Franny, red-lipped, hair everywhere, arms crossed, face beaming. She was in some sort of olive-green jumpsuit that I knew instinctively Eleanor would love. I made my way over to them, beer in hand, trying not to appear as nervous as I felt inside. I was excited to see her, but I still couldn’t figure out how to show it, or if I should at all.

“Hayes-y!” Perrine yelled as I approached, which was the absolute last thing I wanted her to call me in front of the woman I couldn’t stop thinking about.

“Perrine,” I replied as she grabbed me with both hands for a hug. “Please don’t call me that in public,” I muttered as I leaned in.

She just laughed in response.

“Hello, Lola,” I said as she also came in for a hug. I guess I hugged now.

“Hayes,” she said, planting the slightest kiss on my cheek.

“Hey!” Franny said from behind Lola with a wave.

“Franny, hi!” I leaned forward and then stepped back, unsure of how exactly to greet her. Should I also hug her? Was that too much? Or was it weird if I hugged everyone else and not her? I couldn’t figure out the right move. So we just stood there, staring at each other.

“I’m so glad you—” I started, just as she said, “It looks amazing in—”

“You first.” I gestured her on with a slight wave of my hand.

“I told Lola how hard you’ve been working on this night,” she said with a small smile. “And it looks awesome.”

I shook my head. “We would literally not even be here if it wasn’t for you, so…”

“Well, it looks great,” Lola chimed in, with a side-eyed glance at Franny.

“Thank you,” I said. “I’m glad you all could make it.” I snuck a look back in Franny’s direction. She was beaming as she surveyed the scene, her hands on her hips. This night belonged to her as much as it did Eleanor and me.

“Well, we’ll let you get back to schmoozing,” Perrine said. And with a knowing eye roll to Lola and Franny, she muttered sarcastically, “His favorite thing to do.”

Franny shot me an amused look and then turned and followed them toward the bar.