Immediately afterward, she was terrified Miriam wasn’t wearing it for her at all.

She realized, belatedly, that Miriam was surrounded by an impenetrable pack of people she thought might be famous on Instagram. Her palms started to sweat. Noelle grabbed a glass of sparkling cider and an hors d’oeuvre from a passing high school student. She chugged the cider (a mistake, she got bubbles in her nose) and stuffed the phyllo-wrapped cheese in her mouth.

She was starting to think there was no way she was going to get to Miriam before the auction started if she didn’t bring in reinforcements, and then she passed Hannah wearing an electric blue bandage dress and chatting to a Rosenstein cousin.

“Hannah, I need you to create a diversion for me,” she said, pulling her best friend away from her conversation. “For love.”

Hannah rolled her eyes. “Really? Shenanigans? Who are you, Blue Matthews?”

“Why do people keep saying that to me?” Noelle wailed. After this, she obviously needed to seriously reevaluate her life so people would stop comparing her to Levi.

“I will do this for you,” Hannah said, “but only because I am tired of the two of you swanning around my hotel pining after each other.”

“Also because you love me more than your own breath,” Noelle reminded her.

“Yes, also that. Be ready when you see the wolf pack disperse; you don’t have much time. I hope you have a plan for what you’re going to say.”

She did not.

“It will be fine,” Noelle reassured Hannah—and herself. “It’s totally going to be fine.”

Hannah patted her on the shoulder before shaking her head, muttering how she should have gone to college for sapphic feelings management as she walked purposefully toward Miriam.

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Miriam

Miriam was surrounded by a cadre of famous internet crafters, who were trying their hardest to get her to spill personal details about her breakup with Tara. She was ecstatic to see Hannah walk up.

Hannah smiled brightly at the group. “Miri, love, I have an absolute emergency,” Hannah said, as she hauled Miriam away.

When they were safely behind the food tables under the hayloft, she continued, “I don’t, actually, but I thought you might need a rescue. Also, two dozen people have asked me about sale prices on some of the items for display. You could probably attach ludicrous prices to them tonight. Then we could stash the money in a nest egg. These people are extremely happy on champagne and ready to spend money like it’s their job. Well, maybe it is their job.”