“There are different activities every day through Valentine’s,” Maddie said. “I know Stuart and Jai want to hit up some of them this Saturday and Sunday between wedding stuff, so you should get to see a bit of it. The festival ends with the group wedding and closing ceremonies on Tuesday.”

Ryann was still a little baffled. Stuart had explained the group wedding, but it was hard to wrap her mind around it. Something like forty or fifty couples would be getting married or renewing their vows at the same time as he and Jai—maybe more. Indeed, for the actual wedding part of it, she wasn’t involved at all—none of the party was—beyond standing nearby. Later, at the reception, they would do group photos together, and Jai and Stuart would exchange their vows there, but bringing the rings was the extent of her responsibilities as maid of honor on the day itself.

The whole thing was bizarre. But he and Jai had watched the group wedding together last year on their first date, which was what had given Stuart the idea to begin with. She’d never envisioned anything so corny for his wedding, but apparently Stuart was a cornball at heart.

Erin returned with two flights of beer, a waitress carrying a third. Erin set one in front of her spot and Darcy’s, one in front of Jai and Stuart, and one in front of Maddie and her. As Erin explained each beer, Ryann was forced to watch and interact with Maddie, their hands brushing more often than was probably necessary as they exchanged samples. As they continued the tasting, her face flushed with heat and alcohol, and Maddie’s steady gaze on her wasn’t helping. Erin was explaining why her beer was superior to all of the others, but Ryann was only half-listening. She finally met Maddie’s eyes, and the outside world seemed to disappear in a hazy fog of relief. It was so nice simply to see her.

Finally, she held the second half of the last little glass out for Maddie, her fingers trembling slightly. Maddie took it, pausing briefly to squeeze her fingers and grinning somewhat wickedly at her blush. She looked away, suddenly embarrassed, and realized then that their friends had fallen silent. Even Erin was quiet, watching the two of them with a smirk.

“What?” she asked.

“Uh, nothing,” Erin said. “Just that you two are ridiculous.”

“What do you mean?”

Erin laughed. “Oh, I don’t know—maybe that you’re flirting over a glass of beer?”

Ryann colored, Maddie’s eyes catching hers for a minute. Her grin seemed smug, and Ryann was suddenly overwhelmed. She stood up, scooting out of the little booth. Everyone stared at her.

“Toilet?” she asked. Erin pointed, and she had to force herself not to run away.