Bea went last. “I’m sorry,” she said to Leo, and had to stand on her tiptoes to achieve an awkward pat of his shoulder. “I always wanted to tell you that.”

After they’d all gone, Joey teetered near the door. She wondered vaguely where her shower slides had gone.

“Careful, Jonesey.” Leo chuckled. “Still barefoot, I see.”

“Always.” The sudden quiet of the place struck her. It was in that void that Joey realized she was drunk for the first time in years. Quite possibly wasted.

“Easy, J. How are you getting home? I’ll wait with you while you call an Uber.”

“I’m staying here. Lily got us rooms.” She leaned on Leo’s arm for support. They walked through the door. One side of the SAME BACK FOREVER sign detached as they left, flapping against Joey’s head.

“I’ll walk you to your room.”

“Okay.”

They made it to the elevator bank. “So was your bachelorette party everything you ever wanted and more?” Leo grinned. “Other than me crashing it, of course.”

“It was a nice night,” Joey said. “I felt really loved.”

“I sense a but.”

“Well.” Joey stared down at herself. “I’m wearing jeans from high school, Leo. They surprised me. You know how I feel about surprises.”

Leo’s eyes flitted down to her jeans. “Those jeans look nice to me.”

Men. Joey rested against the elevator door. Leo shifted her over to the wall.

“Lily seeing me already was disastrous,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

“It had to happen sometime, right?”

“Yeah. God. It was amazing to see her. She’s really something else.”

“You don’t know the half of it.”

“No,” said Leo. “Other than my Google searches, I guess I don’t.”

Joey winced. “You will, Leo.”

“I’m sorry I ruined your bachelorette party.”

“You didn’t. I didn’t even want a bachelorette party. You know…I don’t love being the center of attention. Not to sound ungrateful. It was beautiful. Just, I guess if it was up to me, I would have opted for something quieter.”

Leo looked thoughtful. “What would you have wanted? You know, if you’d gotten to choose? Maybe we can still grant your wish.”

Joey stared at him. “What are you now, my bachelorette fairy godmother?”

Leo smiled. “Maybe I just am. At least I can do something to make your life better, not worse, while I’m down here.” Leo pressed the button to go up. Joey pressed the button to go down.

“Well then, you’re on, Winn. I know what I want,” she said as the down elevator dinged. “But you’re going to need to take me there.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Joey

Florida
2019