“I’m so ashamed of myself and the way I acted,” she continues. “Nash told me I was in quite a state. I definitely shouldn’t drink during the day.”

I nod although I know she can’t see me.

“He told me you left pretty much straight after I fell asleep?”

I’m not sure why, but her question catches me off-guard. Nash told her I left? He didn’t tell her that I stayed for at least two hours after she passed out, or that I helped him drink the champagne he’d ordered for their romantic night in? He didn’t tell her we almost kissed? I feel something pull hard in my chest. Something I’ve never felt before. Guilt? Absolutely. But there’s something else.

“Murph? You still there?”

The flush of the toilet pulls me from my thoughts and I snap my head up, clearing my throat. “Um, yeah, sorry. Yeah—” I stammer. “Yeah, I left … pretty much straight after you went to bed.” Anna walks out of the stall, smiling at me. “I was so tired. I went home and I actually fell asleep on the couch,” I add for effect.

Washing her hands, she watches me in the mirror’s reflection before turning and resting against the sink, taking a moment to look down at me. The intensity within her gaze is enough to make my heart race. I don’t even know why, but she just has this way of intimidating me with one look.

“You know,” she begins, folding her arms over her chest, “I really like you, Murph.”

Oh God. I take a deep breath, pressing my lips together in something that resembles a smile, grinding my teeth together almost painfully as I wait for her to continue. But she doesn’t continue. My smile falters as she leans in, wrapping her arms around me in an unexpected embrace, and I remain frozen in place, my arms by my sides until she pulls away. And with one last smile, she turns and walks out of the bathroom, leaving me all alone.

I find myself in the mirror once more, and I can’t help but glare at my own reflection.

***

I walk back through to the bar to see a lot fewer people than there had been before I hightailed it to the bathroom. Anna’s bridesmaids are nowhere to be seen. Kevin is long gone. Emma is playing a game of pool with Seth. And the only other people left are a few die-hard regulars perched at the bar, and a guy and a girl who look to be on a first date, whispering sweet nothings to one another, in a booth by the front windows. Harley is sitting at the table, talking to Nash and Anna, and just as I consider making a swift exit without anyone noticing, he catches my eye from across the space. Lifting his chin in my direction, offering a small smile, they all turn to see me, and I know there’s no escaping now.