3. Emory
EMORY
Holy shit. Vada King stands in front of me at my ex-girlfriend's wedding. My brain short-circuits.
Eight years. It's been eight years since I last saw her, and she looks incredible. Older, but better. Her auburn hair catches the tropical breeze. Those green eyes are as expressive as I remember. She's grown into herself in a way that makes my chest tight with something dangerous.
"What are the chances?" she says, and her voice has that same warm quality that used to make me want to tell her everything.
"Wow, you look amazing," I reply, still trying to process the cosmic joke that has just unfolded.
The reality starts sinking in at the same time for both of us. Her ex is marrying my ex. My college girlfriend is at my ex-girlfriend's wedding to her ex-boyfriend. This is either the universe's idea of a hilarious coincidence or some kind of elaborate prank.
"Emory! Oh my God, what happened?" Erika's voice cuts through my mental fog, and suddenly she's approaching with Jared in tow, both looking concerned about the drink situation.
This is about to get very interesting.
"Everything's fine," I say quickly, stepping slightly to the side so they can see Vada properly. "Just a small collision. No harm done." I pause, realizing I need to explain our connection. "Erika, Vada and I. We, uh, we went to college together."
Jared's expression goes through several interesting changes as he processes this information. "Wait. Vada. Emory. How do you two know each other?"
"We dated," I say, because there's really no point in trying to dance around it. "For about two years in college."
The silence that follows is the kind that makes you hear the ocean waves and steel drum music way too clearly. Erika's eyes widen as she looks between us, and I can practically see the social media possibilities lighting up her brain like a Christmas tree.
"This is incredible," she finally says, her excitement genuine and slightly overwhelming. "This is like, the most amazing coincidence ever. You guys dated, we're getting married, and now you're both here? This is content gold!"
Jared, who has always been more reserved, looks thoughtful rather than excited. "That's... I never heard you mention him," he says to Vada.
"I guess I never felt the need," Vada offers, and I can hear the slight strain in her voice that suggests she's as overwhelmed by this situation as I am. "Life has a sense of humor."
"We have to get photos," Erika continues, her content creator instincts in full swing. "The story of how college sweethearts reunited at their exes' wedding? My followers will die for this narrative."
I catch Vada's eye and see my own mild panic reflected there. Neither of us signed up to become a social media storyline, especially not one that involves our romantic history being broadcast to millions of followers.
"Maybe we should see how the week goes. No need to make a big deal out of a coincidence."
"Are you kidding?" Erika laughs. "This is the best kind of big deal. Organic, authentic, unplanned—"
"VADA!"
The booming voice cuts across our conversation like a foghorn, and I watch Vada's face change in a way that suggests whoever is approaching is not someone she was hoping to see tonight.
A bear of man materializes out of the crowd like a social hurricane, drink in hand and that familiar expression of someone who's about to get his share of attention.
"Oh no," Vada murmurs under her breath, and I find myself stepping closer to her.
"Vada King!" Derek announces, as if he's introducing her to a stadium full of people instead of our small group. "I cannot believe you came. This is incredible. I mean, after the way Jared dumped you in Spokane, I wasn't sure you'd want to watch him get married."
The silence that follows is so complete I'm pretty sure everyone within a twenty-foot radius stops talking. Vada's face goes through several shades of expression, landing on a smile so forced it could power the resort's electricity.
"Hello, Derek. It's lovely to see you too."
"And after that whole disaster with your corporate job," Derek continues, apparently oblivious to the social carnage he's creating, "I figured you'd be too busy rebuilding your career to take a vacation. But hey, good for you for being mature about the whole thing!"
I'm starting to understand why Vada looked like she wanted to disappear when she heard Derek's voice. The guy is like a walking, talking violation of conversational boundaries.
"Derek," Jared says with the patience of someone who's had years of practice managing his friend's oversharing, "maybe we could—"
"Oh my God, and Emory Wise!" Derek spins toward me like he's just noticed I exist. "Dude, I follow you on TikTok.
Your travel content is insane. Though I have to admit, I was surprised you came to Erika's wedding.
I mean, she really broke your heart when she said you were too immature for a serious relationship, right? "
Every word out of Derek's mouth is like watching a slow-motion car accident that you can't stop. Vada's eyes widen, and I can see her processing this information about my relationship with Erika while dealing with Derek's announcement about her career troubles and breakup with Jared.
"Derek," Erika says with a laugh that doesn't quite mask her discomfort, "maybe we should let people tell their own stories."
"But this is so crazy!" Derek continues, completely missing every social cue being thrown at him. "You guys all dated each other and now you're at the same wedding! It's like a romantic comedy or something. Though hopefully without all the drama, because that would be super awkward for everyone."
He pauses to take a long sip of his drink, and I realize this might be my only chance to redirect this conversation before Derek shares everyone's complete dating history with the entire party.
"It's a small world. But hey, that's what makes life interesting, right? Unexpected connections."
"Exactly," Vada jumps in, clearly grateful for the opportunity to steer away from Derek's oversharing. "And really, we're all just here to celebrate Jared and Erika's happiness. That's what matters."
"Love and friendship and celebrating new beginnings," Erika agrees, though I can see her influencer brain processing the content possibilities.
"Speaking of which," Jared says, eager to move away from our complicated romantic history, "we should mingle with the other guests. Lots of people to introduce you both to."
As our little group starts to disperse, Derek claps me on the shoulder with the force of someone who doesn't understand his own strength.
"This is going to be such a fun week. All of us together, sharing stories, catching up on old times. I've got some great photos from Spokane that I should show everyone. A party where Jared and Vada had that huge fight about—"
"Derek," Vada interrupts with a smile sharp enough to cut glass, "maybe we could save the trip down memory lane for never?"
"Oh, totally," Derek agrees, completely missing the warning in her tone. "Plenty of time this week for embarrassing stories. This is going to be epic!"
He wanders off toward the bar, leaving the four of us in what can only be described as aggressively awkward silence.
"Jared," Erika says finally, "I thought you talked to him."
"Derek means well," Jared offers apologetically. "He just doesn't always think before he speaks."
"It's fine." Vada's smile is still strained.
"Totally fine," I agree, though internally I'm calculating how much damage Derek might do over the course of a week if tonight was any indication.
"This might be perfect," Erika says, her voice brightening with what sounds like a dangerous idea. "You two can keep each other company during all the couple activities this week. Like built-in moral support!"
Vada and I exchange a look that I'm sure communicates our mutual horror at the thought of being paired together for wedding activities while everyone analyzes our every interaction for signs of romantic drama.
"That's thoughtful, but we don't want to impose on your celebration."
"Are you kidding?" Erika waves off her concern with the kind of enthusiasm that suggests this idea is gaining momentum in her head. "It's perfect. College friends reuniting, supporting each other through their exes' wedding... it's like a feel-good movie!"
I open my mouth to offer some kind of diplomatic protest, but I'm interrupted by the sound of steel drums transitioning to something slower and more romantic. Around us, couples start gravitating toward the dance floor area that's been set up on one side of the terrace.
"Ooh, dancing!" Erika grabs Jared's hand with the kind of excitement that suggests this conversation is over whether we want it to be or not. "Come on, babe. Let's show everyone how it's done."
They disappear toward the dance floor, leaving Vada and me standing together in what feels like the aftermath of a social tornado.
"So," I say after a moment, "that happened."
"That happened," she agrees, and starts to laugh. Not the polite social laugh she was using with Derek, but the genuine, overwhelmed laugh I remember from college when we'd find ourselves in ridiculous situations.
"Derek is a lot," I observe, which makes her laugh harder.
"You think?" she agrees. "Though I have to admit, 'after the way Jared dumped you' doesn’t exactly tell the whole story.”
"And 'too immature for a serious relationship' probably wasn't how you expected to learn about my breakup with Erika,"
"Fair point." For a moment we stand there, both processing the surreal nature of our situation.
"For the record, it was a mutual breakup. The immaturity comment was more about my lifestyle than my personality. I think."
"For the record, Jared and I both knew we worked better as friends. The 'dumping' was more like mutual recognition that we were trying to force something that wasn't there."
"Good to know. Though I have a feeling Derek's going to provide everyone with his own version of our relationship histories whether we want him to or not."
Vada groans. “Yeah, you're right. He's going to spend the entire week oversharing everyone's personal business, isn't he?"
"Almost certainly. The question is, how do we survive a week of that without losing our minds?"
She's quiet for a moment, looking out at the dance floor where Jared and Erika are swaying together with the kind of easy intimacy that suggests they really did find what they were looking for with each other.
"We stick together," she says finally. "Moral support. Deflect Derek's storytelling. Keep each other sane."
"Like a survival alliance?" I ask, and she turns to look at me with a smile that brings back way too many memories of why I fell for her in the first place.
"Exactly like a survival alliance. Two old friends helping each other navigate an incredibly weird situation."
"Friends," I repeat, though something about the way she says it suggests we're both aware that being 'friends' with someone you used to be in love with might be more complicated than either of us wants to admit.
"Friends," she confirms, but I catch her glancing at me in a way that doesn't feel entirely platonic.
Around us, the party continues with people laughing and dancing and celebrating love in paradise.
But all I can think about is the fact that for the next week, I'm going to be in constant proximity to Vada King, the girl who used to know me better than anyone, the girl whose voice I heard through the wall earlier without recognizing it, the girl who thinks we can be friends despite the fact that my heart is racing from standing next to her.
"So, I should probably mention that I think we're staying in adjoining suites."
Her eyebrows rise. "Adjoining?"
"Connected terrace, from what I understand." I watch her face go through several expressions as she processes this information.
"Oh, it was your voice. As if this week wasn't going to be complicated enough."
"On the bright side, at least we'll be able to coordinate our Derek-avoidance strategies."
She laughs again, and the sound makes something in my chest loosen with relief.
Maybe we can pull off this 'friends' thing.
Maybe eight years is enough time for old feelings to fade into comfortable nostalgia.
Maybe I can spend a week in paradise with the girl I used to love without making everything complicated.
"I should probably go introduce myself to some of the other guests. Professional networking and all that."
"Good idea. I should probably do some more content creation while the lighting is still good."
"See you around, Wise," she says with a smile that's friendly and warm and nothing more than that.
"See you around, King," I reply, matching her tone.
I watch her walk away toward a group of women who look like they're discussing event planning. I tell myself that the way my eyes follow her movement is professional appreciation for how well she's learned to work a room.
Pulling out my phone, I start creating content about the incredible party atmosphere and the perfect tropical setting, but my brain keeps drifting to the realization that I can probably hear every sound from her suite through our shared wall.
This week is going to be interesting.