“She’s also my best friend. And you didn’t say she couldn’t come.”
Technically, she was right. I hadn’t thought I needed to say it.
As the party went on, Chloe seemed to weave herself into every conversation, laughing and reminiscing like no time had passed. Then came the prom stories and inside jokes—ones I’d never be part of.
That’s when an idea hit me.
I sent a message to Jason—my old friend and ex-boyfriend—someone charming, still single, and always kind. “We’re throwing a party. You should come by,” I wrote.
He replied quickly: “On my way.”
Jason arrived looking confident and effortlessly cool. When he greeted me with a warm hug, the energy in the room shifted. Ethan definitely noticed. I smiled and stayed close to Jason, keeping things lighthearted but just noticeable enough.
Eventually, Ethan pulled me aside. “Why is Jason here?”
I replied, “The same reason Chloe is.”
He sighed. “It’s not the same.”
“Isn’t it?” I asked. “You didn’t stop her from coming.”
What followed was an hour of polite tension and not-so-subtle glances. Jason, ever the gentleman, charmed the guests and even struck up a conversation with Chloe. To my surprise, I later found them talking privately, deep in conversation.
I half-expected something dramatic. Instead, they looked like two people reconnecting on a friendly level.
Jason explained, “We were just catching up.”
Chloe added, “I didn’t even know this was Ethan’s birthday. Maddie didn’t mention it.”
That moment shifted everything. Chloe wasn’t trying to stir up the past—she’d been caught in the middle of Maddie’s not-so-subtle matchmaking. And I had unintentionally done the same by inviting Jason.
Then Ethan walked in, saw us all talking, and just asked, “What’s happening?”
We all laughed. The tension broke. I explained what had happened, and Ethan apologized for not stepping in sooner. I apologized for reacting the way I did. We agreed: no more surprise guests from the past.
Fast forward three months. Ethan straightened his tie while I adjusted my dress. We were on our way to Jason and Chloe’s wedding.
Yes, really.
Somehow, a twist of party drama had sparked a genuine connection between them.
Maddie showed up with flowers in hand. “Peace offering,” she said.
“Save it for the newlyweds,” I replied with a smile.
She laughed. “Jason told me if I try matchmaking today, he’ll tell everyone about the time I got stuck in an inflatable pool.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’d love to hear that story.”
On the way to the wedding, I thought about how unpredictable life can be. But in the middle of chaos, sometimes you find surprising clarity—and even love in the most unexpected places.
Sometimes, when you’re trying to close an old chapter, you end up writing a brand new one.