“Are they almost here?” Jack asked.

“Almost. I believe everything is ready.”

“Good.”

People started coming in a few minutes later: some friends he’d known from online, and then friends of friends he’d never even seen. Everyone spread around the room, enjoying the drinks and checking out Jack’s new place.

The last one to enter was Jess. She was wearing a blue summer dress, the one Jack had seen in her pictures, and her hair was curly. Jack hurried to meet her.

“Didn’t think you’d come!” He held her hand for a brief moment.

“How could I not?”