EJ sat at the kitchen counter, eating an enormous bowl of cereal. He never did manage to have dinner last night, and after the whirlwind, the adrenaline crash came fast and he passed out. He probably would have slept a lot longer if his stomach hadn't demanded it be fed.

His mom walked into the kitchen, some mascara from the night before still rimming under her eyes. EJ was consistently both amazed and embarrassed that his jet set parents can absolutely party harder than he can at almost 25.

"Hey sweetie. Didn't hear you come in last night."

"That's because I beat you home, Mom. By the looks of it, by quite a bit."

"You know what it's like when your dad gets together with his brothers. Uncle Dennis and Aunt Debbie called it a night early with all the wedding stuff going on, but the other three insisted we head over to the club, and we were there til… I don't know. Late."

"I'm sure the staff loved you for that."

"Your dad's been a member for so long, they know he'll make it worth their while."

"True story. Where is he, anyway?"

"Already back over there, he and Uncle Pete wanted to get in 18 before the party prep starts in earnest."

"I'm not exactly looking forward to the earful he's going to give me about causing a minor scene and taking off last night."

"What WAS that, EJ? You and Gina have been friends for years, I've never seen that happen."

"We were friends, and then you know, we dated, and then we were friends again, and then maybe more than friends, and then definitely not friends. It's been… a lot."

"So what happened after Ashlyn ordered you to, I believe she said, 'sort your shit out'?"

"We're good, now. More than good, actually. She's moving to Boston, too."

"Oh, really? That's new."

"She's doing a doctorate in physical therapy at Northeastern, that's the school right near the museum that I brought you to when you came apartment hunting with me?"

"Oh, that's right. Well, good for her, she's always been a girl that was going places. And if I can be a nosy mom for a minute… what does that have to do with last night?"

"I know this might sound crazy, since we dated so long ago, and we were so young. But there's never been anyone else like her, you know? Never that kind of connection with someone else."

"Despite the fact that you kept dating women who looked an awful lot like her? Why do you think I called the last one 'Gina'? You've definitely got a type."

"Her name was Kaitlyn, Mom. And that's the problem, it wasn't a type… it was her. I compared every single girl to her, and they couldn't measure up to a memory. Only it wasn't just a memory, you know? Knowing she was out there, even it wasn't with me."

"But now, that you'll be in the same city…"

"Yeah, we're going to try again. We're back together. I really think this time that it'll work. Nothing else has."

"Well, honey, I'm happy for you. And she's always been your girlfriend I liked best… she's never hesitated to put you in your place."

EJ laughed. "No, no she does not. I appreciate that about her, won't let the ego get too overinflated."

"So, you going to tell your father? Better he not find out by walking in on your making out in a closet somewhere… again."

"It wasn't a closet, it was the pantry. And thank you for having me relive one of the most mortifying moments of my life."

"EJ, he wants to know what's going with you. I know he can be hard on you, because he wants what's best for you. That's how he shows his love."

"And as I've gotten older, I've gotten better at recognizing that, even if I don't get it. But...do you think, just this once, you can tell him?"

"EJ…"

"This is all new and I'm just trying to keep my head above water with all of it. I'm just not sure I'm up for a Cash Caswell patented pep talk about my love life this weekend."

His mom paused, pursing her lips and sighing before replying. "I will talk to your father. I don't want him blindsided tonight. But find some time for him, too?"

"Thanks, Mom."

"It's good to have you home, my handsome boy. Now go get some shoes, we need to move some furniture around out there before they show up with the rental tables and chairs."

...

With her garment bag holding her and Ashlyn's dresses for the night over one arm and a bag full of hair and makeup stuff in the other. Gina stood staring at the front door of EJ's parents' house. She'd been here so many times before, and was still surprised at the opulence of it every time. Ashlyn's parents obviously also had a ton of money, but they were a lot more low key about it. They had purchased Ashlyn's mom's childhood home to live in, and just weren't as obvious about it as EJ's parents were. But then again, Gina thought, when you go by the name Cash, there's probably a certain image that you need to maintain.

They were a couple hours early so they could go over everything with the party planners and caterers. EJ's mom Diane had graciously offered her dressing room to the girls to get ready. Though there would be pros around tomorrow for the wedding itself, Gina and Kourtney were the official bride glam squad for tonight's event.

She took a deep breath, trying to exorcise the demons of the last time she'd been in this house, when she'd run away. Tonight would be different, tonight she wants to be in this moment with her friends, to get excited about their futures.

Right now, that excitement felt an awful lot like she might throw up in the perfectly manicured flower beds.

EJ's mom came out to meet them. "Girls! Welcome! Come upstairs and drop your things, we have to go over the menu one more time. I think they missed the gluten free memo for Big Red's Aunt Nancy…"

Gina laughed. And we're off! She thought. Wedding mode, on.

After they made their way up to Diane's seriously impressive walk in closet/dressing room, Gina stayed behind to get the hair and makeup station set up while Ashlyn went to deal with the food caterers. Gina heard someone out in the hallway and smiled, hoping to catch up with EJ for a minute before the madness descended.

She walked out into the hallway, and ran directly into none other than Cash Caswell.

"Mr. Caswell, I'm so sorry, I thought you were…"

"EJ? I had a feeling you'd be looking for him. My wife tells me that you two have something of an entanglement going."

"Yeah, we're, you know, back together. It's pretty new, like last night new. I'm so sorry, by the way. I didn't mean to steal EJ away from a family event. We just had some talking to do, work some stuff out."

"Talking, sure."

Gina begged the floor to just open up and swallow her whole, but she was still there.

"Mr. Caswell, I…"

"Please, Gina, we're all adults here and well past formalities. Call me Cash."

"Ok, I don't know if I can do that. But, anyway, I really care about your son, and a lot has changed in the last few years, but that, that never has. So I hope that you are happy for him, that he's got someone who cares about him. You know, the way I do."

"I have only ever wanted what was best for him. Even if he doesn't always see that."

"Yes, sir, obviously. You're his dad."

"Gina, I mean this sincerely… that's you."

"I'm… I'm sorry?"

"He thinks I don't notice these things, thinks his mother or Ashlyn are the only ones who would get it. But even though it was years ago, you've always stood out to me. You were the one who lit him up. Last night's little episode notwithstanding, what I remember most about you is your ability to bring out the best in him. Which I never quite figured out how to do."

"Oh, thank- thank you."

"So yes, I am happy for him. And happy for you too, my dear. Just do me a favor?"

"What can I do for you, sir?"

"Let me know if he manages to screw this up. I'll get his head back on straight."

"Thank you, Mr. Caswell… Cash."

"Thank YOU, Gina Porter. He's out back, by the way," he called over his shoulder as he walked away.

Gina blew out a huge breath she didn't know she was holding. Who'd have thought, she mused. These Caswell men are a constant surprise.