The Chosen and the Beautiful

by Nghi Vo

“All right then, Jay and Nick, it’s your turn,” I cried, ignoring Daisy’s hurt gaze. To make sure I wasn’t misunderstood, I gave Gatsby my roses and wound Nick’s arm through his. “But it’s—it’s bigamy,” Nick said, taking a stab at humor despite the startled fear in his eyes. “Don’t worry, I shan’t tell if you make sure to keep me in mink and diamonds.” “I’ll take care of that,” Gatsby said playfully. “You won’t want for anything so long as we can share, Mrs. Carraway.” Actually, it turned out I hated the sound of Mrs. Carraway, but I was more than happy to keep Tom only fuming rather than explosive. I married Gatsby and Nick with great pomp and circumstance, and while Nick refused to kiss, he took the phone book from my hands, and pushed me towards Daisy. “Now, you two!” That was awkward, but Daisy had picked up one of the tumblers of whiskey, and sipping steadily, she gave in to the fun, forgetting the idea of trying to marry Gatsby in front of her actual husband. When Nick pronounced us wife and wife, she leaned over, splashing a few teaspoons of whiskey on my dress, and bent me back in a showy Broadway kiss. She bent me so far back that we lost our balance. We would have gone down in a tangle of limbs and laughter if Gatsby hadn’t been there in a flash, getting us both back on our feet. He would never have bothered with me if it was not for Daisy, but he did it all the same, and I thought maybe I could grow to like him a little more, that he was not such a terrible pers...