Twenty-Four
The six of them were arranged around the table in the spa’s restaurant, coming to the end of mains. By some stroke of luck, Eva had ended up sitting next to Maddy.
She’s a bride. She’s just a bride. Once her wedding is over, you’ll never see her again.
It was becoming Eva’s mantra.
Hannah had installed herself at the head of the table and looked deeply satisfied about it. She clearly loved the chance to run a social situation like a drill sergeant. Eva suspected she’d be just as much in her element at a funeral.
‘Right,’ Hannah said brightly. ‘Now that we’re all fed and spa-ified—’
Mary snorted into her prosecco.
‘—we’re doing aclassic hen night tradition,’ Hannah continued.
Hannah reached into her handbag and produced yet another small stack of cards.
Mary leaned forward immediately, swallowing her last bite of fish. ‘Is it tarot? I went to a tarot reader once who told me I was going to meet the love of my life in a laundrette. And I’djustbought a washing machine, so I’m buggered. At least until the warranty runs out.’
Hannah held the stack up. ‘Hen night dares.’
Maddy’s eyebrows shot up. ‘We’re in a restaurant,’ she said cautiously.
‘Yes,’ Hannah said.
‘A public one.’
‘Asparestaurant. It's just us and a few posh women. And who cares what they think?’ Hannah said with a dismissive hand wave. She began fanning out her cards dramatically around her empty plate. ‘Pick one. You do what it says.’
Maddy leaned slightly toward Eva and murmured under her breath, ‘I should have stayed in the sauna.’
Eva bit back a laugh. ‘Too late now,’ she whispered.
Mary snatched one. She opened it and burst out laughing. ‘Fantastic.’
‘What is it?’ Hannah asked eagerly.
Mary stood up halfway out of her chair and read it aloud. “Let the group choose a drink for you, and you have to finish it.”
Aria nodded approvingly. ‘A good start.’
A drinking game for the group’s unpredictable drunk? Eva didn’t think that was a good start to anything.
A waiter appeared at the table at that exact moment. Hannah beamed at him. ‘Could we get something fun for her?’ she said, with a nod to Mary.
‘Can you be more specific?’ he asked gracefully. He looked to Mary, who was grinning like a pirate. ‘She means booze,’ Mary said.
He nodded cautiously and retreated.
Eva glanced sideways at Maddy. She had tucked one leg under her chair and was nibbling her last bites at a snail’s pace.
‘Gird your loins,’ Eva murmured.
‘I always do,’ Maddy said.
The waiter returned with a bright pink cocktail in a tall glass.
Eva caught his eye. ‘I’ll take a scotch on the rocks,’ she told him subtly. She wasn’t looking to get smashed, but sobriety, at this point, seemed masochistic.
