“As long as you’re not burning out, that’s fine,” I warn her. “You need to make sure you take time for yourself.”
“Yeah, not really a thing for people who work in law, but thanks all the same,” she says. “Nah, it’s all good. I’m enjoying it. Cheer me up with one of your bridesmaid stories. There’s got to be something good that’s happened recently.”
I lean back in my chair, swilling my wine thoughtfully. Where to begin?
“I know! Tell me how Miranda Priestly’s doing? The bride who made you pick up her dry cleaning and get truffle oil from somewhere in the countryside,” Cara says excitedly. “Has she got married yet? I can’twaitto hear about her wedding. Bet there’ll be some good stories from that one.”
“Oh, there will. The wedding is New Year’s Eve.”
“Very glamorous. What’s she dressing you in?”
“I don’t know,” I say, wincing. We have yet to discuss my outfit. “Probably something awful just to annoy me. I reckon she’s leaving it to the last minute on purpose.”
“I hope it’s fancy dress. Remember that time a bride made you wear a Regency outfit? You in a bonnet! Mike almost had that photo you sent us framed, he found it so funny.”
“I thought that bonnet was lovely,” I say defensively. “And it was a really elegant wedding, with an old-fashioned ball and everything. That bride is a friend of mine. Unlike this bride, who I hope I’ll never have to see again after Christmas. And the feeling is mutual, I’m sure. I almost quit, you know.”
“What?” Cara looks surprised. “She must be really bad. What happened?”
“Among other things, an incident involving me walking into a lake to try to talk to swans. It turns out she doesn’t even want swans at the ceremony anymore. She just thought it would be funny to have me filmed making a fool of myself.”
Cara bursts out laughing. “Why did you walk into the lake voluntarily?”
“I was trying to be sassy. I didn’t want her to think I was weak.”
“I can’t believe I’m only hearing about this now.”
“All you need to know is that she’s done everything in her power to make me feel shit. But instead of sacking it off, I decided I’d be awesome at the job and give her absolutely no excuse to be mean to me. And it’s worked. I think she’s genuinely impressed with me at the moment. I told you I could be sassy.”
“That’s very sassy of you.” She takes a sip of wine. “Why didn’t you quit, though? Sounds much easier.”
“Because Mum reminded me that the best revenge is success. And she was right.”
“Yeah, but there must have been something else.”
“What do you mean?”
She puts her glass on the table. “If you’dreallywanted to quit, I’m not sure your mum telling you you should work harder at the job would have done the trick. There must be something else keeping you on.”
“She made me walk into a lake! I was soaked! I went, ‘Kaw kaw,’ in the middle of St. James’s Park!”
“Yeah, exactly!” she says, through a fit of giggles. “Why would anyone stay on after that? You either think this bride has some redeeming qualities or something about her wedding has captured you. Otherwise you would in no way be working your butt off to give her wedding that special Sophie touch.”
“I see very few redeeming qualities. Except,” I say, with a grin, “for her brother.”
“Ah, there it is!” Cara claps her hands, then tops up our glasses so enthusiastically that wine sloshes over the sides, creating a small pool in the middle of the table. “Therehadto be a hot brother! I knew it! So what’s he like?” She flutters her eyelashes at me. “Does he havedreeeeeamyeyes?”
“They’re very dreamy, actually. Oh, and here’s something weird. I can’t stop staring at his arms.”
“Interesting. Arms can be sexy.”
“I guess. But, yeah, anyway, he’s nice.”
“And?”
“And what?” I say shyly. “He’snice.”
Cara gasps. “You’re blushing! Sophie! You like him.”
