“I beg your pardon?”
“I saw that you’d announced your bridesmaids on social media. Your sister Georgia obviously makes sense, but I was surprised to see you’d asked… What were their names? Oh, yeah, Ella and Madison. You met them a few months ago, in the summer, right? At Ella’s dad’s restaurant opening. Madison is a model based in New York, yes?”
“So?” she asks haughtily.
“So, did I hear a rumor that Madison has dropped out of the wedding because she’s launching her acting career and has been cast in a movie that’s filming soon?”
“She has other commitments in May,” she explains, sniffing. “I completely understand. It doesn’t matter anyway.”
I nod. “I’m sorry to hear that. Genuinely. It’s hard when a friend lets you down, especially on such an important day.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Why are you saying any of this? None of this professional-bridesmaid nonsense has anything to do with me. This is about Cordelia.”
“As someone who’s been to a lot of weddings, trust me when I say this, Annabel.” I take a step toward her, speaking in a sincere and kind tone so she knows that I mean it—I’m not being patronizing. “You deserve people around you on your wedding day whom you trust. You’re going to need them. Go ahead and spendthe rest of your time surrounding yourself with people who bring you more status and fame, but when it comes to a day that really means something, make sure you have people at your side you can rely on, people who genuinely care about you.” I offer her a smile. “People who would have your back on your wedding day, should someone accuse you of being pathetic when you’re not in the room. That’s all there is to being a bridesmaid.”
She stares at me, baffled.
“Anyway,” I say brightly, stepping back to give her some space, “it’s been great talking to you. We should go and enjoy the party. We’ll have missed the first dance, but the band is meant to be really good. Also, it’s definitely time for a Jägerbomb, don’t you think?”
She collects herself, flicking her hair behind her shoulder and giving me a look of disgust, sneering, “I have to go.”
She turns on her heel and marches back into the house, slamming the patio doors behind her. Oh, well. I tried. I take the opportunity of a moment to myself, looking out over the view, listening to the muffled music.
“That was intense.”
I yelp, jumping out of my skin at the sound of Tom’s voice as he appears from the shadows, behind a pillar. “What the… Have you been there the whole time?”
He holds up his hands. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”
“What are you doing out here?” I ask, my heart thumping so loudly from the fright he’s given me that I can hear it ringing in my ears.
“I was having a cigarette.”
“You don’t smoke!”
“I used to. I thought I might allow myself one, as it’s a wedding and I’m letting my hair down. Always tempting when I’ve had a few drinks.”
“Well. This isn’t a designated smoking area.”
“Yeah, but it’s quieter out here and I thought I might be able to get away with it, you know, because it’s my house and everything.”
I nod, chagrined, and then we stand awkwardly in silence, listening to the thud of the bass from the speakers reverberating through the house and out across the grounds. I’ve spent the majority of the day avoiding eye contact with Tom, glancing away and pretending I’m not staring at the back of his head whenever he turns in my direction. Earlier his hair was neatly styled—I was impressed in the church when I stole a look—but by now it’s sticking up in all directions. He’s taken off the jacket of his morning suit but, sadly, his wonderful arms are covered with his shirtsleeves. I hope he rolls them up later if he gets hot on the dance floor.
He steps forward with his hand outstretched, a grin spreading across his face. “Sophie, is it?”
I take his hand and shake it, laughing at how cheesy the gesture is. “Yeah, Sophie. Nice to meet you properly.”
“You too. Those were lovely things you said about my sister. Thanks for protecting her. I’m sorry about the way Annabel spoke to you.”
“It’s fine. I can handle it.”
“Yeah, I know,” he says, looking impressed. “I thought I might have to step in but you seemed to have it covered. I can’t help but think after that showdown you might have earned yourself a new client.”
“Why?” I frown at him. “Are you in need of a bridesmaid?”
“After what I just heard, I actually feel that, yeah, everyone needs a bridesmaid.” He grins. “But I was talking about Annabel. She should have taken your card.”
“There’s no chance Annabel would ever consider hiring me.And now I’ve probably given her even more reason to blab about who I really am. No doubt it’ll be all over the press in the morning.”
