‘Right, Lydia. Don’t you have, like, reception duties?’
Lydia sniffs. ‘Yes. I wasn’t supposed to. Last minute change.’
‘Then, go. I promise Ollie is not bothering me, and I am not bothering him. This is my friend and he has come to pay me a friendly visit.’
Lydia looks between us, clearly not convinced. Finally, she stands. ‘You are very handsome.’
She smiles at Ollie, then leaves.
‘What the…’ Ollie begins, looking shellshocked.
‘That’s Lydia. She’s lovely.’
‘What have you said about me, then?’
‘It doesn’t matter.’
‘You told her I was your friend.’
‘Should I not have?’
‘Will…’
‘I know.’
‘Look, I’m not saying we have to be best friends, and we’re going to have to relearn how we talk to one another,’ Ollie says, and I cross my arms. ‘We’re in new territory here, but the main thing is I’d like for us to work on our friendship.’
His hand hovers above my knee, but he moves it away, as if thinking better of it.
A breeze ruffles his wavy hair, the top buttons of his shirt undone, sleeves rolled up. His style has changed over the years, I think. He wouldn’t be out of place in a gentleman’s club. It’s not the same style he had when we were together, but things change. Clearly.
I’m realising thatIneed to change.
He cricks his neck, leaning back. ‘Look, I don’t need an answer right away, but I would appreciate one, like, today.’ He rubs his arm, before tugging on his earlobe. ‘You see… uh, we’ve lost the person who was going to marry us, and?—’
‘Oh, no.’
‘And I remember seeing on your socials that you did that celebrant course, which surprised me, all things considered, but?—’
‘Ollie.’
‘And I can’t find anyone to marry us at this short of notice. Not in the height of summer.’
I stand, towel falling from me, and Ollie gawps, eyeline with my waist. He covers his eyes, and I don’t know whether or not to be offended or to laugh. I cover myself with my hands, before snatching up my towel and wrapping it around my waist.
‘You can’t ask me to marry you.’
Ollie stands, hands clasped together. ‘Will, please. Please. I’m desperate.’
I’m too hot. I want to shed my skin. Going to the wedding is hard enough, but marrying them?
‘It wouldn’t be legally binding. I did that celebrant course years ago. I don’t even know if I would remember?—’
‘That’s fine. Honestly, fine. I need someone to marry us, Will, and you know what you’re doing, and I wouldn’t want anyone else marrying us.’
I could point out that he’s already said he’s tried to find a replacement. I could point out that I am clearly his last resort. I could also point out that he’s asking me– his ex– to marry him to someone else who doesn’t even know that I’m Ollie’s ex.
‘Like I say, you don’t have to let me know right away.’ Ollie barely pauses for breath. ‘But it would massively help me be less stressed if I knew I had someone showing up to do the most important bit.’
