‘Then how did it happen?’
I let out a nervous laugh. ‘Is it so hard to believe that a girl might find Mark attractive?’
‘No, of course not. But not you, Nell. You were always so unimpressed by him.’
‘I can’t explain it. All I know is I’d never even contemplated it until just before it happened. In an instant, I knew, there and then, I was going to kiss him.’
‘You made the first move?’
I nod. ‘It shocked the hell out of him. But after a few moments he responded and after that …’ I pause to lower my voice. ‘We didn’t have sex. We kissed, there was some touching, and he gotme off. And it was one-sided, I should add.’ I try to find a way to tell Yan what happened without getting graphic. ‘His trousers stayed on the whole time.’
‘And was it like Jamie said …’ He looks embarrassed. ‘A good experience?’
‘The whole story is exactly as Jamie told it – with one minor detail changed.’
‘It was Mark and not Leo.’
I nod. ‘The guilt was horrendous. I kept finding reasons to avoid Leo or to be annoyed with him. It went on for a couple of weeks until, eventually, he asked me point blank if I wanted to break up, and I told him yes. Then, a couple of weeks after that, he got ill and then … Well, you know what happened after that. And why it affected me so badly.’
Yan squeezes my arm. ‘I wish you’d told me sooner. You shouldn’t have carried this alone for so long.’
‘I couldn’t bear the idea of anyone knowing.’
‘You were a kid. No one would have blamed you.’
I take a large gulp of wine. ‘Could I have picked a worse person to cheat on Leo with? I should be happy Rich didn’t cop off with Tig or you, and instead, had the common decency to choose someone I wasn’t related to.’
‘All this Leo stuff coming to the surface,now,when you’re going through so much with Rich. I’m so sorry.’
I let out a long breath. ‘I’m okay.’
‘I can see now why you were so tense around Mark. But in Cyprus, especially towards the end, you seemed to be getting on well.’
‘We talked about it. It was useful and helped to clear the air.’
‘Well, that’s something, I guess.’
I nod.
‘So, there won’t be some massiveEastEnders-type scene at the wedding?’ he asks, smiling.
‘No, you can relax about that.’
‘Although Tig wouldn’t have had a leg to stand on. She’s the one who chose to get marriednow, to a man who’s best mates with Leo’s brother.’
I clink my glass against his. ‘Your logic is faultless.’
‘So, the cheese wire stays in the drawer tonight?’
‘Yes, definitely.’
Chapter 47
I’m not sure why we’re calling it the rehearsal dinner because nothing’s going to get rehearsed. It’s simply a meal for both sets of parents to meet properly.
We’re back at our favourite Chinese restaurant, but this time in a private room at the back.
I take this place for granted, but it strikes me as we arrive, and the manager greets us all by name, that I can’t think of another restaurant that has stood the test of time. We’ve seen other favourites come and go, but Mr Lee has outlasted them all. When the inevitable time comes and he retires, it will be like losing a family member.
