Page 69 of The Wedding Pact

It’s my turn to frown now. ‘Hmm.’

There’s a tense silence where we both pretend not to be thinking too hard about why we’re so drawn to each other.

‘You know,’ she says brightly, clearly attempting to dispel the tension we’ve created, ‘a great aunt of mine, who’s sadly passed now and who I absolutely adored, once said to me, “Being playful is so important – especially with your partner. It keeps you young and curious and willing try new things together.” That really stuck with me. I’m determined to still play and mess about and stay open to doing new stuff, even when I’m old.’

‘Huh. I like that. It makes sense, I guess. Life can get too serious sometimes.’

‘It definitely feels like that some days. Don’t get me wrong, I love the freedom of being an adult, but some days I just want to be a kid again and have someone else deal with all the crap.’

‘I know exactly what you mean. My life got very serious in the last few years.’

‘Yeah. You’re a proper grown-up,’ she says with a smile.

‘I’d like to think so.’

‘I’m guessing no one ever holds you to account any more, or says no to you, since you got so wealthy and influential?’

‘Come to think of it, they don’t much, no.’

‘That must make you feel pretty powerful?’

I think about this for a second. ‘Yeah. It does.’

‘But you’re responsible with it, right?’

‘I try to be, yes.’

‘It must be easy to let it get to your head – the fact you can have anything you want, any time you want it.’

I shrug. ‘I suppose so. I’ve not really thought that hard about it. I’m mostly just getting on with building my new business at the moment.’

‘So, you’ve put yourself in the middle of a protective bubble.’

‘A bubble?’

‘Yeah. Here’s another question for you. When did you last have a challenging experience?’

‘Does coming here with you count?’

She bats a playful hand at me. ‘Funny.’

‘I thought so.’

Her expression turns serious and she looks me right in the eyes now, her gaze steady. ‘Okay. A different question then. How much more money and success do you need before it’s enough?’

I look away from her and gaze out to sea. ‘Honestly, I don’t know.’

‘Seriously? There’s no point at which you think you’ll be satisfied?’

Again, I shrug. ‘I guess I want to push it until it feels right. I’m not about to retire right now, anyway. I’d be so bored. I love what I do and I have no idea what I’d do if it wasn’t this.’

‘But all the time? Even during holidays and weddings?’

‘You do what needs to be done when it needs to be done with this kind of work. That’s what makes or breaks a company. Especially when you’re in a competitive field.’

‘Aren’t you worried you’ll make yourself ill? Or lose all your friends? Or miss meeting the person you’re meant to be with for the rest of your life?’

I swallow hard, feeling antsy now at this line of questioning. It’s starting to feel a bit too close to the bone. ‘Nope. I’m not worried about that. I’m only in my late twenties. I’ve got loads of time before I need to think about settling down. If I ever do. I’m not sure if I’m cut out for marriage anyway.’