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And me to get back to Harry.
“Doug!” Amanda shouted, pointing at me.
I froze.
“Oh yeah, that’s right. Doug. Don’t deny it.”
“Who’s Doug, hen?” Stuart asked, confused.
It seemed like Doug was a ten-year old blunder that just didn’t go away.
“He was a mistake,” I said softly. “I shouldn’t have done anything with him. It was teenager pettiness.”
Amanda, it seemed, still thought about him after all this time. Even when she was engaged. My sister blinked rapidly, looking distressed and confused.
“What on earth are you two fighting about?” Mum asked, walking closer to us, with Wendy and Dave looking on. “Amanda, that was ages ago.”
Mum looked between Amanda and Stuart frantically, and then rounded on me. “What is going on?”
I held up my hands, hoping I looked as innocent as I really was. “I have no idea and I didn’t start this. I promise.”
“She’s been rubbing that guy in my face all night, Mum!” Amanda then pointed at Harry, who raised an eyebrow and said nothing.
“Hen, ye’ve had a bit to drink,” Stuart murmured, reaching for Amanda’s hand but she waved him off.
Harry’s hand found mine and squeezed. I wasn’t alone in this. We had each other.
But Amanda wasn’t done.
“You’ve been trying to outdo me forever. You couldn’t let me have my moment here!”
“Oh god, Amanda, this is ridiculous—”
“This about the photos?” Ryan loomed over us all, mobile in hand. “What you were thinking about when you did this, Stacey?”
Oh, double fuck.
“What are you going on about, Ryan?” Mum sighed, putting her arm around Amanda. My mother took the phone from Ryan as Amanda furiously dabbed her eyes with a tissue.
“Oh my god,” Mum muttered.
Welcome, everyone, to the Turner Family Melodrama!
Amanda looked at Ryan’s phone screen and screeched. “See, I told you Mum! She’s been trying to ruin this party and my engagement and coming home.”
“Oh, just shut up!” I yelled. Everyone stared. “First of all, Amanda, what a load of crap. If you’d just talked to me instead of sending orders via group chat, you would know that Harry and I getting together is completely and wholly separate to you.”
I addressed Harry’s parents. “Wendy and Dave, I’m so sorry you got caught in this tonight.”
I squeezed Harry’s hand. “We’re leaving now. And everyone, I’m staying the night with Harry. And maybe the next night. In fact, I’ve decided I’m moving out of home. Really soon.”
Ryan’s mouth fell open and Mum gasped, but I didn’t stop. “I shouldn’t have to explain myself, even though I just have, and I don’t want to have this absurd fight with you, Amanda. For the record, I love you. I know you don’t know how to process that, and maybe you’ve had too much to drink—” Amanda gaped as I continued. “I’m sorry Stuart you had to witness this, and … everyone, I’m an adult who can make decisions for myself. So I am. Right now. And that’s it.”
I charged out of the beer garden, the crowd parting with me with Harry following, and headed for the hotel’s guest-only staircase.
Harry spun me around on the first step and crashed his lips to mine in a quick, hard kiss.
“Impressive speech,” he breathed. “How are you feeling?”
