AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Bloody hell. That was pretty much on-brand for Chris.
‘And there’s no need to charter a plane,’ Roman continued. ‘Anthony’s family will get here in the morning. There’ll be a wedding in the afternoon.’
Samantha forced a smile. ‘We’re going to dance the night away and get drunk on champagne.’
He stopped walking to face her. ‘You’ve got a deal.’
‘I can’t wait.’ She tipped backwards just to look up at him.
‘I love that you care so much,’ he said quietly. ‘Your friends are lucky to have you.’
‘Maybe you should tell them,’ she said. ‘I don’t think they know.’
‘I’ll book a plane with a banner if you like.’
‘I’d like that,’ she said. ‘Could it fly over the wedding venue just when Naomi and Anthony are about to exchange their vows?’
‘I don’t see why not.’
Samantha raked her fingers through his short, cropped hair. ‘You get me.’
‘I think I do.’
She recalled the day they first met on the hidden path. She couldn’t stand him then. She couldn’t stay away from him now. Like the sea reaching out to the river, they’d made an unlikely connection. That had to mean something.
‘Come on.’ He draped an arm around her waist. ‘If I don’t eat, I’ll kill somebody.’
After lunch, they stretched out on beach towels, basking in the sun. Samantha’s head rested on Roman’s lap. He was in a heated debate about American football stats with Anthony, Chris and Jason, but his fingers gently stroked her hair. Naomi had calmed down and was having a sleep. Jasmine and Jen were off searching for conch shells. Hugo and Adrian were talking quietly to the side. At some point, their discussion grew heated.
Samantha watched them out of the corner of her eye. Hugo, her most relaxed, most easygoing friend, was becoming increasingly animated. ‘I’m through compromising!’ he snapped.
Naomi, who could always feel a storm brewing, roused from her slumber and slipped off her sunglasses. Samantha had no idea what was going on between Hugo and Adrian, but Naomi knew how to fix it. She grabbed a red plastic cup and raised it high. ‘Everyone! Sam has a few words to say.’
Samantha snapped to attention. ‘I do?’
‘You do,’ Naomi whispered, brows furrowed. ‘I asked you to say a few words at our rehearsal dinner.’
‘Right!’
Roman likely felt her panicking. He kissed her. ‘You got this.’
That was nice of him to say, but she didn’t have this. In her backpack was a rough draft of a speech that she’d hoped to revise sometime today. That speech was no longer appropriate. It was chock full of platitudes about love and marriage, with some quotes pulled off the Internet. It could apply to just about anyone.
While Naomi got everyone to gather round and filled any empty cups, Samantha’s mind raced. Next minute, she was standing with her friends, old and new, surrounding her. They waited expectantly. Roman stood back, giving her space. Samantha took a breath.
‘I’d worked on a speech for today, but it’s rubbish,’ she admitted. ‘So now I’m just going to talk from the heart and tell you how I feel about this trip, about all of you, and this wedding we’re here to celebrate.’
‘Hear! Hear!’ Jason exclaimed, but it was premature and Jasmine shushed him.
‘It’s no secret I was a mess when I got here.’
‘Don’t be so hard on yourself,’ Jen said, but Jasmine shushed her, too.
‘I really was,’ Samantha continued. She suddenly had a lot to say. This might not be the right time or forum for it, but she was going to say all the things swirling inside of her. ‘I was bitter, angry and a little cynical. Naomi and Anthony kept talking about their great love, but I couldn’t see it.’
Naomi stepped forward, ready to interrupt. Roman stopped her. ‘You asked her to speak. Let her speak.’
Naomi backed down, still looking rather nervous.
