‘Do you want another drink?’ JJ asks me, nodding towards the empty champagne glass in my hand. We’ve been grabbing them from passing servers as we’ve been chatting. ‘Maybe something stronger?’
‘Yes,’ I say. ‘Something stronger. Like bleach.’
Only JJ can hear me at the moment. Everyone else is too wrapped up in their conversations.
‘One double coming up,’ she says before dashing off to the bar, as far as her sky-high heels will let her.
I hover for a second, watching Andy move through the room. He does that thing he always does at gatherings – splits his time, makes sure everyone gets a bit of him. It’s one of the reasons people love him.
Cordelia works the room with him, meeting everyone – clearly dazzling them all with her pocket-sized charm.
‘Here we go,’ JJ says, thrusting a cocktail into my hand.
‘Notice anything odd?’ I ask her.
‘You can smell horse shit if you go too near the open doors?’ she replies.
‘I was thinking more along the lines of the guest list,’ I reply.
‘Well, it seems like mostly Andy’s people,’ JJ points out. ‘Does she not have family here?’
‘Not that I’ve noticed,’ I say.
‘Hmm – perhaps it’s too short notice for them?’ she suggests.
‘It’s too short notice for everyone,’ I reply. ‘And yet here we all are.’
‘Odd, isn’t it?’ she says.
‘I just… can’t get over how one-sided this all feels,’ I reply.
Andy wanders over – alone, which I’m grateful for.
‘Is Cordelia’s family here?’ JJ asks, cutting to the chase. I can always rely on her for that.
‘They live abroad,’ Andy replies. ‘But we’re hoping they can make it for the wedding.’
‘I see,’ is all JJ says.
‘Can I borrow you for a sec?’ Andy asks me.
‘Sure,’ I reply, stepping to one side with him. ‘What’s up?’
My brain instantly jumps to wondering whether he’s getting cold feet, if the party has made it all seem real – he’s not going to ask me for advice, is he? I’m sure, even if I hadn’t unearthed my feelings for him, I would tell him that I thought he was rushing into it, but I can’t exactly say it now and then immediately follow up with, by the way, I’m in love with you, can I? It would seem like I only said it to bag him for myself.
‘I need to ask a favour – your first act as best man,’ he says with a semi-awkward chuckle.
‘If this is about the speech, I’m already planning to destroy you publicly, don’t worry,’ I assure him, trying to style it out, when in reality it’s only as I’m saying these words that I’m truly acknowledging that I’m going to have to not only watch him marry someone else, but then stand up in front of everyone and pretend to be happy about it.
‘Well, I have that to look forward to,’ he replies with a grin. ‘But no, not that. It’s about Tink’s ring. I ordered one to surprise her. It will be ready to collect in the morning, but we’re staying here tonight and I thought it might be nice if I gave it to her here, so I was wondering, could you go and collect it for me, and bring it back here please?’
‘Oh, yeah, no worries, of course, no problem,’ I babble – I do, however, have lots of worries, and a big problem.
‘You’re a lifesaver.’ He pulls me in for the briefest of hugs. ‘I’ll text you the details. I knew I could count on you for best man duties.’
‘Let’s just say best woman,’ I reply with a laugh.
He pulls a bit of a face.