I shrug. “I can handle it, which is a good thing, since I love my Indian food as much as the next girl.”
“Well, I for one would kill for a juicy burger right now,” he says. “Five Guys has the best.”
“Archie,” I exclaim, throwing a hand to my mouth to suppress my giggles. “How can you even be hungry right now?”
“I don’t know. I just am,” he says, clearly amused.
“But on that point, I have to disagree. I love Five Guys’ burgers, but what I love most is their chips.”
“Oh, yeah,” Archie says. “Add a bit of vinegar and mayo. Mmm…”
“You know what the best combo is?” I roll onto my side to face him, even though we can’t see each other in the darkness. “ShakeShack burger and Five Guys chips.Thatis heaven.”
“Stop,” he groans. “I’m drooling now.”
I laugh, flipping onto my back again as my mouth waters. “Sorry, not the best conversation topic right now.”
“Oh, some Pizza Express would be amazing, though,” he starts again as his stomach growls louder than ever.
I laugh again, and he tells me exactly how he likes his pizza before we drift off to sleep.
Chapter 11
“Don’t listen to him. He’s just jealous of my good looks, that’s all.”
Archie
We’ve been back home for a couple of days now, and I’ve only seen Katherine once. She was stepping out of the lift as I was getting in. We greeted each other awkwardly—her smile quick, mine even quicker—and then went our separate ways. It’s strange. Now that we’re back in our natural habitat, where we’re only used to hating each other, I’m not sure how we’re supposed to act.
But one thing’s for sure. The atmosphere between usdidchange in Uganda. Permanently.
Today is my brother’s wedding, and I’m glad we’re finally on the cusp of his nuptials. My mum has been texting me every ten minutes for the past two days, reminding me not to be late and to bring everything I’m supposed to bring. I always thought the bride was the one to look out for—bridezilla and all. Butmumzillais taking over today.
“Ah, there you are,” she greets me the moment I step into the barn they’ve rented for the ceremony, throwing her arms around me. The scent of her perfume hits my nose—something floral and calming, completely at odds with her current state. “Now I can relax.”
I arch an eyebrow but ultimately decide it’s best not to comment.
Instead, I look around. “This is beautiful, Mum. You did a great job.”
I was a bit skeptical when Noah announced they were getting married on a farm, but it actually looks amazing. They hung fairy lights along the beams, tucked wildflowers in mismatched vases that line the aisle, and draped sheer fabric elegantly from the ceiling, softening the barn's rustic edges. I can see the “British Countryside Chic” theme Mum was talking about now.
“Thank you.” She gives me a swift peck on the cheek, then smooths down her long, pale blue dress like it’s misbehaving. “I’m going to greet guests, but you should go find your brother. I’m sure he’ll want to see you.”
I turn around to ask where he’s hiding, but Mum has already drifted into conversation with a couple of older ladies in elaborate hats. Since Grace lost both her parents, and we’ve known her since she was little, I guess Mum’s the only “parent” figure today. Looking at it that way, her stress makes a little more sense. It’s like she’s marrying off two of her kids at once—double the pressure.
I meander outside and cut across the gravel path toward the farm building. The afternoon sun is sinking low in the sky, casting long, golden shadows across the fields as a light breeze stirs the tall grass. I don’t even need to search for Noah—I can hear the deep laughter and booming voices of five hockey players pouring through the open door.
“Hey, you old fossil,” I say as I step into the room, grinning.
“Oh, I like him already.” One of the guys comes forward and claps me on the back like we’ve known each other forever. “James Adler. Nice to meet you.”
A smirk pulls at my lips. “I’ve heard of you. Welcome to England.”
“My brother, Archie,” Noah introduces half-heartedly, rolling his eyes. Although the effect of his prickly demeanor is somewhat diminished by the fact that he’s wearing a freaking tuxedo.“See? I told you I had experience with annoying little fa—”
“Yeah, yeah.” I wave a hand in dismissal. “Don’t listen to him. He’s just jealous of my good looks, that’s all.”
“Yet here, I’m the one getting married.”