The Zara Stoneley Romantic Comedy Collection

‘So?’ I look at her suspiciously.

‘I think Maddie’s still got a bit of thing about him.’ The words tail off. ‘I didn’t realise.’ It comes out a bit plaintively. ‘Honest.’ Pleadingly, if that’s a word. ‘Jack rang me this morning, when he found out from Sal we were all coming here. She went white as a sheet apparently when she saw them in Tesco.’

‘So why the fuck did you ask them both here, at the same time?’

‘Because it was too late, and I love them both, I love all of you, and I need us all together. I need all three of you.’ She’s hanging on to my arm. ‘Please help me. I did tell Maddie that Sally was coming as well, and she said it was fine with her, if I really wanted her to come then she’d come because I’m her friend.’

‘And Sal was fine with it?’ Sal would be, I don’t need to ask.

‘She said it was water under the bridge and we were all adults, and what Jack and Maddie had was just puppy love.’

‘I bet she did.’

We both go back to staring at each other in the mirror. Then my shocked brain (good job it’s not alcohol sodden yet) snaps out of its strange state.

‘Shit. And we’ve left them together?’

Chapter 9

‘I need vodka.’ It’s more of a plea than anything as we slide past the bar at full pelt (luckily, the place is quiet), and the rather sexy barman grins as he slams it on the bar. ‘On the tab!’ I don’t even know if we’ve got a tab, but I don’t care. We need to get back.

Rachel is panting down my neck, and I’m a bit breathless myself as she grabs my arm and hisses in my ear.

‘Slow down, slow down, we need to look casual.’

Casual? Ha! I flap my arms away from my body because I’m sure I’ve got sweaty patches forming, and take a deep breath, because I’m wheezing like I’ve just run a marathon.

World war has not broken out. They are sitting slightly woodenly when we saunter up to the table, smiles pasted on our faces; Maddie studying her drink, Sal people watching.

‘Hi! All back, drink!’ I hold it up, to prove the point. ‘Just had to nip to the bathroom’. Did we miss anything?’ There are no visible scars or crumpled up tissues. ‘Everything okay? Ha-ha, why wouldn’t it be? I mean, have you got drinks? Great here isn’t it? Cool! And such a surprise seeing you guys.’ I inwardly cringe. Since when did I call people guys?! ‘Great surprise!’ I’m gabbling and force myself to slow down. Be normal.

Rachel slides out from behind me and sits down. ‘Isn’t this fab? I’m so pleased you could all make it! But this isn’t the whole surprise.’ This is good, what is also good is that Rachel has distracted us all, so it stops me staring open-mouthed at Maddie and Sal.

‘Guess what?’ She doesn’t give anybody time to answer. ‘I’m getting married!’ Rachel actually squeals and claps her hands. ‘Isn’t it brill?’

With this reminder about why we’re all here, I completely forget about the Sally and Maddie stand-off. They could be scrapping like two cats over a fish head and right now I’d be oblivious. What is important now is that my smile is genuine, that I really do show my best friend that I’m happy for her, and that I really can set aside all my doubts about Michael, and happy ever afters in general.

And stop feeling slightly sick about the prospect of walking up the aisle. Or going to a hen party. Or wearing a pretty dress.

Rachel shoves her hand out, so we can admire the rock. It is my first glimpse. If we hadn’t been talking earth-shattering Mads and Sal stuff in the Ladies’, I would have noticed.

Whatever she did to change Michael, it definitely worked. This is one serious diamond. This says commitment in capital letters.

Sal shrieks and hugs her. ‘I knew it! Didn’t I say! I just knew it!’

‘Oh, God, girls, you should have seen him! He came to pick me up in a limo and had posh champagne, and everything.’

I fight to ignore the churning in my stomach. It’s just excitement, nerves, something. But I never did trust flamboyant gestures, although that is what people do when they propose, isn’t it?

Maddie is fanning herself and making aww noises, and Sal is dabbing the corner of her eye theatrically, and I’m welling up all over again.

Maybe Michael has changed, after all it is a while since I’ve seen him (which suits both of us). And he has come running back with his tail between his legs, begging her to marry him – so maybe he’s learned his lesson, and will love and protect my best buddy ‘til the end of their days. I have to believe that.

‘What are we waiting for, let’s order a bottle of bubbly!’

‘Yes, yes!’ Rachel is grinning, hugging herself and looks so happy that I’m happy for her. ‘After you’ve all said you will …’ She pauses and looks at us in turn.

I look at Maddie and Sally who raise eyebrows and shrug in turn. They obviously haven’t heard this bit yet.

‘Be my bridesmaids! That’s why I asked you all here. Oh, you will, won’t you? You have to, it won’t be the same if you don’t!’

‘I’d love to!’ Maddie smiles, but it’s a little uncertain and I notice her slightly shifty ‘Princess Diana’ sideways look towards Sally. She blushes when she realises I’ve noticed and clears her throat. ‘It would be an honour, thank you so much for asking.’ The pinpricks of pink on her cheekbones, and the slight sheen to her eyes makes me frown. She’s also clasping her hands so tightly together in her lap that the knuckles have gone white.

Maddie is sweet, kind and unconfrontational. I’m suddenly sorry about the fact that I’ve not seen her for years.

Rachel waves a hand and the barman arrives with a bottle of champagne that has obviously been pre-arranged.

‘Abso-fucking-lutely!’ What else can I say? I can’t spoil the perfect moment, can I? ‘I wouldn’t miss it for the world!’

Sally grabs Rachel. ‘I am so pleased for you, it’s going to be ace. I can honestly say my wedding was the best day of my life!’

There is a squeak, it actually sounds like a small rodent in pain. Maddie’s hand is over her mouth and she practically vaults over the table (not easy in that skirt) in her rush to the Ladies’.

We all freeze. Then Sally starts to twiddle with her glass, and Rachel throws me a guilty look.

‘Sorry.’ She mouths the word barrier. ‘She said she’d be okay, she did know about …’ She throws a guilty look at Sally, who sighs.

‘I suppose we should have warned you.’

‘Warned me! What difference would being warned have made? It’s Maddie who’s upset, not me.’

‘I thought you’d already know, you know Rachel might have mentioned it, or you’d have seen it on my Instagram.’ Sal’s voice has a defensive, scratchy edge.

‘Seen what on Instagram?’ I didn’t even know Sally had an Instagram account, like I said before, we were never close. They both seem to be stuck for words. ‘Oh, you mean your wedding pics.’ I hope I don’t sound as cold as I feel.

‘Well, it’s not like I’ve done anything illegal, is it? She finished with Jack, he was heartbroken!’

I could thump her. But I don’t.

‘So you stepped in to console him?’

She shrugs. ‘Something like that. Oh whatever, it was ages ago, she should be over it all. He was available for fuck’s sake!’ Sal’s eyes are narrowed as she looks at me, then delivers her final blow. Sweetly. ‘And now he’s not.’

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