Bridesmaids by Jane Costello

Author:Jane Costello
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Tags: General, Fiction
ISBN: 9781847390875
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Published: 2008-09-03T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 59

Life is supposed to be all about learning lessons, and I have learned a significant one today. Never again will I agree to carry the key card of a friend who is having her period and therefore likely to want to get into her room at any given moment for a greater choice of sanitary products than those on offer in the ladies’ loo.

The friend I refer to is actually Charlotte–Valentina had simply been deputised into the search-party. Charlotte had been unable to fit said card into her own bag because, despite being exceptionally pretty, sparkly and well-matched to her dress, it was also so small it wouldn’t accommodate anything other than a sample lipstick from the Clinique counter and two Kirby grips. Which, I did point out, kind of negates the object of a bag, for me.

Poor Charlottte was apologetic almost to the point of self-flagellation when she found out where I’d been for the last half-hour. Which makes me feel slightly better, but not much. Because, between Georgia’s dad stopping for a chat with me, and my mum waylaying Jack for a discussion about Amnesty International’s membership fees, I somehow managed to lose him again.

Which is bloody careless, I know.

‘You don’t get away that easily,’ says a voice behind me, prompting a small somersault in my stomach.

I spin around eagerly, but realise it’s only Seb.

‘Pull up a chair,’ I say, trying for the sake of common decency not to look as disappointed as I feel. ‘Have you enjoyed the party?’

‘It’s been spectacular,’ he says.

‘Not missing your pool table?’ I enquire.

‘Oh, I can manage without that for a night,’ he says. ‘Anyway, listen. Your office isn’t far from where I work. We should really hook up some time for a drink after hours. Or lunch maybe.’

I hesitate.

‘Come on,’ he says. ‘I’ve never known a journalist to turn down the offer of a free lunch yet.’

‘Oh, you’re paying, are you?’ I ask.

‘Of course.’

I smile. I don’t want a romance with Seb again–I’m pretty sure of that much–but being friends with one of my ex-boyfriends might be just the sort of novelty I could do with at the moment.

‘Sure,’ I say. ‘We’ll definitely do that.’

As I take a sip of my drink I spot Charlotte sitting by herself at the side of the dance floor.

‘Would you excuse me a minute, Seb?’ I ask. ‘I just need to catch up with someone.’

‘I Just Can’t Get You Out of My Head’ is playing and Valentina is, predictably, in the centre of the dance floor, jerking backwards and forwards in as close an approximation of Kylie’s video routine as someone who is five foot nine can manage.

‘Valentina appears to be having some sort of convulsions,’ I say to Charlotte as I sit down next to her. ‘Do you think we ought to find a paramedic or just shoot her now to put her out of her misery?’

Charlotte giggles.

‘You don’t feel like dancing then?’ I ask.

She shakes her head and smiles. ‘Even if I lost ten stones I don’t think you’d ever get me dancing like that,’ she says.

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