My Best Friend's Royal Wedding by Romy Sommer

Author:Romy Sommer [Sommer, Romy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2019-12-09T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Khara

By the time we get back to the hotel, which now seems incredibly modern after seeing the eighteenth century chateau it’s modeled on, Phoenix and Max are already in the bar, surrounded by what seems like an impromptu party.

“Where did you two disappear to?” Mateo shouts over the music and voices, drawing the entire room’s attention to us. Maybe not the entire room. Their younger teammate is on a sofa in the corner, a blonde in his lap, and they’re not paying attention to anyone but each other.

“We went to look at the art at the chateau,” I answer.

“Looking at art – is that what you’re calling it these days?” Phoenix asks with a sly wink. Max has his arm around her, and they’re both smirking. I’ve never been more convinced that they’ve deliberately thrown me and Adam together than I am right now, though I can’t figure out why. Wasn’t Max the one who told Adam I wasn’t his type?

Deliberately misunderstanding Phoenix, I launch into a description of everything we saw at the chateau. It’s not hard for me to gush, and the way their eyes glaze over gives me immense satisfaction. But I’m also talking too much to cover the fact that Adam has barely said a word since we left the chateau’s English garden. He barely looks at me.

“Poor you, mate,” Max commiserates with Adam when I pause to draw breath. “After all that art and history, I’m sure you could use a drink.”

Adam grins, but it seems forced. “Whatever it is, make it a double.”

If anyone thought we left the polo match early to hook up, they sure aren’t thinking it any longer. Adam takes the drink he’s handed and, without even a glance at me, moves to join Mateo to admire the glass trophy their team won.

Phoenix looks at me enquiringly, and I shrug. I have absolutely no idea what’s gotten into him. All I suggested was that he invests himself in something. Was that really so bad, and why did he ask if he didn’t want my opinion? It’s probably yet another one of those etiquette ‘rules’ I just don’t get.

I look longingly at the woman serving drinks behind the bar, and wish we could trade places. Back there, mixing drinks, serving customers, staying invisible, I know what I’m doing. Out here on this side of the bar, everything is just so complicated.

As soon as I can do so without looking like a party pooper, I slip away to my room. But it’s a long, long time before I fall asleep.

***

Adam doesn’t join us for breakfast next morning. The concierge brings up the Sunday morning papers and Phoenix flicks to the society page (I didn’t even know that was a thing). There are color pictures from the polo match – Max and Adam on the field, Max and Mateo accepting the trophy, Phoenix and me in the VIP enclosure. I breathe out a sigh of relief. I look just like everyone else at that polo match.

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