The Good Bride Guide by Matt Dunn

Author:Matt Dunn
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Chapter 18

I don’t hear much from my parents for the rest of the week, which is actually a good thing, because to be honest, even though I don’t seem to be any closer to finding a bride, let alone a date for Ash’s forthcoming engagement party, I could do with a rest after what’s been an eventful few days. Plus, the cost of replacing the various items of clothing I seem to be losing is starting to add up.

I don’t see anything of Ash either, although that’s because he’s gone up to Scotland to visit Priti for a few days, which is even better, because it gives me a chance to get on with some work, rather than wasting my time chasing more of his duff leads.

By Saturday lunchtime, I’m feeling somewhat recovered, and I’m walking along the High Street when I spot Hope – the girl I went out with before Amy – heading towards me. Hope is probably the most inappropriately named person I know, because she always struck me as the world’s most pessimistic, glass-half-empty, it’ll-all-end-in-tears person. Though to give her some credit, when it came to our relationship, she was spot on.

I glance left and right quickly, but it’s too late to hide, and unless I want to dart into Boots and risk bumping into Seema again, I’m going to have to brazen it out. Besides, by the look of Hope’s suddenly stern expression, she’s already seen me.

‘Ben,’ she says curtly, as we draw near each other.

‘Hope. Hi.’ I think about leaning in and kissing her on the cheek, but I’m never quite sure about ex-girlfriend etiquette. She dumped me, after all, so am I even allowed to make the smallest of physical gestures towards her? And this always strikes me as ridiculous. Here’s someone who used to let me, well, I won’t go into detail, and then suddenly, after a word from them, everything’s off limits, as if splitting up with them puts you in a worse situation from where you started. And, because she dumped me, I can tell that Hope is worried about even letting me kiss her on the cheek, as if I might take that as some sort of encouragement that she wants me back. Mind you, when I started going out with Amy, Hope used to cross the street to avoid me, so I suppose the simple fact that she’s remained on the same bit of pavement must mean that the ice is melting a little bit. ‘How have you been?’

‘Oh, you know.’ Hope is one of those people you should not ask that question, because she usually tells you, and in great detail. But fortunately not today. ‘Getting by.’

‘Good. That’s nice to hear. Well, lovely to see you.’ I start to walk off, but she blocks my path.

‘Not so fast, Ben. I had an interesting conversation with your dad the other day.’

‘What?’

‘Your dad,’ says Hope. ‘He phoned me.’

For a second, this doesn’t compute. ‘My dad? Phoned you? How?’

‘By picking up his telephone and dialling my number, I imagine.

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