Page 15 of Between Us

‘We’re not going to say grace, so instead let’s say thanks, Dev, and a cognac for the chefs,’ Roisin said, lifting her glass with a nod to Joe and then Matt, as others followed suit.

‘Oh God, do you remember that visiting manager from London who got us to describe “an interesting thing that happened to us recently”, at the start of any meeting? Peppy bitch,’ Meredith said, with theatrical shudder.

‘There is nothing worse on this blue planet than “team building”,’ Matt said.

‘I’ve got an interesting thing. Last month I was so hungover that my iPhone’s Face ID didn’t recognise me,’ Gina said.

She looked surprised when everyone burst into hysterics.

‘That’s not possible, surely!’ Matt said. ‘It’s biometrics.’

‘It wasn’t biometrics, it was mezcal.’

‘Ohhhh, was that the same night you called me weeping so hard you couldn’t speak, and I thought something terrible had happened …’ Meredith said.

Gina nodded. ‘I said, “I’ve finally accepted I’m never going to shag Jason Momoa.” It was like a bereavement.’

‘Woah. I’m still nowhere near ready to accept that,’ Matt said.

Once the snorting had subsided, there was a peaceful interlude of shovelling curry, punctuated by murmuredfugging hell this is so goodcompliments.

‘I’m marrying well, aren’t I?’ Anita said.

‘That reminds me, an announcement,’ Dev said, dinging the pepper mill with his fork. ‘We’ve decided on a wedding destination.’

The wedding was next spring: Dev was not much one for delayed gratification. Roisin had vaguely wondered aloud to Joe whether a venue of sufficient majesty would be available to Dev on such a short lead time.

‘I can imagine Dev bribing someone to move theirs though, can’t you?’ Joe had said.

‘What, literally paying the whole cost of a venue hire twice, to get another couple to cancel?’

‘Yup. He doesn’t care about money for itself, only what it can do. Admirable really,’ Joe said.

‘Mmmm,’ Roisin had replied, feeling aghast and basic.

‘Destination?’ Meredith repeated now, tentatively voicing collective unease.

‘Lake Como,’ Dev said, spreading his palms like a television salesman with incredible reductions for you. ‘I’ll send you photos of the villa where we’re having the ceremony. It’s absolutely mind blowing. Honestly, that part of Italy.’ Dev made a chef’s kiss gesture before returning to tearing his paratha.

‘Cypress trees, frescoed walls, Murano chandeliers, faded peeling shutters,’ Anita said. ‘The whole aesthetic.I die.’

‘There are rooms available in the villa we’re getting marriedin, but if they’re too pricey there’s other options nearby. I’ll do a WhatsApp,’ Dev said, waving a hand. ‘Don’t worry.’

‘Well. This is exciting. I best start sticking more in my ISA,’ Meredith said, in an upbeat way.

Roisin’s approach to her own finances had been designed by Meredith in their twenties, and she had learned lifelong good habits she’d forever be grateful for.

‘Does Lake Como have any Sofitels?’ Matt said. ‘This year for me is already very staggy.’

‘Wait, aren’t you loaded?’ Joe said.

Roisin tensed.

‘My family are loaded, I’m not,’ Matt said.

‘Very lawyerly distinction,’ Joe said, chortling.

‘It’s not lawyerly, it’s true.’

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