Page 12 of The Island of Hopes and Dreams

‘Yup, we could have been stuck in a hellish loop of being sick for eternity, but he staggered off, turning the air blue in between retching – I really hope I’m not making you queasy.’

‘Nope, I’m good – as long as talking about it isn’t going to make you puke all over me?’ He leaned away and grinned.

‘No risk of that, I promise.’ She found herself smiling. ‘I’ve paced myself drinking-wise and the drive from the airport wasn’t too long.’

‘Well, that’s a relief.’ He folded his hands in his lap and leaned forward. ‘So he stormed off covered in sick. What did you do?’

‘The key thing to remember is I’d been drinking. A lot. I didn’t feel great and I had sick on my new shoes, which was making me feel even queasier, so I went for a wade in the lake.’

‘You did what?’

‘At the time it made sense – it was the quickest way to save my shoes and my dignity…’

‘Except?’

‘Except I misplaced my footing?—’

‘Because you were drunk.’

‘Exactly, and when my friends found me, I was arse-first in the water laughing so hard I was crying. My shoes were ruined, my dress was covered in muddy lake water and mascara was running down my face because I’d forgotten to wear waterproof stuff. Who knew I was going to end up crying at a wedding?’

‘So that’s why your friends won’t ever let you live it down.’

‘And of course everyone heard the guy’s version too, which honestly didn’t paint me in a good light at all. Yet despite the nightmare end to the last wedding – at least for me – my friends are still determined to hook me up with someone again.’

‘Perhaps they’re hoping for a happier outcome this time.’

‘I think they’re hoping for gossip.’

‘And being the centre of attention and talked about is the last thing you want,’ Rhys said slowly.

‘Bingo,’ Lola said. ‘I get it. They’re all married and trying to live out their single fantasies through me. But other people thinking they know best when it comes to my love life is the last thing I want.’

‘Is he here?’

‘What, the guy I puked on?’ At Rhys’s nod, Lola shook her head. ‘Fortunately not because he’s in a different friendship group to Mirabel. I think I might have put him off going to a wedding for life. I’m pretty certain if he ever laid eyes on me again he’d be sick.’

‘At least you made an impression.’

‘That’s one way to put it!’ Lola snorted. ‘So that’s partly why my friends meddling is frustrating and pissing me off, except I don’t want to say anything and make a big deal about it.’

‘Which is why you took yourself away from the situation and came out here.’

‘Ka-ching. Although this is only the first evening; I can’t keep reacting this way.’

‘I understand that. Trying to hide your true feelings for fear of upsetting others is exhausting.’

‘Ah! I’ve admitted my sad, embarrassing story. Time to share your reason for escaping.’

Rhys brushed the grains of sand on the wooden boards into the water sloshing against the jetty.

‘As you know, Fabs is one of my closest friends and there are a few of us here who all met at uni and stayed great friends ever since. An ex is here too, which wouldn’t be too much of a problem if she wasn’t here with another of my friends?—’

‘Oh shit!’ Lola swivelled to face him. ‘I know who you are! At least I heard the story from the stag do.Youwere involved in the punch-up.’

‘I was the one doing the punching.’

He didn’t seem the type: a mild-mannered teacher. ‘I don’t know all the ins and outs, but I’m guessing you had a good reason.’

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