Page 61 of The Layover

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‘Wait, I thought Mum and Dad were paying for the dresses?’ I say, brow furrowing. I’msurethat was the conversation … I know my head’s a bit fuzzy, but I distinctly remember them discussing it. Myleene was put out because she wasn’t a bridesmaid, so they’d promised her to spend a bit extra on her dress to make up for it. I remember, because I rolled my eyes and thought Kay wasn’t doing them any favours by sharing hertaste for fashionable clothes with our youngest sister, and Kay had a wardrobe full of barely worn dresses that surely Myleene could borrow for the weekend; wasn’t one of those good enough?

But I am not a fashion expert, as established, so I kept my mouth shut.

Gemma scoffs at me. ‘Please, that budget got eaten up by the veil and the alterations. It didn’t even touch the bridesmaids’ dresses. We had to foot the bill for those ourselves.’

‘Christ, how expensivewasthis veil?’

‘You donotwant to know.’ She rolls her eyes, turns her attention back to her phone, and halts. Her face creases, her top lip hooking up in a ‘huh?’ sort of expression, which falls away as she studies her phone and scrolls slowly. I watch the blood drain from her face, see the usual swagger and confidence leach away too, until Gemma looks – scared. Young. Like the world just opened up beneath her feet and swallowed her whole. Her breathing turns shallow, and I’m afraid for a moment she’s going to pass out.

Anyone else, I’d think she’d just had some bad news about a family member being taken ill suddenly. But Gemma doesn’t have family, or none she’s close enough to that it’d warrant a reaction like that.

I step towards her. ‘Everything okay? What’s wrong?’

‘It’s …’ She blinks, staring blankly at her phone. ‘It’s the group chat. They’ve kicked me out so they can bitch about me. But this is … This is my work phone, the battery on mine was getting really low. I’m in the chat twice – you know, maid of honour, couldn’t afford to miss any updates, all that crap … I never really message from this one, I don’t think Kayleigh’s even got this number saved …They just kicked my personal number out, not this one. Look.’

Her hand trembles as she holds out the phone, and Francesca takes it. I come over to her side to get a better look. A WhatsAppof ‘Kayleigh’s Wedding Party!’ with a series of bride emojis is open to an hour or so ago – a string of messages that have been sent while we were laughing ourselves silly with piggybacks and three-legged races.

Gemma Cavendish has been removed from the group

Kayleigh Michaels:

Will set up the other group now so we’ve got a separate one if she does make it tomorrow! Not looking likely though lol

Joss Nichols-Brown:

Genuinely cannot BELIEVE she’s missing your wedding. What the fuck kind of maid of honour does that??? It’s not like she didn’t have enough advance notice

Laura Fielding:

It’s so messed up. But at least you’ve got us Kay!!!

Kayleigh Michaels:

Much better company lol

Love you gals xxxx

She’s probably not even at the airport, she’s probably shut up in her sad little room in that house-share waiting for a morning flight so she can swan in late and steal the limelight

Andi G:

Lmaoooo classic Gemma. She’s always so desperate for attention

Joss Nichols-Brown:

Omg right???? SO clingy

Kayleigh Michaels:

Tell me about it! She’s always been like this lol. Can’t let me have ANYTHING

Laura Fielding:

You know she tried to tell me the destination wedding was HER thing? Like, what, nobody else has destination weddings? You don’t own the idea Gemma, calm down

Joss Nichols-Brown:

No way!!!! Omg what a try hard