Page 21 of Going Overboard

I mean, it’s hard to say which is more embarrassing, being the only person trying (and potentially failing) to catch the bouquet or just being handed them like a loser, by default, as the only one here who has no one.

I know what the smart thing is: just say yes, grab the flowers – the participation ribbon – flash a grateful smile, get it over with. But before I can even muster a polite, dead-behind-the-eyes nod of agreement, another voice chimes in.

‘I want a chance to catch it,’ she says.

The whole group turns like we’re in a school play and someone just missed their cue.

Oh, and here she is, Nikki – Todd’s Nikki, I guess – here to terrorise me some more.

Kira blinks.

‘But… you’re not single?’

Kira nods towards Todd so she doesn’t have to say it.

‘I’m not married,’ Nikki replies with a shrug. ‘Not yet. There’s a difference. I like the sound of wedding bells though, so I want in.’

I might not be able to muster a smile but my poker face is staying intact at least.

Kira practically winces as she looks over at me for my approval. Well, what else can she say? She can’t exactly say no, I’m rigging the bouquet toss so my sad single friend can get it because you have her boyfriend now. And I can’t really say anything other than…

‘It’s fine,’ I say brightly, even though it’s far from fine. What I want to say is: Can this girl not? What kind of psychotic power play is this? You’d think she would show me mercy.

Kira takes her place, ready to throw her flowers.

Well, I can’t back down now, because if there’s one thing worse than participating in this ridiculous nonsense, it’s refusing to, because that would make me look sad and pathetic and like I don’t wish them well (even though I truly don’t).

I can see Kelsey, next to us, watching me anxiously like it’s the final showdown ofThe Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. I’m not sure which one of the three this whole mess is supposed to be – it can’t be good though.

Kira flings her bright red flowers over her head, sending them hurtling towards me and my rival.

I glance at Nikki – who is fully committing, clearly, with her arms out, knees bent, like a professional athlete. I reach out too, not to win exactly, more just… to not lose.

And that’s when my ankle rolls in my big stupid heel that was not designed with sports (if we can call this sports) in mind.

Suddenly I’m stumbling sideways, crashing directly into Nikki, sending us both down onto the grass. So, I guess if thiswere a sport, wrestling would be the one, and if we’re calling good, bad or ugly, this has ugly written all over it.

Nikki must have landed in a muddy patch of grass because it’s all over her cream dress. She screams as though it were blood.

‘Did you do that on purpose?’ she shrieks at me, scrambling to her feet. Todd rushes over to help her – of course.

I blink up from the grass, stunned. Of course I didn’t!

I notice Ryan, standing next to me, holding the flowers, which means he either caught them himself, or he picked them up from the floor to redistribute. God knows to whom.

I look over at Todd and, boy, does he look angry. His nostrils are flaring. The last time I saw that was when Leeds got knocked out in… I want to say a cup final but I also don’t really know what that entirely means. Just that it makes grown men who opt to hide their emotions cry.

‘We need to take this outside,’ he says, reminding us of our surroundings.

‘We are outside,’ Ryan jokes.

‘Come on, over by the fountain,’ Todd says, ignoring him.

I try to stand, only to realise I’ve hurt my ankle. Oof, that stings. I hobble forward two steps before Ryan ever so helpfully scoops me up in his arms. He must be at least 6’2” and he’s clearly strong, so he makes it look and feel easy – not that I want him to carry me, of course.

‘They want you to follow them,’ he tells me. ‘I’ll give you a lift.’

‘How much would I have to pay you to run in the opposite direction right now?’ I ask him, not feeling like I have much choice in the matter.

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