Page 81 of Going Overboard

‘Nikki, that was really dangerous,’ he tells her.

‘Yeah, what was that?’ Neil asks. ‘We thought it was light-hearted, the other day, when they were in their swimwear. But this? This isn’t funny.’

‘It’s totally unacceptable,’ Kelsey says. She isn’t normally one to get angry and she hates to say or do anything that could be considered impolite, but Nikki has clearly crossed a line. I like to think I would do the same, if someone pushed my best friend into a pool at a party. No, I know I would, because honestly, what the hell was Nikki thinking? It’s not my problem if she has buyer’s remorse, if Todd isn’t turning out to be the man she thought he was – tough luck, I went through the same thing. And maybe she does want Brody back, maybe she’s jealous, maybe she blames me for everything but even so… don’t bloody push people into bloody swimming pools.

I try to rub the water from my eyes without rubbing eye make-up into my eyeballs, because that’s never fun.

‘It’s okay. It’s fine. Let’s just leave it.’ I force a smile.

I just want Kelsey and Neil’s wedding to be okay, I don’t want Nikki ruining it by making it all about her.

Al takes me by the hand and helps me out of the pool in my waterlogged dress.

Brody hauls himself out, water cascading off him, as he marches over to Nikki who is still just standing there, her arms crossed, her face like thunder.

Her cheeks are beetroot red, but whether it’s from embarrassment or rage, I can’t tell. I’m assuming it’s both, but I’m not sure she’s capable of feeling shame.

‘Jessa didn’t deserve that,’ Brody says, cool and calm but clearly really pissed off. ‘You owe her an apology.’

Nikki shrugs. I don’t think she thinks she’s done anything wrong, which is absolutely wild.

‘Jessa, I’m so sorry,’ Kelsey says.

‘No, no, I’m sorry,’ I insist. ‘This is your party and your wedding and this shouldn’t be happening.’

Poor Kelsey looks like she might cry. Kira stands nearby, wide-eyed and stunned into silence. And then there is Todd, who is still across the room, a drink in his hand, watching us all, completely expressionless. Erm, this is his partner, should he not say something? He’s always been a coward now that I think about it.

‘I’d better go get changed,’ I say, lifting the edge of my dripping dress, as though I’m examining it to see if it’s that bad – it’s really bad. I’m pretty sure it said dry-clean only so that’s fun!

‘Yeah,’ Brody says with a heavy sigh. ‘Me too.’

We walk out together, and I hold my head as high as I can (which is tricky when it’s waterlogged) and try to keep my cool.

Inside though… inside I’m screaming. Nikki has gone too far this time. She can’t get away with this.

31

‘So, we’re just not going to talk about it?’ Brody says as he dries his hair with a towel.

‘Nope,’ I reply, not even looking at him. I’m busy rifling through drawers, looking for something. I’m a woman on a mission.

‘Okay… what about this then?’ he tries again. ‘Are we going to talk about this?’

I look at him and realise that he’s referring to me still in my wet dress (but wrapped in a towel) running around Todd and Nikki’s room, rifling through their things.

‘No,’ I say again.

‘Remind me why we’re doing it at least?’

I can’t help but smile at his use of the word ‘we’re’ because while he clearly is not down for this at all, he’s taking his role as my fake boyfriend very seriously. Nothing says ‘ride or die’ like turning over someone’s room together.

‘Because Nikki is clearly crazy,’ I remind him – as if there’s a chance he might not know, he did date her. ‘And out to get me.And she obviously stole my dress. We both know that she did. It’s got to be in here somewhere – check that wardrobe.’

‘Okay but…’ Brody starts slowly, walking towards me. ‘Why are we doing it?’

‘To prove that she did!’

Brody takes my face in his hands and looks deep into my eyes.

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