Page 87 of Going Overboard

It’s all marble counters and rustic furniture that give the place a good mix of luxury and charm. Everything is so ornate. Fresh-cut flowers sit in miniature vases on every table which is a really nice touch. Over in the corner, there’s a man playing piano – a quick takeaway coffee back home is never going to hit the spot again.

I spot Kelsey at a table near the piano, legs crossed, looking really relaxed, sipping away at a massive cappuccino. She’s got one for me too – I assume.

I sit in the seat across from her.

‘Please tell me that’s your first cappuccino and not, like, your third,’ I tell her. ‘And that the other one is for me.’

‘Of course it is,’ she replies, raising her cup to me. ‘The pastries are to share too. They’re called sfogliatella – I may have already tried one.’

‘It’s your wedding weekend, I’ll let you off,’ I reply with a smile. ‘This place is gorgeous.’

‘This whole place is unreal,’ she replies. ‘I don’t know if I want to marry Neil, or basically everything I eat and drink.’

‘I’d marry this,’ I say through a mouthful. ‘Perhaps Neil will share you.’

‘Perhaps,’ she replies.

I feel like she’s watching me – observing me, studying me… The kind of look only a best friend can get away with. The prying kind, that sees too much.

‘You seem happier today,’ she says, her voice hinting at a deeper meaning. ‘You seemed happy yesterday, but you seem really happy today.’

I shrug, trying to play it cool.

‘I guess I just am,’ I reply. ‘Really happy. I’m so excited for your wedding.’

‘Hmm.’ Her brows lift slightly – suspiciously I’d say.

‘Really. I’m excited for you,’ I say, meaning every word. ‘It’s going to be a beautiful day.’

‘I’ll accept that answer – for now,’ she says. ‘But I still think there’s something you’re not telling me.’

I take a long sip of cappuccino as I try to find the right words.

‘I’m really happy with Brody too,’ I tell her.

That makes her smile.

‘He seems like he makes you… lighter,’ she tells me.

‘He does,’ I reply. ‘He’s made all my silly problems seem, well, silly, like they don’t matter.’

It’s true too. And I thought I was going to stumble, being honest with Kelsey, but the words come out so easily. As easy as it feels to be with him.

Kelsey glances down at her coffee for a second, then back up at me. It’s time for me to read her mind now.

‘You’re nervous?’ I check.

She nods her head.

‘Is it that obvious?’ she replies.

‘Isn’t it always obvious, between the two of us?’ I point out.

‘True,’ she confirms. ‘It’s not that I’m worried about marrying Neil. That bit is the only thing I’m not nervous about. I just want the day to go well, you know? No disasters. No wardrobe malfunctions. No fallings-out…’

‘Well, we have Al, and he’s basically like having the world’s scariest doorman, so he’ll make sure no one scraps,’ I tell her. ‘And, you know, if anyone needs a car moving, and can’t find their keys, he’s on hand to do that too – by hand.’

‘I’d pay to see that,’ she replies. ‘That would make the day memorable.’

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