Page 29 of A Winter Wedding Adventure
He was dreaming if he imagined Kira Watling needed anything from him. But it was a rather pleasant dream.
‘You certainly know how to make an exit!’
Kira barely lifted her head from her pillow to acknowledge Ginny’s wry comment when her colleague returned to their room an hour later. Kira had already had a quick shower, brushed her teeth and slipped into her tracksuit; she was an expert at efficient use of a bathroom. Now she lay sprawled on her bed with her earbuds in, watching climbing videos on YouTube to forget about the entire rotten day.
Of course Ginny wouldn’t let her. She perched on the edge of Kira’s single. Kira knew Ginny would never tell her off with strong words, but her gentle disappointment would be worse, which was why she was surprised when Ginny’s actual words were, ‘The thing with the garter really should be retired, even if it symbolises fertility.’ She shot Kira a cheeky smile.
‘It’s not really symbolism. It’s a pretty clear allusion to sex.’
Ginny snorted. ‘In some places, they nail a pair of the bride’s shoes to a tree to “stop her running away”.’
‘Urgh, seriously?’ Kira sneaked a glance at Ginny, trying to work out if her colleague truly wasn’t mad at her. ‘I am sorry I said that stuff out loud in front of the bride, though. And Joe’s mother is going to hate me for eternity.’
‘Maybe not quite eternity,’ Ginny responded, which did nothing to ease Kira’s mind. ‘But it’s okay. I know this is hard for you and I also know you’re trying.’
Just not succeeding. But she was stupidly touched by Ginny’s understanding. She’d thought the advice about not getting emotionally involved had been entirely unnecessary, but she seemed to react to everything emotionally right now.
‘I hope they put an extra shot of vodka in Alessandra’s hot chocolate,’ she mumbled.
Ginny laughed, but then moved onto the other subject Kira would rather have avoided. ‘That was an interesting coincidence, that you know one of the groomsmen. Is he a real dick?’
‘He’s fine,’ she said carefully. ‘A nice guy – at least he was in school.’ It was the truth. All Rav had done was witness her lowest moment.
‘Apparently, the group of them – Joe and the groomsmen – met at university in Exeter.’
The University of Exeter. Kira pressed her lips together and hoped Ginny would change the subject. She wasn’t the same person she’d been when she’d seen Rav last, and it wasn’t only her blue hair.
Ginny moved to her bed and slipped out of her court shoes, peeling her stocking socks off. ‘The opera singer is a sweetie,’ she commented, looking away from Kira as she tugged the tie from her curly hair.
Kira progressed from pressing her lips together to grinding her teeth.
‘I didn’t expect him to be tall and handsome. No wonder the bridesmaid regrets letting him slip through her fingers. Oh, and you’ll never guess what I saw!’
‘I don’t particularly want to guess,’ Kira said.
‘It’s working! Throwing them together! I think maybe I would enjoy a side business in matchmaking.’
‘What do you mean by, “It’s working”?’
‘I saw them together in the hallway, talking intently – standing really close.’
Kira hated the taste of acid in her mouth and the way Ginny’s words made her want to throw something and yell at Carla that she hadn’t appreciated him.
‘If it’s worked so quickly, I don’t think you can give your spurious matchmaking attempts much credit. They must have both regretted breaking up.’ She refused to be miserable about that fact.
Ginny scrunched her nose at Kira. ‘Don’t quote facts at me. I’m a hopeless romantic and I think it would be wonderful if the bride’s friends found their way back to each other.’
‘Does this mean we don’t have to worry about Alessandra’s matchmaking request any more?’
‘I suppose I could ask the staff if they slept tog?—’
‘Ginny! No!’
‘Maybe you could ask him how it’s going, since you seem to have got on okay.’
Kira’s stomach swooped. ‘Do you really think that means I have an “in” with the opera singer?’ she asked, hoping Ginny didn’t notice her voice wobbling.
‘Good point. But until we’re certain they’re back together, I think we need to keep setting them up. Surely there’ll be opportunities tomorrow on the glacier tour. Maybe we can strand them in a gondola alone.’
