Page 106 of The Last Saturday In July
Jess remembered she’d bought it in a moment of madness, after seeing a programme on vegan cooking. The TV chef had made brown rice look like the most exciting whole grain ever. Now she imagined gravel probably tasted the same.
‘You don’t like brown rice. Or stir-fry.’
‘It’s probably better for us.’ He didn’t look up from the screen. ‘I got a call from the dress shop to say you can collect it tomorrow. They said they tried to contact you earlier?’
Jess frowned. She definitely hadn’t missed a call. But why would she have? Kate had been managing all that and had been the wedding dress shop’s first port of call. If they’d rung her, Kate must have given them Simon’s number. It was petty, but it was also a sign of how angry she was.
Jess took a deep breath and found a pot for the rice. Right now she couldn’t care less about her wedding dress, but it hurt to see how quickly Kate had distanced herself. She dreaded what she had to say next.
‘Simon, I need to tell you something about Kate.’
Simon’s shoulders stiffened. ‘What about her?’
‘She’s not coming to the wedding.’
He turned to face her, his face white. ‘Since when?’
‘It happened over the weekend. It was Kate’s decision.’
‘Because of our kiss?’
Her heart was going to shatter. ‘It’s more complicated than that.’
‘Does she know about your hen weekend?’
Jess didn’t answer. Instead, she said, ‘I need to ask you something.’
‘What?’
Maybe she should sit down. Although depending on Simon’s reaction, it might be easier for both of them if she just stayed here. Did she even have to ask how he felt about Kate? Wouldn’t he have just told her the other night, after she’d confessed to a one-night stand and given him the ultimate get-out clause? But she needed to know for sure.
‘Do you love Kate?’
Simon looked at her for a moment. ‘Because I kissed her?’
Jess swallowed hard. ‘Partly.’
‘I said I was sorry.’
The tone of his voice challenged her to pursue it. He was right. He’d kissed a friend; she’d slept with a stranger. She reminded herself why she was asking.
‘It’s just that you and she are so close, and you’re so great with Luke and ...’ Oh God, she couldn’t just tell him that she was pretty sure Kate was in love with him.
‘We are close.’ Simon seemed to be trying to figure it out for himself. ‘And you’re right, it’s a privilege to be a small part of Luke’s life. So yes, I love Kate, she’s an incredible person.’ He paused and Jess’s stomach clenched. ‘But I love you differently, Jess. And I’m marrying you.’
Jess breathed out, the rush of blood her head making her dizzy. So, she’d been wrong: Simon’s feelings for Kate were purely platonic.
Simon took off his glasses and rubbed a hand across his face. ‘I never meant to come between you, maybe I should talk to her.’
Shit, she couldn’t have that, not now that Kate knew about her and Adam. ‘It’d be better if you didn’t.’
He stared at her. ‘What aren’t you telling me? Have I hurt Kate?’
‘It’s not that.’ He was about to hurt her more than he’d ever know.
‘So, what do we do?’
‘Nothing.’ Jess shook her head. ‘We give her some space.’
