Page 107 of My Year of Saying No
‘I had no idea you felt like this. Why on earth didn’t you say something to me sooner?’
‘Honestly, I don’t know.’
That was the same answer she’d given when I’d asked a similar question of her a few weeks ago.
‘Jess, we will have whatever size wedding you want. I consider myself the luckiest man to be standing up there with you, so I’ve already got everything I want. Now I want you to have everything you want too.’
Without looking, Seb passed over a clean hankie and I mopped up the tears that had sprung to my eyes. It was kind of annoying that he knew they’d be there. And also rather sweet.
‘You’re right. You were a bit of a surprise to my family. But not in a bad way. My previous girlfriends have all been of rather a similar ilk – but that’s what attracted me to you. How different you are to any of them. Your vibrancy and vivaciousness are as attractive to me as…’ he gave a cheeky grin, which she returned. ‘All of your other delicious qualities. The thought of that dulling because you feel you have to try and please people or fit in in some way makes me vastly unhappy. And if a big wedding is what you want, then that’s what we’re damn well going to have! In the meantime, I’ll speak to my family and find out what this whole small wedding thing is about. It’s the first I’ve heard of it. I mean, they’d mentioned it, but I had assumed that was something that had come from you.’
Jess shook her head.
‘Right. Well, as I say, we’ll get that sorted, but there is absolutely nothing to worry about on that front. I don’t think any of it has been meant as a slight against you, but I’m determined to make sure. And now let me make a toast. To Lottie!’
I sat up, surprised, blinking at the others. ‘Me?’
Seb grinned. ‘Why not?’
‘To Lottie and her Year of Saying No, which is apparently inspiring the rest of us to follow our true wishes. To Lottie!’
Jess and Seb echoed the toast as I sat and turned pink. However, looking at Jess and seeing her relaxed, the tension of the last few weeks having now entirely drained from her body, it was worth it.
27
The next morning, my phone rang with a video call. Seb’s face, far too handsome for the time of day, grinned out at me from the profile picture. I was yet to brush my hair and had just shuffled back inside from taking Humphrey out to the communal garden for his morning ablutions. Swiping up, I answered the call.
‘Hello,’ I said, running a hand over my hair in an attempt to mask the worst of the bedhead.
‘Hello you. How’d you sleep after all the excitement of last night?’
I laughed. ‘It was a bit dramatic, wasn’t it?’
‘Yep. One of the more interesting dinners I’ve been at in a long while.’
Remembering he’d been to dinner with me a few months ago, I raised a brow at him. ‘Thanks.’
He gave me a look. ‘Dinner with you is always in a league of its own. You know that.’
‘Is that so?’
‘Uh-huh.’
I made a sniffing motion, turning my head as if to try and track the root of the smell before putting my nose closer to the phone.
‘Very funny.’
I grinned. ‘What can I do for you anyway? I thought you were at your brother’s?’
‘I am. We’re just about to head off for a trek to tire the dog, and hopefully the kids, out, but I’ve been requested to ask for your company tomorrow at Sunday lunch.’
‘Me?’
‘Yes. It seems I may have talked about you a little too much and now they’re all itching to meet you.’
‘Oh…’
‘Don’t worry,’ he held up a hand. ‘I’ve told them there’s no funny business going on.’
