Page 84 of Just Say Yes
Lorcan gave a brief smile, lifted his hand in goodbye and hung up. I switched the phone onto flight mode, and picked up my book. As I opened it to the correct page, a flicker of thought passed through my mind that it might have been nice not to have had my life scheduled so rigorously this evening, that talking a little longer with Lorcan, relaxed and calm, might have been more enjoyable. I let out an irritated sigh and wriggled in the bed to get comfy. Of course that wasn’t the case! I was exactly where I should be, at exactly the right time doing exactly what I should be doing. So if that was the case, why did I wish Lorcan hadn’t been as respectful – for once – of my planning and carried on chatting?
After ten minutes of reading my book and not taking in one word, I closed it a little more forcefully than required, switched off the light and buried down under the duvet. I desperately needed this wedding job, but both the location and the best man were having some very strange and unexpected effects on me. The sooner this was all done, the better it would be. Then I could not only get my roof fixed but I could go back to my normal routine and know for certain, as I had for years, that this was the best way to live my life. Closing my eyes, I began counting sheep, but that only brought with it images of rolling, lush green fields and tall, dark, handsome Irishmen.
Slamming back the cover, I grabbed my phone, found a true crime podcast, switched it on and eventually drifted off to sleep.
29
‘He’s yummy!’ Izzy whispered, taking advantage of the fact that Rob had just started chatting to Lorcan about rugby and found a willing listener. ‘Is he single? And if so, why aren’t you seeing him?’ Her eyes sparkled with mischief and delight as we pretended to be looking through some new stock.
‘Yes, he is. And because he’s a member of the wedding party. Also, a lot of the time we drive each other bananas.’
Izzy waved her hand. ‘That’s nothing. Remember how Rob and I got together and we’re still happy as anything.’
‘Yes, but it’s not the same.’
‘Why not?’
‘It… just isn’t.’
‘Oh. So long as you have a good, solid reason,’ she replied, grinning, and I shook my head, unable to stop myself being swept up in her giggles.
‘Have you seen everything you need to here?’ Izzy asked.
‘Yes, that’s all great, thanks for staying on a bit later. Peyton’s dress is absolutely beautiful. I mean, you made it so it would be, but seeing it in real life is just so much better. She’s going to look amazing. You’re so talented.’
‘Thanks, hon. Peyton had some great ideas, which was helpful.’
‘She’s on this mad diet from her nutritionist at the moment. Did she mention it?’
‘Yeah,’ Izzy said, rolling her eyes a little. ‘I told her she already looks perfect and I can make alterations if needs be.’
‘She wouldn’t even risk trying any cake. Fair enough, the baker turned out to be in Ireland but still. Lorcan and I ended up having to suffer the calories.’
Izzy looked at me. ‘You and Lorcan went to Ireland… together.’
‘Not like that,’ I whispered, hastily, widening my eyes in warning.
She shot him a look. ‘Shame.’
‘You ready, Iz?’ Rob called from across the studio.
‘Yep, just let me get my bag,’ she said, tapping across the wooden floor in her adored Louboutins. Izzy and I shared an appreciation for beautiful shoes, which had also helped our friendship, although not necessarily our bank balances.
‘Got it,’ she said, hefting a massive tote onto her shoulder, which Rob immediately took from her and slung up onto his own. ‘Bloody hell, have you got a sewing machine in here?’
‘Stop whingeing,’ she said, reaching up on tiptoe to kiss him. ‘And thank you.’
‘You’re welcome,’ he returned, looking at her just as adoringly as when they had married, as though she were the only person in the room. ‘I managed to get the restaurant to do a table for four rather than three, now that Lorcan’s coming.’
‘Oh, fab!’ Izzy grinned at him before swinging her gaze to me.
Lorcan’s coming?
* * *
‘I did try to say no,’ he explained as we drove back towards my cottage later. ‘I knew you’d be less than thrilled if I came.’
‘It wasn’t that. I mean, that’s not why I didn’t invite you.’ My words were tumbling out faster than my brain could organise them. ‘Izzy suggested dinner before I knew you were coming and then I thought if I asked if you wanted to come to dinner, you might think it was unprofessional of me, or that I was coming on to you, either of which would be awkward. And frankly, I thought the last place you’d want to be sat this evening was at dinner with me again, after having had to chauffeur me around the entire weekend, so I didn’t want to make you feel awkward by having to find a polite way to say no thanks.’
