Page 116 of For Love or Money
The price was indeed eye-watering. ‘But hey, it’s your wedding,’ she said to Stella. ‘Anyway, you’re going to be rich. You may as well get used to it.’
When they had ordered the cake, Emma told them to relax and take as long as they liked enjoying their tea and the rest of the samples.
‘Might as well finish off the runners-up,’ Lesley said, picking up a slice of carrot cake. ‘So, how’s Peter? Still not shagging him?’
Stella smiled. ‘No. Actually I hardly see him since rehearsals started for his play.’
‘Oh? They must be pretty full-on.’
‘They seem to be going on longer each day too. And the last few nights, he’s called to say they’re all going out afterwards and he won’t be home for dinner.’
‘Does it bother you?’ Lesley asked, though she could already tell from Stella’s tone that it did.
‘Well, I’m starting to feel more like his mum than his fiancée – always telling him to go easy and not to stay out too late. And I’m not sure I like the idea of him spending so much time with Jane. She’s living in town now, you know. She borrowed some friend’s apartment for the duration of the show.’
‘Are you worried that he’s actually just going back to hers when he doesn’t come home?’
‘No,’ Stella said, shaking her head. But her dismissiveness was unconvincing, and Lesley could tell the thought had occurred to her. ‘I mean, he’s not even sleeping withme. I don’t think I have to worry about him cheating.’
‘Don’t you miss sex, though?’ Lesley asked, thinking dreamily of Al. They’d been shagging almost non-stop since they got back from France.
Stella shrugged. ‘I don’t mind waiting. To be honest, I’ve always liked the closeness and cuddling more than the actual sex itself.’
‘Yeah, I like that bit too.’ Lesley smiled. ‘But God, I love the main event.’ Her mind flashed back to last night, Al pounding into her ... She shook her head. ‘So you’re living with Rafe now. Is that awkward?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, I know he was a bit hostile to you at first.’
‘No, it’s fine. I think we’ve reached a truce.’
‘That’s good. Especially if Peter’s been abandoning you.’
‘He’s not abandoning me,’ Stella said, frowning. ‘He’s just ... busy.’
Lesley finished her cake and put down her plate. ‘Right, what’s next?’ she said, picking up her tablet, and scrolling through her list of bridesmaid duties. She had coordinated to-do lists with Stella. ‘Did you open an account on that budgeting app I sent you?’
Stella didn’t answer. She seemed distracted, and had been zoning out now and again all afternoon.
‘Are you okay?’ Lesley asked.
‘Sorry.’ She shook her head. ‘I was miles away. What did you say?’
‘I just asked if you’d opened an account on that budgeting app.’
‘Oh, yes. I did.’
‘Great.’ Lesley tapped on her tablet. ‘Can you give me your login details? Then we can both access it and keep everything together.’
‘Oh! I hadn’t thought of that.’ Stella hesitated.
‘I just thought it would be handy,’ Lesley said, trying to sound casual. ‘No problem if you’d rather not.’ She didn’t want to be too persistent and arouse Stella’s suspicions.
‘No, it’s fine,’ Stella said. ‘The username is my email. And the password ...’ She hesitated, biting her lip.
‘Look, if you don’t want to give it to me, it’s cool. I can keep track of whatever I spend and we can update it whenever we’re together.’
‘It’s not that,’ Stella said. ‘It’s just ... it’s a bit embarrassing.’
