Page 108 of Encore

41

SKY

Jesus,this is insane. Way too many people and too much attention, exactly the reason I snuck off with Dylan to marry in Bali. I duck away from yet another repetitive conversation about inane things and scout the grounds for Tara.

She sits on the terrace, close to the long tables lined with food, eating small parcels of pastry with her manicured fingers and washing them down with champagne. I sit opposite my best friend and look into her flushed face.

“How’s things?” I ask. “Sorry I haven’t had a chance to catch up with you yet.”

“Good,” she says through a mouthful. “Better.”

“Asshole,” I mutter.

The move to London with Tom happened, but their relationship ended a couple of months later. This came as a huge shock, followed by anger at a guy breaking my best friend’s heart

She shrugs. “Better I know now than before things got serious.”

“Eighteen months, though. That is serious. I still can’t believe it when he was so supportive after the accident.”

“You know how it is, people drift. I’m good, honestly. At least he wasn’t cheating on me.”

“And you live in London now,” I say with a grin.

“Yep. I don’t regret that part. I should’ve left Bristol years ago.”

I take the nearby bottle and fill a glass for myself. The bubbles tickle my nose as I drink. “Well, no hitting on famous people while you’re here,” I tease.

“They’re all taken anyway!” She pouts, then laughs. “No. Not interested. I’ve seen enough of your life to know to keep away.”

We sit in our comfortable quiet and watch the world pass by. Many here I don’t recognise, Dylan’s friends from the music industry invited to celebrate the album. Perhaps we should’ve limited how many events we celebrated on one date, but at least we won’t need to organise a party again soon.

“We’re headed to the States for a few months,” I tell her. “I’ll miss you.”

“Always leaving me!” She takes a bite of pastry and scowls.

“Come visit. You have holidays. You can take time off work.”

“Maybe.” She sips her wine. “How are you after the court case?”

“Yeah. Okay.” I pick at the edge of the stiff white tablecloth. Lily’s trial over the string of offences the day Rhys was born didn’t end the way I wanted.

The court sentenced Lily to a shorter sentence than we hoped, and this is behind our decision to spend time in the States. She’s released next month, and I refuse to hide behind gates. With a criminal conviction, she’ll find it difficult to enter the States unnoticed. I rely on the fact she’s not crazy enough to try, but I’ve downplayed her instability for years. I have to trust this situation changed the direction she’s headed.

“I’m great at bringing up the wrong things, aren’t I?” Tara closes her hand over mine.

“No. People tend to avoid asking me about things that might upset me. You’re honest. Probably why we get along so well.”

She grins and says in a childish voice. “BFFs.”

The wine-soaked day retreats back to my old normality, and I prompt Tara for a run down on her new life. She attempts to hide it, but a sadness hovers around her, and I use my most persuasive, nagging powers on her agreeing to a holiday in LA. Partly selfish, because I know fewer people over there and crave a true friend.

Avery crosses the lawn alone. I wave and she waves back as she heads over. She’s brighter than last time I saw her, when in the middle of the chaos surrounding Bryn and Connor, but she still looks tired. Her thick brown hair is loose across her bare shoulders, the strappy floral summer dress she’s wearing lower cut than mine.

“You look like you need a sleep,” I say and pour her a glass of wine.

“End of term last week. I’m exhausted. Have you seen Bryn?”

“No. Last I saw the four of them snuck off for secret band business.”

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