Chapter Forty-Two
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
The speakeasy was tucked away in the back room of a tattoo parlour. A special code was required to access it, and it was best to wait for your entire party to arrive before making your way to the door. Conveniently enough, they’d arrived within seconds of each other and, with introductions out of the way, Ivy had something to say. ‘This may be our last night out together. We have to make the most of it.’
‘Jesus, Ivy, don’t be so dramatic,’ Amanda said.
‘It’s true,’ Ivy insisted. ‘Kya will be gone soon. Who knows when you’ll be back. Quinn and I are workaholics at heart. And you, Hugo, have been nesting these last few months.’
‘Hunting down vintage furniture is a full-time job,’ Hugo said in his defence.
‘It feels like I’m witnessing the end of an era that I missed out on,’ Sam said, frowning. ‘Hugo, remember that time—’
‘No,’ Ivy interrupted her bluntly. ‘This is not the time for reminiscing. We’re making memories tonight, not reliving old ones.’
‘Hear, hear!’ Amanda cried, ready to go.
Quinn reached for Kya’s hand. ‘I like this energy; keep it up. But Kya isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. So, chill on that.’
Kya didn’t know what to say, and was grateful when Sam, nervous, stepped forward. ‘In that case, I’ve got news,’ she said. ‘My boyfriend is going to propose … soon.’
Amanda, standing next to her, pulled her into a one-arm hug. ‘Congrats! Exciting news!’
Ivy was more cautious. ‘Hold on. He’s going to propose? He hasn’t yet?’
Kya sided with Ivy. Wasn’t this announcement premature?
‘No, but I’m onto him. He’s not that clever. There was a very small, very luxe-looking package delivered to our flat which he signed for and hid away.’
‘Are you sure that wasn’t the latest iPhone?’ Amanda asked, concerned. ‘Men are precious about things like that.’
‘She has a point,’ Kya said. ‘An iPhone, a drone, a Nintendo Switch …’
Sam dismissed the argument. ‘It wasn’t a gadget! You don’t go to Hatton Garden for a Nintendo.’
‘Right,’ Ivy said, although she, like Kya and Hugo, had no idea where that was.
‘We’re on our way to Tobago tomorrow,’ Sam continued. ‘He planned the trip. He never plans trips.’
‘But he’s from Tobago,’ Hugo pointed out. ‘I plan our trips to Brazil. It’s easier that way.’
Sam was losing patience with all of them. ‘That’s where we met and that’s where he’ll do it. He bought a ring. He booked a flight. He’s going to propose. I know it.’
Quinn flew to her defence. ‘When you know, you know.’
Sam shot her a thankful look.
‘Do you think he’ll do it in the sacred waters?’ Hugo asked.
‘What sacred waters?’ Amanda asked.
‘Never mind,’ Sam said. ‘It’s a long story, and it won’t matter where he does it. Tobago is magical.’
‘Will you say yes?’ Ivy asked.
‘Yes, I’ll say yes! And this will be the first of many hen do parties. I’m harnessing girl power to get me down the aisle.’
Amanda offered a translation for all the non-UK girls. ‘That’s a bachelorette party.’
‘Before I’m a fussy married lady, I want to party in Miami.’
‘You can party in Miami, regardless,’ Quinn said. ‘Married or not. What difference does it make?’
‘This is what I needed to hear,’ she said, looking nervously from one to the other. ‘And why I wanted to hang out with you lot tonight. I’m not going to turn into my mum just because I’m getting married.’
It wasn’t a question, but her uncertainty was obvious. Sam, though she loved Roman, though she wanted nothing more than to marry him and spend the rest of her life with him, was freaking out. Funny how that worked out, Kya thought. The thing you wanted most terrified you.
‘I don’t know your mum, but no,’ Amanda assured her. ‘We don’t turn into our mothers. We turn into ourselves.’
And with that bit of wisdom, they entered the speakeasy through the tattoo parlour.
Kya was struck with nostalgia as soon as she entered the venue. It was familiar, yet not. The dance floor was smaller than she remembered, and so was the stage. There was the bar where she’d ordered a tequila and sat feeling miserable and out of place. Down the hall, to the left, was the dark and moody restroom where she’d first locked eyes with Quinn. To the right was the lounge where she’d nursed those god-awful cocktails. It was filling up fast. A couple was kissing at the table where Ivy and Victor had broken up. Kya remembered the scene vividly, Ivy rushing out the nearest exit in tears. Yet tonight, when Victor showed up, Ivy did not run or hide, like last time. She nodded and managed a half-smile. That was growth.
Amanda located the props set aside for karaoke night and found everything she needed to turn Sam into a blushing bachelorette: a veil, a blue garter to slip on over the leg of her jeans, and a sash with the words KISS THE brIDE in sparkling pink.
Sam was game, but she had one request. ‘No photos, please! Roman will think I’ve lost my mind.’
‘You heard the bride!’ Amanda cried. ‘Put away those phones!’
Then there was nothing left to do but order a round of shots, followed by another, then storm the dance floor and dance like mad. Other women wished Sam well or stuffed dollar bills down her halter top. It was her every dream come true.
After midnight, they took a break on the back patio. There, Kya would soon learn more congratulations were in order. An interior design magazine had contacted Hugo seeking to feature the new home in a future publication. Kya was floored. Hugo in glossy print? How had his head not yet exploded?
‘A magazine credit or two is enough to get started,’ he said.
‘Yes, of course.’ This was way more than a vanity trip. He needed the exposure to pivot into home design. ‘What good timing!’
‘It’s going to be insane getting the house ready.’
‘More like you’re going to drive everyone insane,’ Kya said. ‘But don’t worry. I’ll be out of your way. Adrian must be so proud!’
‘It was his idea to buy the house, so he’s very pleased with himself.’
‘Adrian is the smartest person I know, and he’s always right.’
He clinked his glass to hers. ‘ Saúde! ’
Kya tried sharing the news with Quinn, but more and more people were crowding her and congratulating her on her Solstice set. They insisted that she was one of the best performers of the night. Kya moved aside and watched the scene unfold. It was as if a cosmic pi?ata had been smacked open and goodies were raining down: dream jobs, promotions, media exposure, engagement rings. And Kya, like an idiot, had somehow come up empty-handed. She had nothing to boast about except a TikTok account with a few thousand followers, the popularity of which was based on her girlfriend’s work. She knew she shouldn’t feel this way, petty and small. She should be happy for everyone. She was happy for everyone. She wholeheartedly wanted Hugo to break into his dream industry. She was relieved Ivy had got over Victor and was turning towards her future. She was overjoyed for Amanda for clinching that promotion. Finally, she was proud of Quinn, so proud her heart could burst. Why then was a whiny little voice in her mind repeating: What about me?
The mob cleared and their little group joined them.
‘What’s next?’ Amanda asked them.
‘For us? London!’ Quinn replied.
‘I meant what’s next for tonight, but yay! London!’ Amanda cried. ‘The things we’ll do! The places we’ll go! The damage we’ll do! London is not ready!’
Forget London, Kya wasn’t ready.
‘Don’t get too excited,’ she said. ‘It’s just something we talked about.’
‘We agreed,’ Quinn said. ‘We’re going.’
Sam offered to set up their itinerary. ‘I’ll give you a list of the new hot spots to hit.’
‘Thanks, Sam,’ Kya said. ‘Those spots may not be so new by the time we get there, but I appreciate it.’
‘Hold on!’ Quinn said. ‘Are you trying to get out of this?’
There wasn’t anything to get out of. They’d discussed a trip on the balcony the other morning over coffee and tea. Discussion wasn’t even the right word, far from it. Quinn had brought it up, and Kya had liked the idea. They hadn’t crossed out dates, or checked flights, or anything like that.
Sensing trouble, the others dispersed just as quickly as they’d arrived. Sam went to return her borrowed bachelorette accessories. Hugo thought he saw someone he knew at the far side of the patio. Ivy and Amanda left to check out the view.
There was no view.
Quinn confronted her, but with such tenderness, Kya was instantly disarmed. ‘What is it? You don’t want to come away with me, anymore?’
Kya’s heart tanked. ‘Of course I do. It’s just—’
‘Sorry to interrupt.’ Two girls in their twenties, full make-up and minidresses, approached tentatively. ‘Just wanted to say that we’re obsessed with you. Pretty sure we started the K&Q hashtag. You’re everything we want to be.’
Somehow, Kya and Quinn managed to return bright smiles. ‘That’s so sweet,’ Quinn said. ‘Thanks.’
‘Can we get a picture with you?’ one asked.
‘Yeah, sure,’ Kya said.
The girls recruited a third friend to take the photo. Kya and Quinn shuffled around and posed as the perfect couple for two strangers who didn’t know any better.