Fourteen
Ari’s gaze darted to where Nancy was looking, at an older woman in a multi-coloured dress that was trying way too hard to be attention-grabbing and succeeding in ways its wearer probably didn’t want.
‘What the hell is she doing here?’ Nancy muttered under her breath.
‘Just stay still,’ Ari whispered, her eyes wide. ‘She can’t see us.’
‘She’s not a T-Rex,’ Nancy hissed. ‘Though it wouldn’t be impossible to make that mistake.’
‘Alright, then. Let’s keep moving,’ Ari suggested, gently nudging Nancy away from the bar.
As they wove through the crowd, Ari’s heart raced. Nancy’s old boss was here? If that led to Paris finding out Nancy was a driver, she might realise the charade. It would embarrass her, sure. But it also might make things trickier. Eyes might be on her more than they should be.
‘If Helen recognises me…’ Nancy’s voice trembled slightly, breaking Ari from her thoughts.
‘She won’t,’ Ari replied, forcing a confidence she didn’t feel. ‘Just stay close to me. I’ll camouflage you.’
Nancy nodded, though her eyes betrayed her uncertainty. ‘I can’t believe I ran into her like this. The bloody odds!’
‘Law of sod?’ Ari suggested.
Nancy let out a mirthless chuckle. ‘Running into her is worse than dropping toast butter side down. It’s dropping a nuke butter side down.’
‘That doesn’t make sense,’ Ari was compelled to point out.
‘I know!’ Nancy said, flustered. It was a new side to Nancy. Ari couldn’t work out if she was disturbed or amused by it.
‘Look, there’s a hundred people here. She probably won’t see you.’ Nancy managed a weak smile, but Ari could see the weight of the situation still clung to her.
‘Maybe. But if she does? What if Helen reveals that I’m not a rich partygoer but a workaday pleb? What then?’ Nancy asked quietly, glancing over her shoulder as if Helen might be creeping up on them.
Ari grabbed Nancy’s wrist and pulled her in close, dropping her voice to a low murmur. ‘Then we handle it. But you need to tell me why you’re this freaked out first.’
Nancy inhaled sharply, her fingers tightening around the delicate stem of her champagne flute. ‘She’s not just a bad boss. She’s the worst I ever had.’
Ari arched an eyebrow. ‘Really?’
Nancy gave her a flat look. ‘You have no idea. She holds grudges like it’s an Olympic sport. And she loves to humiliate people, especially ones who’ve walked away from her. If she sees me here, she won’t rest until she figures out how to ruin my day—if not my year.’
Ari studied her, searching her face for exaggeration. But Nancy wasn’t joking. This wasn’t just nerves. This was genuine dread. Ari felt a flicker of anger spring up. But she wasn’t here to defend Nancy’s honour. It was hilarious to even think of her coming to Nancy’s rescue. She was ill-equipped.
‘So she’s a nightmare. Fine. But we’re not going to let her get near you.’ Ari’s grip on Nancy’s wrist firmed before she let go. ‘We stick to the plan. We stay confident, we stay together, and if Helen approaches, I’ll cause a distraction.’
Nancy frowned. ‘Like what?’
Ari shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Set fire to a centrepiece? Start a fake row? Trip into the wedding cake?’
Nancy sighed, rolling her shoulders back. ‘Sorry, I got a bit panicky there. I was just so bloody shocked to see her.’ Embarrassment flashed in her eyes. ‘I’ll try to breathe.’
Ari regarded Nancy with surprise. ‘I wouldn’t have thought some backseat bitch could affect you like this.’
Nancy was shocked into a laugh. ‘Why not?’
‘I suppose I thought you were carved out of stone,’ Ari admitted.
‘Nobody’s carved out of stone, Ari,’ Nancy told her flatly.
‘But you never let me get away with anything.’
‘You get away with plenty, let me assure you. But it’s… different.’
‘Why?’
Nancy looked at Ari. ‘Because you’re… alright.’
A shocked smile slid onto Ari’s face. ‘I thought I annoyed you.’
Nancy smiled. ‘Well, yes. But you’re OK,’ she admitted. ‘As a human.’
Ari was stunned that the warmest moment between them was occurring under these bizarre circumstances. But she couldn’t help feeling a bit pleased. Nancy didn’t hate her. Maybe even liked her, just a little. That felt like an achievement.
‘You’re OK too,’ Ari told her.
Nancy chuckled. ‘Thanks.’
‘No, seriously. You’re my favourite driver. And I’ve had a few.’
‘Because I don’t ask questions?’ Nancy asked.
‘I do like that. But no, that’s not it.’
‘What is it?’
Ari smiled. ‘Not sure exactly. But something about you is very… comforting.’
Nancy’s mouth was a straight line. ‘I possess the qualities of a fleece throw blanket. Good to know,’ she said philosophically.
Ari felt annoyance. ‘Don’t underestimate the compliment.’ She wanted to add that hardly anyone in her life had ever managed to be a comfort to her. Because no one ever treated her like she needed it. But she didn’t want to make it weird. So she smiled her easiest smile and said, ‘You’re at least cashmere, darling,’ with a wink.
Nancy laughed. ‘I’ll give you this, Ari. You’re an amusing date. Don’t let anyone tell you different.’
‘Oh, they never do,’ Ari said.