Nineteen
The great hall was alive with movement as the dining tables were cleared away, replaced by sweeping lengths of plush carpet. Staff worked quickly, shifting chairs and plates, while a team of technicians set up soft lighting that bathed the space in a warm, golden glow. A large chandelier was lowered to accommodate the change, and a polished wooden dance floor gleamed as it was laid down, stretching across the room. The air buzzed with anticipation as the space transformed, the hum of conversation blending with the soft thud of music soundchecks.
Nancy wasn’t surprised to realise Ari was tipsy. Not falling-over-slurring-her-words drunk, but loose.
‘I hate weddings,’ Ari muttered, her breath warm against Nancy’s shoulder.
Nancy resisted the urge to roll her eyes. ‘I could tell by the way you drank half the bar.’
‘Needed to do something,’ Ari said, tilting her head back to squint at the ornate ceiling. ‘It was either that or punch Paris in the face.’
Nancy let out a short, tired laugh. ‘Then I think the drinking was the better call. Just barely.’
Nancy was still furious. But she was keeping a cool head. Someone had to. Ari had done some silly things in her time. But this? It was too much.
‘You’re staring at me,’ Ari said suddenly, eyes narrowing as she swayed slightly.
‘That’s because I’m trying to figure out what the hell to do with you.’
Ari grinned, a little lopsided. ‘You could dance with me.’
Nancy huffed. ‘That’s not happening.’
‘Why not?’
‘I don’t want to.’
Ari pouted, an expression so ridiculous that Nancy had to look away before she smiled. ‘Why?’ Ari demanded, a touch loud.
Nancy sighed, glancing around the room. She needed to get Ari out of there before she got loud. ‘Come on,’ she said, wrapping an arm around Ari’s waist. ‘Let’s get you some air.’
Ari leaned into her without protest, her body warm and pliant. ‘Are you taking me outside to yell at me?’
‘Tempting, but no.’
The cool night air hit them as soon as they stepped onto the terrace. The chatter and music from inside were muffled, and for a moment, everything felt still. Ari inhaled deeply, closing her eyes, leaning against a railing.
‘Better?’ Nancy asked, next to her.
Ari nodded, but when she opened her eyes again, there was something raw there, something unguarded. ‘I loved her, you know.’
Nancy exhaled slowly. ‘I know.’
Ari let out a humourless laugh. ‘You must think I’m pathetic.’
‘I think you need to stop giving Paris so much power over you.’
Ari was quiet for a long moment. ‘It’s not about her anymore,’ she admitted. ‘It’s about what she took from me.’
Nancy studied her. ‘The necklace.’
Ari nodded. ‘And everything it meant.’
Nancy didn’t know what to say to that, so she just stayed beside her, letting the silence settle between them. Eventually, Ari leaned her head against Nancy’s shoulder, and Nancy let her. Just for a moment. They watched the dance floor filling as a jazz band played.
‘She invited me because she wants me to see that she won. She got the necklace and someone who wants to marry her.’
Nancy groaned. ‘You don’t even know she has it.’
‘I know, Nancy. I do.’
‘You don’t.’
‘Please don’t be like everyone else in my life right now,’ Ari pled.
‘What do you mean?’ Nancy frowned.
There was a long pause. ‘Telling me I’m an idiot.’
‘I didn’t say that,’ Nancy said quickly and firmly.
‘You don’t believe that I know what I know I know.’
‘Say that sentence five more times fast.’
‘Stop it. I’m serious.’
Realising she was right put a hitch in Nancy’s stride. Because when Ari was serious, you had to pay attention. It meant something important was happening. She was showing you something she rarely showed. The hurt inside her.
Nancy decided to take a risk. ‘What happened between you?’
Ari exhaled, tilting her head back. ‘She wanted in.’
Nancy frowned. ‘Into what?’
Ari let out a short, bitter laugh. ‘My world. My friends. The life I had before her.’ She shook her head. ‘She made it seem like she wanted me, but really, she wanted the people I knew, the connections I had. I thought she loved me. But she just wanted my life. She slid in and made it hers.’
Nancy stayed quiet, watching the tension in Ari’s jaw.
‘And then she started the games,’ Ari continued. ‘She’d twist things. Make me doubt myself. Make me feel like I was imagining it when things didn’t add up. She was always lying about weird, stupid shit. Where she’d been, who she’d talked to, what she’d said. And if I caught her out, she’d just smile and act like I was being ridiculous. Like I was overreacting. And if I ever called her out, suddenly I was the one being unfair.’ Ari let out a slow breath.
Nancy’s fingers curled into her palm. ‘And then?’
Ari’s smile was cold. ‘I tried to fix it. Can you imagine? I thought she just needed to be loved right. That’s when I promised her the necklace. I wanted her to know I was all in. Until I found some texts on her phone to a mutual friend. One of my friends. They were shit-talking me. Paris was laughing at me. Said I was needy and desperate.’ Ari frowned. ‘Maybe I was. I don’t know.’
Nancy felt something hard settle in her chest. She knew that feeling. That slow, creeping horror of looking at someone you love and realising you’re only just seeing them for the first time.
‘So you broke it off,’ Nancy said quietly.
Ari nodded. ‘And Paris did not take it well.’
Nancy nodded. ‘Yeah, I got that impression.’
‘She was furious. Like I’d tricked her. Like I’d wasted her time.’ Ari’s grip on the railing tightened. ‘But the thing that really got to her? It wasn’t losing me. It was losing the story she wanted to tell. The one where I was the lucky one, where I was desperate to keep her. She hated that I was the one who walked away.’
Nancy realised something disturbing. ‘Your old friends, are they here today?’
Ari gave a haunting laugh. ‘God, no. I’m sure she ditched them long ago. There’s probably been several friend groups since then. I think people are only really fun to her in the beginning.’
Nancy’s brow deepened. ‘But you think she stole the necklace to… what? Prove something?’
Ari’s mouth twisted. ‘I think she kept it because she thinks it should have been hers. Because in her mind, I still owe it to her.’ She exhaled sharply. ‘And maybe because she knew it would drive me insane.’
Nancy studied her for a moment, then said, ‘Did it?’
Ari let out a humourless laugh. ‘What do you think?’
Nancy didn’t answer. She just reached out and plucked Ari’s hand off the railing, squeezing it once before letting go.
‘OK.’
‘OK, what?’ Ari asked.
‘Let’s dance.’