Chapter 1
FOUR MONTHS LATER
They were hands down the worst two people Felicity had ever met.
As she watched Adam and Bex at the bar, giggling together, Bex with a hand on Adam’s arm, head thrown back in exaggerated laughter, she felt it deep in her gut. Sadness mixed with a weird kind of hatred that one could only feel watching their best friend and their ex-boyfriend in love.
‘To the happy couple,’ shouted someone from the other side of the room.
As the crowd erupted for the eighth or ninth time into boozy cheers and half-hearted refrains of “Congratulations” by Cliff Richard of all people (that from the mums at the back), Felicity watched Bex turn slowly to face the room, one hand raised just a little self-consciously, her face aglow, her glossy black hair bouncing as she turned.
Adam waved his hands about feebly, palms out, as if to say that was quite enough of that, but no one took any notice.
Despite these protests, a smile lit up his dark features. You could see he was loving it.
If this was the engagement party, thought Felicity, as she watched them, the wedding itself was going to be torture.
‘Urgh, whose idea was this?’ said Sophie, plonking herself down on the pub stool next to Felicity and patting her arm in solidarity.
‘The worst thing,’ said Felicity, ‘is I can feel everyone watching me, you know, to see my reaction. They’re desperate for me to cause a scene or something.’
‘You should,’ said Sophie, taking another sip from her glass, which was bubbling delicately. Her (usually very collected) “other” best friend appeared to be slurring her words slightly. Sophie was tall and willowy and usually very “together” but she seemed to be making an exception for today.
‘Are you drunk?’ said Felicity, raising an eyebrow.
‘I might be. Catch me up. I highly recommend it.’
‘From the looks of it, you’ve had too much of a head start.’
‘Oh shush. Whose idea was this party again, anyway?’
‘You’ve said that already.’
‘I know, but I haven’t had a straight answer. Was it yours?’
Felicity shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She had suggested something, now that Sophie came to mention it. Ever since Adam and Bex told her they were getting married she kept finding ways to overcompensate for the churning feeling in her stomach by being ridiculously overly nice and helpful.
‘Well,’ she said now, ‘I am the maid of honour.’ This with a sarcastic smirk. The most ridiculous thing of all.
‘How did that happen again?’ said Sophie, narrowing her eyes.
‘I have no idea.’
Sophie swayed a little on the stool.
‘You should tell them to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine.’
‘Sophie Flatman. That is a terrible thing to say.’
‘S’true though.’
‘True.’
The following Saturday there was even more hell to sit through.
‘Teal or rose?’
‘Hmmmm?’
‘I said, teal or rose? Felicity Brooks, are you even listening to me?’ Bex was already scowling.
‘Sorry. Sorry. I’m with you. No need to full-name me.’
‘Well, honestly, sometimes I wonder if your heart is really in this.’
‘Of course it is. Look. I’m right here with you.’
She wasn’t. Of course she wasn’t. Felicity tucked her legs underneath her with a sigh, and attempted to focus, cursing overly emotional Past Felicity from New Year’s Eve who had agreed to this fiasco in the first place.
‘Right here with me, are you?’
‘Sorry. Yes. I’m back in the room. Look. See? Teal or rose, wasn’t it?’
Bex gave a little trill of annoyance. ‘I’m asking you.’
‘Right. Yes. So you are. Well… teal then.’
‘I was thinking rose.’
‘Rose then.’
‘Do you think? I’m just not sure it’ll go with the dress.’
Felicity rubbed her temples. ‘When’s Sophie getting here?’
‘I’ve no idea. She was meant to be here at 10am sharp. I do hope she makes it in time for the lunch with my mother.’
Felicity looked at her watch before she could help herself. 10.25am. This was the longest morning in the history of the universe. Hurry up, Sophie.
‘How’s it going in here?’ A deep voice made her heart do a little backflip.
Standing in the doorway of the lounge was her Penguin Man, James.
Now known as PM or J for short, unless she was cross with him.
Ridiculously handsome James with his sky-blue eyes and his unruly hair and his penchant for dressing as a giant penguin for parties.
Not in that way you understand. There are groups for that sort of thing.
At the sight of him, Felicity couldn’t help the smile that lit up her face. He sauntered over and flopped down into the oversized armchair next to hers, stretching out his long legs and running a hand through his messy blond hair.
‘I’m not sure you wanted to do that,’ muttered Felicity under her breath. She pulled her own auburn hair back into a ponytail with one hand, a sure sign that she was stressed. ‘Run. For heaven’s sake, run.’
But it was too late. Bex homed in like a missile. ‘Ah. Perfect timing, James. You’ll do.’
‘Well, thanks. I’m very flattered.’
‘Teal or rose?’ said Bex, perching on the arm of the sofa, so she could wave her laptop screen in his face.
‘Say what now?’ said James, brows crinkling.
‘Teal or rose? It’s a perfectly simple question.’
‘I… erm… teal, I guess?’ James glanced over at Felicity.
‘Teal it is. That’s settled then.’ Bex looked triumphant.
‘Hey, hold on a moment,’ said Felicity. ‘When I said teal, you said rose.’
‘Did I? I don’t think so, darling. Anyway, someone needs to make a decision. It might as well be him.’
‘I don’t even know what teal is,’ said James with a grin.
‘It’s that one there, darling, the bluey-greeny colour. How can you not know that?’
‘Er, because I’m a bloke?’
‘You really should educate yourself.’
‘And yet somehow you’d trust my judgement over Felicity’s?’
‘She wasn’t even paying attention.’
‘Well, she’s had a lot on her mind.’
As they bickered, Felicity felt a sudden need to go for a walk.
Where the hell are you, Sophie?