Chapter 5 #2
“What the fuck went on at your rehearsal?”
Michael walked into the summerhouse, kissing Victoria on the cheek and giving Ash a salute as she took her shot.
Coming into Victoria’s special space for a game of pool seemed like the obvious thing to do after the rehearsal debacle.
But neither of them could pot a ball. They were too thrown by what had happened.
Victoria recounted the story to her brother, who stood, stroking his ginger beard, and then laughed like a drain once she was done.
“I’m so sad I wasn’t there. Good old Truffle, you can always count on her for a spot of entertainment.”
“You’re not helping, Michael,” Victoria replied.
But her brother just waved away her protests. “Oh, come on! Your wedding is a joyous occasion. And now, when you put that ring on her finger, you’ll know it got there via Truffle’s anus. It makes the day even more special.”
Victoria put her cue down, then walked to the fridge.
“Just for that, I’m going to open a beer and waft it under your nose.”
She uncapped two beers, then handed one to Ash.
But Michael simply smiled as he put the kettle on. “Do your worst. I am immune to the temptation of alcohol.”
Ash took a sip of her beer and leaned against the pool table.
She had a lot of time for Michael, especially since he’d gone sober and become an altogether more acceptable human who didn’t leak stories about them to the press.
Plus, she knew how important he was to Victoria, despite everything that had happened. They looked out for each other.
At least 99% of the time.
“I’m glad I caught you, actually.”
Victoria swigged her beer and narrowed her gaze. “Uh-oh. This normally doesn’t end well.”
But Michael shook his head. “I’ve been kind of seeing someone. A woman.”
That made his sister almost spit out her beer. “Thank goodness. I don’t think Mother could take two queers in the family.”
Her brother tilted his head with impatience.
“When you’re quite finished.” He paused.
“Anyway, this woman. I really like her, and I wondered, could I invite her to the wedding?” He raised his palm.
“Not to the day, that would be strange. But I’d love her to be there in the evening.
For the fun bit, where everyone relaxes and has a dance. ”
Julien and his dance torture flashed to the front of Ash’s mind. She’d never used the words ‘relaxed’ and ‘dancing’ in the same sentence, and she doubted she ever would.
“Who is she? Anyone we know?” Victoria walked over to Ash and casually draped an arm around her neck. The closeness caused goosebumps to break out all over Ash’s skin, and she breathed in her bride-to-be. She was her all-time favourite smell.
Michael shook his head. “Someone I met via a friend. She’s a bit unsure about going out with me because of who I am, and my past. I get that. I don’t want to scare her, but I’d like to have her by my side. To show her that my family can be normalish, as can I.”
Ash glanced at Victoria, and they shared a look. A tacit agreement that Michael could invite whoever he liked.
“We both want you to feel good on our day, so go ahead and invite her.” Victoria paused. “So long as she’s not going to be too overawed? She’ll meet the whole family, including Mother, Father, and Gran. That’s a lot in a short space of time.”
“I’ve floated the idea and she didn’t run screaming. I’ll leave it up to her, but she said a tentative maybe.” Michael glanced at the floor, before looking back at them.
Had his cheeks got a little flushed? Ash would swear they had.
“We’ve been on a couple of dates. We’re taking it slow. But she’s refreshing. And hot.” He shrugged. “I want to have what you’ve got. Even half of that would do for me.”
Victoria put down her beer, walked over and drew him into a hug. “You deserve it all. I’ll look forward to meeting her on my wedding day.” Then she held him at arm’s length. “My little brother, finally taking his love life seriously.”
“Being sober makes me so tedious, doesn’t it?
” he told her with a smile, before walking back to the now-boiled kettle to make a cup of tea.
“By the way, Mother told me you’re not allowed to see each other the night before the wedding.
As I’m in charge, I have to guard the front door, apparently.
Nice to see some traditions are being upheld. ” He gave them a wink.
Ash laughed. “I’ll be at a hotel with my best mate. Victoria is going to be at the Palace with Astrid and Sofia. We’ll be miles apart, no guard needed.”
He gave an exaggerated pout. “Shame, I was looking forward to barging in and kicking you out.”
“I hope you’ll be too busy sorting out the weather and this incessant rain to worry about us.”
They all stared out the windows as the rain fell in hard lines outside. “By the way, I heard a priest on the radio this morning saying that your marriage was the cause of all this rain. That it was a sign of god’s wrath at this crime against the laws of nature.”
Ash shook her head. “Who knew we had such power? But just in case we do, I think the sun’s coming out on Friday, and I’m putting money on a rainbow over London.”