Chapter 12 #2
Andy wanders over – alone, which I’m grateful for.
‘Is Cordelia’s family here?’ JJ asks, cutting to the chase. I can always rely on her for that.
‘They live abroad,’ Andy replies. ‘But we’re hoping they can make it for the wedding.’
‘I see,’ is all JJ says.
‘Can I borrow you for a sec?’ Andy asks me.
‘Sure,’ I reply, stepping to one side with him. ‘What’s up?’
My brain instantly jumps to wondering whether he’s getting cold feet, if the party has made it all seem real – he’s not going to ask me for advice, is he?
I’m sure, even if I hadn’t unearthed my feelings for him, I would tell him that I thought he was rushing into it, but I can’t exactly say it now and then immediately follow up with, by the way, I’m in love with you, can I?
It would seem like I only said it to bag him for myself.
‘I need to ask a favour – your first act as best man,’ he says with a semi-awkward chuckle.
‘If this is about the speech, I’m already planning to destroy you publicly, don’t worry,’ I assure him, trying to style it out, when in reality it’s only as I’m saying these words that I’m truly acknowledging that I’m going to have to not only watch him marry someone else, but then stand up in front of everyone and pretend to be happy about it.
‘Well, I have that to look forward to,’ he replies with a grin.
‘But no, not that. It’s about Tink’s ring.
I ordered one to surprise her. It will be ready to collect in the morning, but we’re staying here tonight and I thought it might be nice if I gave it to her here, so I was wondering, could you go and collect it for me, and bring it back here please? ’
‘Oh, yeah, no worries, of course, no problem,’ I babble – I do, however, have lots of worries, and a big problem.
‘You’re a lifesaver.’ He pulls me in for the briefest of hugs. ‘I’ll text you the details. I knew I could count on you for best man duties.’
‘Let’s just say best woman,’ I reply with a laugh.
He pulls a bit of a face.
‘Well, I said that, but Tink said that’s her, so…’
‘Of course it is,’ I reply, keeping my smile firmly in place. ‘Best man it is – although I would’ve thought she would think that was you?’
‘I guess it’s more of an official title, than a description?’ he suggests – reaching as far as he possibly can.
‘Right,’ is all I say.
‘Anyway, let’s get back to celebrating,’ he says.
Wow, so tomorrow not only do I get to go and collect Cordelia’s engagement ring, but I get to bring it all the way back here so that he can give it to her, make this official. Loooove that for me.
JJ isn’t where I left her, so I wander around until I spot her standing by the bar – in hindsight, I don’t know why I didn’t look here first.
‘What did he say?’ she adds as I reach her. ‘When he pulled you aside? Is he bottling it?’
‘He wants me to pick up the engagement ring tomorrow,’ I say, scrunching up my face.
‘Of course he does,’ she replies.
‘It’s from a place in the city,’ I explain. ‘It’ll be ready tomorrow, but he and Cordelia are staying here tonight, so he asked if I could pick it up and bring it here.’
‘Cheeky, even without the extra context,’ she points out.
‘Well, I am the best man,’ I remind her.
‘I know, but this isn’t fair on you,’ she insists. ‘I totally get why you don’t want to tell him, but if he knew, there’s no way he would have you doing all of this stuff. Let’s make a better plan.’
‘A better plan?’ I reply.
‘Yeah, to save you from the horrors of all of this,’ she tells me. ‘Like, maybe I could do it. I could make time, go get it, bring it here so that you don’t have to.’
‘You’re the busiest woman I know,’ I remind her.
‘I’d figure it out,’ she replies. ‘Or get an assistant to do it…’
‘I appreciate that, but if it goes wrong it will be all on me,’ I reply.
‘I need to make sure it gets done, properly, as he wants, so that it doesn’t look at all like I’m trying to cause a problem.
I may be delulu, but I’m hoping that, if for any reason it doesn’t work out, there will be nothing to make him doubt the way I feel, the way I’ve always felt, and messing up his wedding won’t help my cause. ’
‘I see what you mean,’ JJ replies. ‘But my offer stands, should you change your mind.’
‘You’re wonderful,’ I remind her.
‘I know,’ she says – so the reminder was a waste of time. ‘Well, seeing as though you have a job to do in the morning, how about we take it as our excuse to leave early?’
‘Sounds perfect,’ I reply. ‘Plus, if the two of them are staying here, I can actually have my apartment to myself.’
‘I can stay with you, if you like?’ she suggests.
‘That’s okay, I need to get used to it,’ I tell her. ‘But thanks.’
I keep wondering, panicking about what the living arrangements are going to be, and I still don’t know which version is worse. None of them are great, are they? Live alone, be homeless or flatshare with love’s young dream.
I think we can all agree that the last option is probably the worst one, though. This really is a nightmare, and Cordelia is my sleep paralysis demon – and I can’t quite seem to wake up.
This run-up to the wedding is going to be hell but, after that, wow, it’s going to be so much worse.