Page 68 of It's All Sun and Games

I don’t say anything in response. Instead, I just smile back, step away, and head back to the table.

Believe me, I am not the kind of girl who usually gets what she wants, so to feel like everything – and I mean absolutely everything – is within grabbing distance, it’s almost suspicious.

Rick seemingly respects me, Liz’s pettiness and obsession with being rivals is finally biting her on the arse, and James seems like he is quite frankly obsessed with me. Oh, and after working really hard on my pitch, and checking it with Andrea, I’m feeling really confident. As far as my life goes, that’s bingo, right?

It’s all falling into place… And yet…

I don’t know. Maybe I’m just not used to it.

29

It’s finally here – the day of the wedding!

Well, the first wedding, that is, because I’m attending no less than two weddings this week now.

First is the turn of Lucia and Dario, who have just had their ceremony in the stunning Bari Cathedral. Honestly, it was like something out of a fairytale, and while I have no idea what was actually being said, I somehow just know that it was perfect.

The day has barely got going and I’m exhausted, but a lot has gone on.

I got up early, to get ready, so that Andrea could pick me up. He said that Lucia was getting ready at his parents’ place, and Dario was getting ready with his family, which left him at a bit of a loose end, so he suggested we arrive slightly early so that I could squeeze in a peep at Old Bari before the ceremony.

I thought it was so sweet that Andrea told me how beautiful I looked when he picked me up, because there was no one around to hear it, so he must have really meant it. I’m wearing a long, silky green dress – the one that I packed for Rick’s wedding. Yes, obviously I only packed one dress, for one wedding, but how on earth could I have guessed that I would end up here? I’ll just need to be really careful in it, that’s all, so that I can wear it again in a couple of days.

As for Andrea, wow, he looks incredible in his black suit. He doesn’t look like he’s dressed for a wedding, he looks like he should be gracing an Armani billboard.

So he looked and acted like a gentleman as he gave me a brief tour of Old Bari. He held my hand as we walked down cobbled streets, along alleyways and across hidden courtyards. I feel like you could so easily get lost here, if you didn’t know the place, and if I didn’t have somewhere to be I don’t think I would mind.

There is just something about the morning light, the gentle heat, the smell of coffee almost everywhere. Vendors are setting up stalls, selling all sorts of things, and once again, if I didn’t have somewhere to be, I would have shopped until I dropped.

More beautiful than the sunshine or the old buildings, though, has to be Andrea. I would keep stealing these little glances at him, looking away quickly if he returned my stare. He just looks so, so good in his suit, and he seems so happy for his sister, so excited for the day ahead, and he’s been such a good tour guide – I feel like I’m in a perfect date simulator. This man is just too good to be true.

Then we got the call, that the bride and groom were arriving – in sports cars, no less – so we hurried to the cathedral for the service. I was worried it was going to seem like it went on forever but, honestly, I was captivated by every moment of it.

Now we’re outside, in the square in front of the cathedral, where the bride and groom are having photos taken, alone first, then with their families. There is a drone buzzing around, capturing photos and videos.

I feel my phone ringing in my clutch so I take it out. It’s Priya.

‘Oh, it’s my friend from work,’ I tell Andrea.

‘Speak to her,’ he insists. ‘I need to go to pose for photos anyway.’

‘Thanks,’ I tell him with a smile.

I find the nearest bench, carefully sit down, and answer.

‘Hello,’ I say brightly.

‘Hello,’ she replies. ‘I just thought I would see how you are doing.’

Priya and I have been messaging each other ever since I arrived, her making sure I’m okay, me asking her how her foot is. However, I still haven’t told her exactly what is going on here, because I don’t really know how to explain it, I am slightly embarrassed, and I don’t want her to worry about me.

‘I’m doing great, thanks,’ I reply. ‘I’m just… er… I’m at a wedding.’

‘But I thought Rick’s wedding wasn’t for another couple of days,’ she replies. ‘Unless my painkillers are super strong.’

I laugh.

‘No, not Rick’s wedding,’ I reply. ‘A different one.’

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