Page 66 of The Wedding Game

‘You’re not taking it seriously, though?’ I say, nudging him. ‘What did you set each other?’

He shows me the back of the paper. ‘I’ve got to get a girl alone in a room, make her fall in love with me, but not kiss her.’

‘What … the … hell?’ I ask. ‘That’smessy. Who sets that kind of challenge? Fancy playing with people like that.’

‘I don’t make the rules. This isyourgame,’ he states, giving me a pointed look. ‘But it is evil. I’m prepared to lose, based on that alone.’

‘I think I might like this Dan,’ I say. And then I remember who Dan is: the groom from the wedding where Chris and I met. And where Josh and I met. Why is Josh not invited, but Chris and Scarlet are? I ask Chris this in a roundabout sort of way.

‘Josh only knows Dan through school. This is the uni crowd.’

‘I can’t keep up,’ I say, eyeing the whisky warily.

‘I worked in the Union bar part-time,’ Chris explains. ‘After I left, Scarlet got my job, I believe. Or maybe someone else got my job and then Scarlet gottheirjob when they left? I’m not sure. I’ve still not met your friend Scarlet. I worked with Grey, and then I think Scarlet did after me.’ Then he leans in conspiratorially. ‘It’s Grey whose wedding you’re at right now, in case you’ve forgotten, like last time,’ he says.

‘Ha-ha.’ He has a point, though.

‘It’d be nice to meet Scarlet eventually,’ he tells me.

‘I’ve temporarily lost her,’ I say, getting to my real point, which is, ‘I thought you didn’t bring guests to events. Why have you brought Dan? I thought plus-ones seriously inhibited your ability to meet new people.’

‘I might have changed my mind on that. I might have changed my mind about a lot of things since we met.’

I look at him, unsure what to make of that, unsure if I wantto analyse it. I don’t have time to process my feelings about Chris being here, in front of me, after everything we said last time we met. And everything we didn’t say. I forge on with more Big Talk. ‘Where’s Dan’s new wife?’ I ask curiously. ‘Don’t tell me it’s all ended in divorce already?’

‘Course not. He’s not forty yet,’ Chris deadpans. ‘Five years to go,’ he says cheerfully, which makes me laugh and I take a large glug of my drink, forgetting it’s whisky and wincing as it burns all the way down my throat. I cough wildly.

‘And you’ve got to drink five of those?’ Chris raises an eyebrow as I finish coughing.

‘I may have to fib a bit on this one,’ I reply. ‘Or drink fivereallysmall whiskies.’

‘Or – heaven forbid – maybe be honest, not drink them and lose the game?’

‘I’m not doing that,’ I cry. ‘You’re missing the point of the bingo.’

‘Whatisthe point?’ he asks, genuinely interested. ‘I thought it was to make boring weddings less boring.’

‘I guess it’s to take you out of your comfort zone a bit. Do things you wouldn’t normally do.’

He nods, sips his drink. ‘Makes sense.’

‘Do you like whisky?’ I ask. ‘Because you’re not making the same face I allegedly made.’

‘Not really, but there’s nothing else in here and I don’t want to get up and go to the bar. Last time when drinks took precedence over good conversation I lost you for half an hour and, in that time, you met Josh. Look where that got us.’

I watch him as he sips, but his gaze is on his drink. He’s said it in a jovial tone, although the words hold so much truth.

‘That was a brave thing to say,’ I mutter softly.

‘Was it? Why? I’m being honest. Big Talk, remember.’

‘Fine,’ I say, rising to the challenge. ‘I remember how to do Big Talk. Where’s your girlfriend? Have you decided nothing is ever going to match up to the wedding where we met, so you thought:Sod it, I’ll bring Dan and escort him around all night.’

He laughs. ‘You think you’ve ruined me for all weddings for evermore?’

‘Yes,’ I reply proudly.

‘Kayla’s working,’ he says. ‘Couldn’t get the time off. Same as Dan’s wife. So we’re here together instead.’

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