Page 82 of The Wedding Game

‘I’m guessing it’s the opposite of a house-warming,’ Tamara says.

‘Of course it is,’ Josh mumbles, giving me a smile I didn’t know I needed. I’m nervous about moving out. I feel more nervous about this than I did when I moved out of my parents’ and took myself off to London. I was so young then. Young and full of confidence.

Scarlet takes Tamara off towards the bathroom, so they can stow their booze in the bath, which we’ve filled with cold water and ice, and Josh envelops me in a hug. The party hasn’t quite got going yet – a couple of early guests mill about in the kitchen, munching crisps and nibbles and pouring themselves healthy doses of punch, which Scarletand I have put together with every single bottle of half-used alcohol we had remaining. It’s surprisingly good. I’ve had two glasses already. I’m not sure we should have added the Pernod and crème de menthe, though.

‘You taste like toothpaste,’ Josh says when we part.

‘Where’s Mark?’ I ask.

‘Tamara and he are a bit …’ He shrugs, searching for the right word. ‘On the rocks.’

My eyebrows lift. ‘Oh, I didn’t know that. I thought he was coming along tonight.’

‘So did he, I think.’

‘That’s a surprise. Has Tamara told him not to come? Have they had a row?’ I’m as bad as Scarlet for gossip. ‘I didn’t think Tamara had it in her to have a row with anyone.’

Josh gives me a look and glances round to where Scarlet’s introducing Tamara to the kitchen gang. ‘That’s not very nice,’ he says quietly.

I feel a bit checked. ‘OK. Well, it’s the truth. She’s so … nice all the time is what I mean. Are they breaking up?’

‘They’ve not broken up,’ Josh clarifies. ‘Just cooling things down a bit, I think. I haven’t dug into the ins and outs.’

‘But she’s your best friend,’ I say. ‘Isn’t this something you’d talk about?’

‘You can go and ask her if you like?’ Josh offers.

‘I might,’ I reply. ‘I’ll have a couple more drinks and then I’ll grill her.’

‘Go on then.’

I try to work out his expression. Is Josh annoyed? At me?What’s going on? Because of the conversation we’ve just had? Or something else? I start to ask him, but behind us the front door is being pushed open from its ajar position.

‘Hi,’ Chris says as he enters, and so does the woman he’s arrived with.

He’s with a woman. Only last month Chris was single. He’s moved swiftly, for someone who doesn’t even live in London.

‘Hi, I’m Victoria.’

Victoria is gorgeous and tall and … everything.

‘Hi,’ I reply as she smiles widely. ‘Nice to meet you. Are you and Chris …?’

She furrows her brow and then realises what I’m on about.

‘Oh no,’ she says, ‘We met right now in the hall. I work with Scarlet.’

‘Oh,’ I respond, and I sense the relief in my voice. I think Josh, Chris and Victoria can sense it too. Everyone’s looking at me strangely. Chris, in particular, has eyes as wide as saucers. I’m mortified.

‘Is … um … Scarlet here?’ Victoria asks.

‘I’ll grab her. Do you want to put your booze in the bath?’

‘Sorry?’ she asks.

‘It’s our makeshift ice bucket.’

She laughs. ‘In that case, yes.’

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