Page 103 of The Wedding Game

I stare at her, but as Scarlet’s driving, she has to glance quickly at me to see my face.

‘What?’ she asks as her eyes dart back to the road.

‘That’s no help,’ I mutter as something awful strikes me, like a lightning bolt of recognition that brings with it a sense of fear and horror. ‘Scarlet, how many Victorias do you know?’

‘Er … two.’

‘Is this one your graphic-design friend?’ I ask carefully.

‘Yeah …friendis a bit of a stretch, though. She gives me work every now and again, so it’s good to keep her sweet. I sort of felt obliged to RSVP with a yes—’

I cut her off suddenly. ‘Is the groom’s name Chris?’

‘I can’t remember,’ she says again, dismissively.

I’m quiet, the cogs in my mind turning.

‘You OK?’ she asks.

‘Yeah,’ I reply slowly.No. No, I’m not OK. This cannot be what I think it is.We cannot be going to Victoria andChris’swedding. That level of awfulness cannot find its way towards me. But it wasn’tthatlong ago that Chris and Victoria were dating. So—

‘When you say “Chris”.’ Scarlet interrupts my thoughts. Her face frowns. ‘You don’t meanChris?’

‘Um …’ I don’t know what to reply. The whole idea that I might be on my way to Victoria’s wedding, and the groom isChris– no. Just … no.

‘Do you know something I don’t?’ Scarlet asks, simultaneously trying to keep her attention on the road and on me.

I’m frowning so much I can see my own eyebrows.

‘Tell me,’ she urges. ‘Is Chris –yourChris – the groom? Why would you eventhinkthat?’

‘He was nevermyChris,’ I say, although I really wanted him to be.

‘He sort of was, though,’ Scarlet replies, somewhat unhelpfully.

‘He and Victoria were dating,’ I say. ‘He told me.’

‘What? When?’

‘They started messaging after our house-cooling party.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me that?’ Scarlet asks.

‘I didn’t want to look deranged and obsessed.’

‘Are you? Are you obsessed with Chris? Is that why you asked me ages ago if Victoria was still single? Were you grilling me as to whether the two of them were together, in case I knew anything?’

‘I just … I don’t know. I really liked him – more than that. And then,’ I shrug. ‘It wasn’t to be. There was Josh and … now Chris has Victoria. I think.’

‘No,’ she aims to placate me. ‘I’msureit wasn’t his name on the invite.’

‘Are you?’ I ask desperately.

‘I don’t know,’ Scarlet wails. ‘I can’t remember.’

‘I don’t want to go now.’

‘Let’s get there and see,’ she tells me.

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