Page 13 of The Wedding Game

‘Fireworks!’ she says gleefully, having already ticked it off.

I look up listlessly and watch them shooting into the darkening sky, the bright shards of light defying gravity briefly, before falling down towards Earth and disappearing long before they connect with the ground. I can’t feel the enthusiasm of the crowd. Scarlet has no idea what’s just happened to me or, rather, what hasn’t. Something incredible and then … nothing at all. Chris has gone, and that’s that.

‘I’ve only got one square left,’ she says, showing me.

‘Which one?’ I take a look. ‘Youstillhaven’t got the waiter’s number?’

‘Not yet. He’s playing hard to get.’

‘Really?’ I’m confused by this. ‘You were wrapped up pretty tightly in conversation earlier.’

‘Yeah, I get the impression he only wants to sleep with me and notactuallyhave to see me again.’

‘Oh my God,’ I say, turning to her. ‘What is wrong with people?’

She shrugs, looks up. ‘I’m not worried. You haven’t snogged the best man yet, so I haven’t exactly lost.’

‘No,’ I agree, thoughts of allthatlong forgotten. ‘No, I met someone else who was … perfect. But, sadly, it’s not to be.’

I’m not sure Scarlet’s listening as her gaze is skywards.

‘And I did meet the best man, though I didn’t kiss him,’ I say, refocusing on our bingo game as I too stare up at the sky. Colour merges into colour, explosion into explosion. We’re surrounded by guests who’ve spilled out to watch, their gazes firmly tipped up.

‘That doesn’t count as a win. You have to kiss him, if you want that spa day.’

I think of Josh and me on the dance floor – as fleeting as the dance was. There wasn’t much time for sparks to fly, but he was nice, saving me like that at the bar. And there’s no denying he’s good-looking. ‘I suppose he’s actually quite kissable,’ I think aloud, attempting to make light of it all. ‘You could just have pretended to have got the waiter’s number, you know – made something up, put a random number in your phone. I’d never have known.’

Scarlet swears. She’s obviously not considered this. ‘Same thing applies. You could just have told me you’d kissed the best man.’

‘Oh, yeah,’ I say slowly. ‘Damn it.’ I sip the final dregs of my now-warm champagne, pondering this.

A man standing behind us, watching the fireworks, leans in. ‘Why is it you have to kiss me?’

I look back and realise I’m staring straight into Josh’s eyes. ‘Oh God,’ I say, coughing on my champagne.

‘You all right?’ he asks as I recover.

‘Yep.’ I don’t know where to look, but I can’t help but be drawn up towards his blue eyes, crinkling at the sides with laughter. He smiles and looks confused at the same time.

‘Am I abet?’ he asks in disbelief.

‘No,’ I say at the same time as Scarlet replies, ‘Yes.’

‘I’veneverbeen a bet,’ he says thoughtfully.

‘That you know of,’ Scarlet responds under her breath, but loud enough for us to hear.

Josh’s eyebrows lift in surprise and he looks from Scarlet to me. ‘Is the bet kissing me? Is that what I overheard?’ he asks as the fireworks build to a crescendo.

‘It most certainly is,’ Scarlet says.

‘Are youdrunk?’ I ask Scarlet. ‘Stop talking.’

‘I’m a little bit drunk, yeah. Plus I want to see how this plays out.’

‘You have to kiss me for a bet?’ Josh clarifies. I can’t tell if he’s angry or not. He still looks confused. It’s quite endearing.

Oh, please somebody make this stop.‘I have to … um … Yes, is the simple reply. I have to kiss you, for my bingo grid.’

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