Page 2 of How to Get Even

She laughed at herself as she put the book into her purse.

Cake. Cocktails.

And then, maybe, she’d read that book.

* * *

Just Desserts loomed up ahead, bright and pink like a beacon amidst the chaos. Bella was hit with such a strong scent of caramel and chocolate that her mouth actually watered.

She scanned the café’s packed tables. Each one was excessively full of people guarding them possessively, glaring at anyone who looked their way. She was about to give up when a woman with bright magenta streaks in her hair caught Bella’s eye. Bella smiled back automatically, because there was something in the woman’s eyes. Recognition? Expectation? Then the woman winked. Someone passed between them and the woman was gone, but there, in her place, it was – a table in the middle of the chaos shining like the Holy Grail.

Worried that it would disappear like a mirage, she hurried over and reached a chair just as another woman grabbed the one to her left, and another came careening out of nowhere, just managing to stop opposite her, before taking out a fourth woman who reached for the adjacent chair.

Bella’s heart sank. If any of these women had companions, she’d have to give up her seat.

‘If none of you are with anyone else, we could share?’ the eclectic redhead asked in a British accent that reminded her a little of Olly.

Burying the thought beneath the relief she felt at finding a seat, Bella smiled and nodded. Introductions were made as layers of coats and scarves and bags were removed, each finally sitting down at the table with a sigh and a grateful smile.

Paige, the redhead with freckles and a gorgeous smile, was British, as was Astrid who had glossy brown hair and an aura of irrepressible energy that made Bella slightly wary. Sienna was a fellow American and had big blue eyes and golden hair that made her look like a Disney princess.

‘Would you think me a terrible lush if I got a glass of prosecco?’ Paige asked hesitantly.

Prosecco.It was ten in the morning and Bella would never ordinarily drink at such an hour. But suddenly she wanted to. Suddenly she wanted, more than anything, to be someone who drank when the fancy took her, ate as much cake as womanly possible. She wanted to be… abadgirl.

Bella cleared her throat and kicked the purse containing Delia’s book further under the table.

‘I’ll have a glass,’ she told the waitress after Sienna suggested getting a bottle. ‘And some water for the table, please.’ Bella wasn’t quite prepared to let go of all her sensibilities in one fell swoop.

* * *

Bella squinted at the second bottle of prosecco.When had they ordered that?Deciding it was unimportant, she pressed her fingertip into the crumbs of hersecondred velvet cake, popped them into her mouth and savoured the mini sugar bombs exploding on her tongue as Astrid peppered Paige with questions about her Virtual Assistant business.

Astrid had her own business. Something she could be proud of. And Bella? Bella was hiding until the furore died down over the disaster of a wedding that never happened, so that she could finally assume her role at her parents’ foundation.

Which was what she wanted, she reminded herself sternly.

‘Is that why you’re in the US? Work?’ Astrid asked Paige.

‘No. I was at a wedding in Chicago.’

Bella flinched.

‘Oh, how lovely. How was it?’ Sienna asked dreamily.

‘You know. Pavlova dress.’

Bella’s had beensleek. A twenty-thousand-dollar Vera Wang in ivory silk from the bustline down, topped by a swathe of delicate lace crossing her chest and arms.

‘Drunken best man’s speech.’

Bella had forbidden Olly’s best man from drinking until after the ceremony.

‘Smooshing cake into each other’s faces. A handsy Uncle Chip.’

Bella downed the remainder of her prosecco, fearing the damp heat pressing against the backs of her eyes might actually, horrifyingly, escape. ‘I’d rather not talk about weddings.’ It was only the lump in her throat that stopped her from adding,If that’s okay.

‘Not a fan?’ Paige asked.

---