Page 103 of Meet Me Under the Mistletoe
“Your nails look nice,” said Nory.
“Toes too,” said Jenna, munching. “I’ve been well and truly nailed.”
“You’re not the only one,” said Ameerah under her breath.
“Huh?” Jenna exclaimed, biting into the croissant now being proffered by Nory, the roll having been polished off in two bites.
“Nothing,” said Nory. “What’s next?”
“Hair, then makeup. Photos in slinky dressing gown—made to look natural, as though I just woke up looking fabulous—then dress on, then...” She looked up, her eyes wide as if suddenly realizing a great truth. “Then I’m getting married!”
“Oh, yes you are!” Nory smiled.
“Oh my god, I’M GETTING MARRIED!”
Nory had barely enough time to replace the half-eaten croissant on the dressing table before Jenna jumped up and rushed forward, throwing her arms around them.
“Oh my god. It’s actually happening!” she screamed.
“About time! Ouch, watch the curlers, Jen.”
“Sorry,” said Jenna, pulling away. “I’m just so happy you’re both here for today. I’m the first of us girls to get married. How weird is that? I didn’t think I was the marrying type.”
“Oh, I always thought you were the marrying type,” said Ameerah.
“If only your school self could see your grown-up self. Would you believe you’d be a successful actress and about to marry Charles.” Nory laughed. “It’s so perfect!”
“Elinor, stop gushing.” Ameerah turned to Jenna. “She’s overwrought because she actually had sex for the first time in forever.” Ameerah rolled up a slice of Emmental cheese and bit into it.
“Oh my god! With Isaac?”
Nory laughed. “Yes, with Isaac. Who else would I be having sex with?”
Ameerah raised her eyebrows and said, “You really want us to answer that?”
Jenna grabbed hold of Ameerah and Nory again and began jump-hugging them just as Pippa walked in.
“You seem in a better mood than when I left you,” she said wryly.
“We’re all in love,” cried Jenna dreamily. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
“Technically I am still in like-like,” said Ameerah. “And Pip is too busy ruling the world for love.”
“I am in love,” Pippa corrected her. “I am blissfully andcompletely in love with myself. Don’t underestimate self-love, it’s a powerful force. Most nights I can’t wait to get into bed with myself.”
“Oh, come here, you big, beautiful Athena!” said Jenna, grabbing Pippa into the already crowded hug, and for a few seconds they could have been fourteen again, hopeful and untroubled by the future.
The manicurist clipped her vanity case closed with a snap and made to leave. Jenna caught her arm.
“I’m sorry about what I said, I didn’t mean it,” she said, giving the woman a look like a newborn lamb.
“It’s all right, love.” For her part, the woman looked resigned. “I’ve had worse than that from brides before now.”
Jenna handed over a fifty-quid tip, and the woman inclined her head in thanks before leaving the room.
“What did you say to the manicurist?” Nory asked.
Jenna stopped midway through devouring another sausage and pulled a worried face. “She said nail technicians were like the fourth emergency service, and I said surely that was hairstylists, and then she said people always underestimated the training involved in becoming a nail technician, so then I said, ‘Probably less training than being in the actual emergency services,’ and then she said, ‘Don’t belittle me, you half-baked soap actress,’ and then I said... well, it wasn’t very nice and I’m not proud of it. I hope she doesn’t go to the press. They love a celebs-behaving-badly story.”
