Page 11 of The Suite Life
I offer her a reassuring smile.
‘Absolutely,’ I tell her firmly, keeping my smile fixed in place. ‘It’s your big day, and I’m genuinely looking forward to being a part of it. Okay, it’s been a bit tough since Nathan and I split, and the idea of him and Sunshine being there isn’t exactly at the top of my wish list. But I understand that he is Rick’s best friend, so he should be there. I want you two to have the most amazing wedding, and forget about my drama, because that’s not what this trip is about. As long as you and Rick are happy, that’s all that matters to me.’
Lucy seems a little comforted by my words, but I can tell she’s still worried.
‘Promise me, Gi?’ she persists. ‘You’re my sister and I love you to bits. My wedding day wouldn’t be right without you being a part of it – and actually enjoying it, obviously.’
I give her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder.
‘One hundred per cent,’ I insist. ‘That’s why I’m trying to find myself the perfect beach hat – it’s the only thing I don’t have. Then I’ll be destination wedding ready.’
Lucy laughs.
‘Mum and Dad mentioned that you’re bringing a mystery plus-one,’ she says. ‘Am I allowed to know any more detail than that, or is it a surprise for me too? You don’t have to tell me. Genuinely, you could turn up with one of my ex-boyfriends, and I wouldn’t care. All I care about is that you enjoy this day as much as I do. I’ve been really worrying about it. It’s a relief, if you are bringing someone, if I’m being honest.’
Ever since Nathan and I broke up, Lucy has reassured me that it didn’t matter when I decided, that I would be welcome to bring a plus-one, because she would be ordering extra meals and keeping extra spaces at one of the guest tables just in case, because she wanted to make sure that anyone who wasn’t certain if they could come could make up their mind at the last minute. So, knowing that I don’t need to tell her for the numbers, what’s the sense in owning up to her that I don’t have anyone to bring with me? Look at her face, you can tell how relieved she is that I might be finally moving on from Nathan. I don’t have the heart to take that away from her, all I can do is play along.
‘Just wait and see,’ I tell her with a smile. ‘It can be a surprise for you too!’
As her relief shifts to genuine happiness, I know that it was the right thing to do, to string her along for a bit longer. She wraps her arms around me in a tight hug.
‘Thank you,’ she says into my shoulder. ‘I want this to be perfect for you too.’
But as Lucy pulls away, I notice a shift in her expression. Happiness flickers into something more vulnerable, and before I can figure out what’s going on, tears brim in her eyes.
‘Hey, what’s up?’ I ask her.
‘I’m just… I’m so glad you’re happy and moving on,’ she blurts. ‘I’ve been so caught up in planning and making sure everything’s perfect that I haven’t checked in on you. I’m sorry, Gigi. It’s the best wedding gift you could give me, to know that you’re bringing a date. I want you to enjoy every moment and not worry about anything else.’
‘Oh, well, I guess I’ll return that expensive gift I bought you two,’ I joke, lightening the mood.
‘Don’t you dare,’ she replies, laughing through her tears.
‘How are you feeling about the wedding?’ I ask her, because it’s always worth checking.
It’s a relief when her face lights up.
‘I’m really looking forward to it,’ she says. ‘I’m not nervous at all, and now that I know you’re happy, everything’s fallen into place. I can’t wait to marry Rick. I can’t believe it’s happening!’
‘Well, there you go,’ I tell her. ‘It’s all going to be great. Why don’t we take a break from shopping, and go and grab a coffee and a slice of cake?’
‘I would love that,’ she says, wiping her tears away. ‘Sorry for the dramatics. I just feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my mind.’
‘Don’t apologise,’ I say with a smile. ‘Come on, let’s go.’
We’re in the Olive Strand department store, known for its award-winning café, so we can pause what we’re doing and take a break. I need a breather, to be honest, because putting on a brave face is exhausting.
One thing I am certain of is that Lucy cannot find out that I don’t have a date, not yet. Fair enough, if I don’t find someone to take, she will find out eventually, but we’ll be in Maui for a weekbefore the big day, which should give me a chance to show her that I can be around Nathan and Sunshine and be absolutely fine with it. The last thing I want, right now, is for her to be worrying about me, when she should be looking forward to her big day.
But, just in case all of the above doesn’t work, it’s probably best I keep trying to find someone to take with me, because that’s the easiest way to get through all this.
Wow, I knew weddings were stressful, I just always thought if one was going to stress me out, it would be my own.
8
As I push my way through the salon doors, bum first, carefully clutching my handbag, my phone and my iced coffee, I’m surprised when I spin around to see Tom waiting to greet me. He never greets me at the door on a morning, especially not with a big dumb grin on his face like he has right now.
‘Good morning,’ I offer with a laugh, amused by… whatever it is he’s doing.
