Page 28 of Wedding Games
Valentina snorted and handed Sam her phone. ‘Take some pictures so I can send them to my sister. She’s going to love this.’
As the two women messed about, Fiona, who was a hairdresser, pinned up Zoe’s hair.
‘It’s going to be hot in the club; this will keep you a bit cooler,’ she said.
‘As will the fact this dress has got less fabric than a handkerchief,’ Zoe replied, trying to tug the hem lower.
‘Well, you did ask to borrow one of my frocks.’ Fiona laughed.
‘That’s because my entire wardrobe is jeans, jumpers, and wellies.’
‘And they’re not even sexy wellies.’
Zoe grinned. ‘I could wear a bin bag, and I don’t think Rory would even notice.’
‘True. That man only has eyes for you.’
Zoe sighed. She missed him already. Charlie had texted Valentina earlier with the words ‘The Haggis has landed’, so she knew he was safe. She could now enjoy her night out, knowing that in a few hours she would be back in his arms in their bed.
Fiona flicked her ear. ‘Oi, stop mooning after Thor-squared.’ She put a pink crown on Zoe’s head. It was ringed with penises. ‘The taxi’s here. Time to go.’
An hourlater they were in a private dining room in an Italian restaurant that Fiona had discovered a few months ago, the crown hidden in Zoe’s bag.
‘The food is so good here,’ said Fi. ‘The last time we came here with Mum and Jim, Mum ordered every dessert except for the fruit salad.’
Zoe’s mouth was watering. ‘I don’t know how I’m going to eat what I want without exploding out of this dress.’
‘Lycra,’ Fiona replied. ‘That dress is magic.’
‘In which case I’m having garlic bread, breadsticks, and tagliatelle carbonara to start, pepperoni pizza for the main, dough balls on the side, and tiramisu.’
‘Jesus Christ,’ said Sam, clutching her stomach. ‘Do you want any more gluten on your gluten?’
‘I’m lining my stomach,’ Zoe replied, taking a large glug of Prosecco.
‘In retrospect?’
Zoe grabbed a breadstick and crunched the end. ‘There we go. I’ve introduced the carbs so the alcohol knows what’s coming. It’s science.’
‘If you say so, Doctor Bullshit,’ Sam replied as a waitress entered the room.
‘You ready to order?’ she asked.
‘Yes, thank you, Sam replied in a flawless Scots accent. She looked around the table. ‘Zoe? Fi? Deirdre?’
Fiona choked on her drink. ‘Deirdre?’
‘Yes?’ replied Valentina in a perfect Stirlingshire accent. She leaned back and smiled at the waitress. ‘Lovely to meet you. I’m Deirdre from Falkirk.’
‘Oh, my mum’s from Falkirk!’ the woman replied excitedly. ‘What brings you up here?’
Valentina indicated Sam. ‘I’m here to visit my friend, Morag.’
Fiona was now coughing. ‘Morag?’
Sam slapped her on the back. ‘From Kinloch.’
‘Which bit of Falkirk are you from?’ the waiter asked Valentina.
