“Relax, Flo,” Sam says. “Everyone there will be of status and too engrossed in themselves to care about who you are. No photos are allowed inside, too, and Evan always sneaks through the back entrance with Leo so he’s not spotted. You won’t end up on the front page of a magazine as Evan’s new woman, don’t panic.” He then shoots me a wink. “Unless you want to be.”
I shove him, and he nearly topples over into a nearby flowerbed.
The gardens are beautiful. The hedges are precisely trimmed by hand, all in exquisite shapes, like swans and mermaid tails. Roses bloom everywhere you look, and the air smells fresh, like lemon and expensive fizz.
In fact, as we round the corner, a waiter with her hand behind her back greets us with a tray full of champagne, and we all grab a glass, besides Bennett, who’s driving. He said he had a headache and didn’t want to drink tonight, but I have a feeling it’s really just because he’s concerned he’s going to run into Mason again, and wants an easy escape in case he pisses him off again.
“You’re here!” Mae cheers, rushing up to us with Nathan by her side. She’s dressed in a beautiful pale pink lace dress with a low neck, trailing by her feet, brushing the grass when she walks, and Nathan’s in a shirt and slacks.
“Is Poppy not here yet?” I ask, peering around at the garden full of people. I don’t spot a short blonde.
“She’s inside.”
“With Mason?” I pry, and she shakes her head and says, “No, Mason couldn’t make it.”
Bennett immediately perks up hearing that, and I don’t fail to notice how his shoulders and jaw lose the tension they were previously holding.
“You have to come and explore the garden.” Mae grips my hand with excitement and leads me to the white andbrown gazebo at the top of the hill, overlooking the entire venue.
A slow-running stream, cutting the bright green and freshly clipped grass in half.
A regal reception hall, with guests dressed in elegant attire mingling inside.
Bushes blooming with different shades of pinks, yellows and reds.
Full, bushy trees overhead, blocking the view of the gazebo from the reception hall, but the leaves are sparse enough that we can peek through and spy on Bennett greeting Poppy with a grin resembling a Cheshire cat.
“Mae, this is absolutely stunning,” I say breathlessly, hand to my mouth. I take another look at her, having to stop my eyes from filling with tears. “You’re absolutely stunning.”
“Stop it, you’re going to make me cry.” My best friend flaps her arms, her lips trembling with a mixture of laughter and a joyful sob. We embrace, and when she pulls back and asks me, “Will you be my maid of honour?” I have to cover my face so Mae can’t see me cry.
“Flo,” she coos, wrapping me up in her arms. “Come on. Did you really think I was going to ask anyone else?”
“Well, no,” I laugh, “but hearing you say it has hit me like a ton of bricks.”
“On your period?” Mae asks me, knowing I’m not an overly emotional person, and I immediately nod.
“Yep.” I dab at my face, stepping back from her, and we take a seat on the bench inside the gazebo beside the full-length mirror hammered onto the wall, and laugh at each other, our faces smudged with flecks of mascara.
Once we’ve calmed down, we spin to notice Evan and Nathan making their way up the hill, but as soon as Evan spots me, his eyebrows drop. “You’ve been crying.” He marches towards me. “Why have you been crying?”
Mae rushes to Nathan’s side and jabs him in the side, and he returns one with a twitchy smirk.
“We’ll leave you two for a few minutes,” Nathan says casually, beginning to whistle, and slinging his arm around his fiancée, both of them sauntering down the hill. I have a feeling the timing of all of that was planned.
“They’re happy tears, Evan. Mae asked me to be her maid of honour.”
Happiness lights up Evan’s face. “Of course she did.”
“So, at least we know we’ll see each other again at the wedding.”
His lips fall flat. “Yeah.”
We fall into a comfortable silence.
“Leo’s really going to miss you, you know?”
My throat works. This man knows I’m menstruating, and he’s choosingnowto bring that up?
