* * *
Luke takes an age in the bathroom, so I seize the opportunity to get out of my wedding dress. It takes a few minutes to undo the tiny delicate buttons and shuffle out of it. I hang it back on its hanger. I admire the gorgeous underwear the bridal assistant advised me to get. Aside from the haggard face and messy hair, it looks stunning. I stare at my reflection. What a shame. What a waste of a wedding night. We had Caesars Palace booked and everything! I really hope I get another opportunity to show this off to Matteo. And, as if I manifested him to return to the room right this instant to see me in all my glory, the familiar beeping sound of the room key at the door indicates Matteo’s arrival. I assume a sexy pose with which to greet him.
At the same time, the bathroom door opens. I instinctively scream out to Luke, ‘No, don’t open the door!’
But as I spin back round to see Matteo standing there, I notice a look of hurt darken his eyes.
‘Too late,’ he says as he watches Luke emerge from the bathroom in a towel and not much else. Matteo sees me in my underwear, shifts his gaze back to Luke, who has suddenly decided to stir things by smiling for the first time today as he looks me up and down appreciatively.
A thunderous expression crawls across Matteo’s face.
‘I meant for Luke not to open the door,’ I explain. ‘And it’s not as bad as it looks.’
‘It never is,’ Matteo says.
‘There’s nothing going on,’ I say quickly, grabbing my robe to cover up.
‘I know. I believe you.’
‘And what took you so long?’
Matteo’s face colours as he crosses the room towards me.
‘I see,’ I say, feeling a pang of jealousy.
He shakes his head. ‘No. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s not that.’
‘So, what happened?’
‘After my meeting, I went to reception to see if they had another room available.’
‘Oh. I see.’
He lifts my chin so that he can see my eyes. ‘For us. Another room for us. I didn’t want to share our wedding night with… that prick.’ He nods towards Luke.
Oh.
He exhales loudly. ‘But I had to wait so long in the queue that by the time I got to the front there were no rooms available anyway.’
Oh.
Matteo turns to Luke. ‘Get dressed. It’s someone else’s turn to babysit you.’
21
I wake to the WhatsApp group buzzing with messages. We are due to go on the Grand Canyon Safari today and the group is split. It is seven o’clock in the morning. I slide my eyes over to Matteo, who is sleeping soundly next to me, and turn the volume down on my phone. I take a moment to admire the back of his silky hair, his toned shoulders, the tanned skin of his arms disappearing beneath the pillows.
Liberty
Forget it. I’m not going.
Cherry
I’m popping downstairs for breakfast. Does anyone want a jam sugar donut?
Big Sue
The Grand Canyon is one of the seven wonders of the world. Why wouldn’t you go?
