Kerry shrugged.
‘It’s okay, we don’t have to talk. We can just drink.’ Cass took a long swig of the wine and almost pulled a face. It was as sour as anything. She wished she’d picked the Zinfandel instead of the house wine but money was an issue. She didn’t have everything and she definitely didn’t have parents that propped her up financially, like Kerry did. ‘So, where’s the new husband?’
Kerry shrugged and poured some more wine. ‘Who cares?’
‘Oh, I’m sorry. I really should mind my own business.’
‘You weren’t meant to know. I bet you think I’m such a loser now.’
‘Of course I don’t. I mean, I’m the loser. Look at you, you really have your life together. Me, I’m stuck in a damp flat with a job I hate.’
Kerry walked across to a wooden unit and opened the door. ‘Here, let’s properly drink to us both being a pair of losers.’ She placed two tiny shot glasses down and poured a couple of Sambucas. ‘We never got to drink together as teens. We missed out. Let’s make up for all those missed times. Drink.’
Cass stared at the glass. She’d never really done shots. The drinking culture had missed her out during her teen years. The most she’d had was a bottle of wine and Elvis had to carry her home from a friend’s house. She swore she’d never get into that state again as she’d spent the night on their bathroom floor with her head leaning over the toilet bowl. She sipped the liquid and coughed as she watched Kerry down the shot in one.
‘What’s your fella like with you?’
Cass shrugged. ‘He’s okay, I think. Sometimes I’m not so sure. I don’t know where he is half of the time but when we’re together, he can be lovely.’
‘So you’re not sure if he’s the one?’
She shook her head. ‘No. He’ll do.’ She giggled a little to lighten the mood. ‘How about you? Is Ed the one?’
‘I married him.’
‘That’s not what I asked.’ Cass took another sip of the Sambuca. ‘I’m sorry. Elvis always tells me I’m too nosy.’
Kerry flicked her hair over her shoulder. Cass noticed the clip in strands beneath her layers. Those beautiful lengths of silky hair weren’t all hers.
The smile on Kerry’s face dropped. ‘I don’t trust him. He’s cheated on me before.’
Cass coughed as she almost choked on her drink. So much for keeping a neutral expression.
‘I know, I know. I thought things would change when we committed. Do you know what I mean?’
‘Yes.’ Cass knew exactly what Kerry meant. Her relationship with Elvis had changed immensely over the past few months. He’d gone from all over her and completely turned on as soon as they were in a room together tomeh, I’ll do it if I have to. However much she craved his attention, she knew she could never marry him. Forever was a big commitment; one which Kerry and Ed were already failing at. ‘If I’m honest, I know Elvis isn’t the one. I just like being with him at the moment. I bet that sounds horrible. I think he might be seeing someone else though.’ There, she’d said it. Now Kerry might say something if she’d heard any gossip.
Kerry let out a snort and poured another Sambuca. ‘You’re falling behind.’
It looked like Kerry wasn’t going to say anything. Maybe Cass had got it wrong about Elvis seeing Holly. Cass knocked the rest back, taking her breath away as the liquid burned her gullet. ‘Fill it up.’ A rosy glow flushed up her neck and her face burned up a little, in a nice way.
‘What can I say? Ed and me. I think Ed enjoys the lifestyle.’
Cass could understand that. She’d once enjoyed the lifestyle that came with being Kerry’s best friend. When that went, she’d felt so ordinary and it had stung even more when the beautiful people – Holly, Fran and Lilly – had stepped into her shoes.
‘We had an argument today.’ She paused and stared out of the window into the darkness that spanned acres of fields. No doubt one of them would house the stables for all her horses. ‘He thinks our life isn’t exciting enough. I mean, we have everything we flipping well want. Holidays, cars. How can it not be exciting? I was obsessed with him, couldn’t bear to let him go at whatever cost, so we got married. My dad wasn’t happy about it. I mean, we’d only been together a year and we rushed it. My dad wanted me to get a prenuptial agreement but I couldn’t ask him. It just felt so… cold. I wish I’d listened because since the reception, I’ve barely seen him. Holly died a few days ago. I need him to be here and he—’
Tears began to spill from Kerry’s eyes. Cass was almost relieved that the drinking had ended. Another Sambuca and she’d be hoping Elvis would call her back just so that he could come to rescue her. She scraped her chair on the heated floor tiles and placed an arm around Kerry. It was just like old times.
‘I was thinking of staying with my parents while I cleared my head. What a failure! Twenty-five and going back home.’
Cass was never going to lose her best friend again, whatever it cost. She gripped Kerry a little closer, closing her eyes as she comforted her broken friend.
‘Ouch,’ Kerry said as she pushed her away and wrenched one of her hair extensions from the crease in Cass’s coat. ‘Do you mind if we call it a night? I could do with being alone with my old friend, Sambuca.’
A message flashed up on Kerry’s phone and the name lit up. It was from Lilly. Kerry scooped it up and paused while she read it.
Something had changed. Kerry was withdrawing.
