April plucks the dress from Anna’s hand and dashes upstairs to hang it across her bedroom curtain rail with mine, leaving Anna and I standing in awkward silence.
Turd.
Anna and I stare at each other wordlessly, and when I can’t stomach it anymore, I take a step forward.
“Hey,” I say, my voice small.
Her mouth curves upward. “Hey.”
“April told me about you and Mason.” The words tumble out. “Anna, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t there for you when you needed me most, and I should have been.”
She shakes her head. “I kept it to myself. I didn’t tell you or April because I think, deep down, I was hoping he would change his mind. Like if I avoided speaking about it with you and April, it wouldn’t be real.” She shrugs and straightens her shoulders. “I’ll be okay. I’ll get through it.” Her eyes shine. “I have my two best friends.”
“Anna, about everything else, I’m so—”
“Oh, that can piss right off,” she interrupts. “Come over here and give me a hug.” She opens her arms wide, and I rush forward without hesitation, squeezing her tight.
“I hate not talking to you,” I whisper against her hair.
“Me too. I just… I needed some time to process,” she says, pulling back. When she looks at me, her eyes gloss over with emotion. “The whole thing weirded me out. I was scared that you’d push me away if things went wrong. I…” She pauses. “He’s mybrother, Gem. You guys were sneaking around behind my back for weeks.”
I hang my head, shame burning through me. “I know. We should have told you as soon as it started.”
“I was upset with you,” she says. “Both of you.”
“I’ll never go behind your back again,” I say. “I promise.”
She nods, gaze dropping to the floor. “Thank you.”
“I love you so much, Anna. When you avoided me all week, I was so scared I’d lost you.”
She lifts her eyes to meet mine. “From what I’ve heard, I’m not the only one who’s been avoiding someone this week.”
She raises her brows expectantly and understanding dawns on me.
Max told her I’m ignoring him.
“Anna—” I start, but she holds up a hand.
“We can talk about that later,” she says. “Today is about April. But Gem?” Her face softens. “We’re okay. And whatever happens, we’ll figure it out. Together.”
I throw my arms around her neck, and she holds me tightly. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so much relief in my life.
“Oh, thank God that’s over with,” April says loudly, marching down the stairs. “Now, who’s ready for champagne before hair and makeup arrives?”
Shoulders back, spine straight, arse out, I tell myself as we line up, waiting for our cue to walk down the aisle. Anna’s leading the procession, I follow, and then, of course, April, who will be escorted by James’s mum, Caroline.
The venue is perfect. The ceremony is in the heart of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, surrounded by beautiful trees and vibrant flowers that wind around the altar. The reception will follow inside the glass house, where fairy lights have been strung between exotic plants. It’s enchanting.
April is a total knock-out in her sleeveless ivory gown, wrapped in lace and flowing silk. Anna wears a burgundy dress with an elegant cowl neckline and thin spaghetti straps,and I’m in my dreamy purple halter number. Simple and sophisticated.
“You look gorgeous, girls,” Caroline whisper-shouts from behind us, adjusting April’s train.
Through the gap in the hedge, I watch as the sea of heads turns. James stands hands clasped behind his back with Oliver, Tom, and Will beside him.
Somewhere in that crowd sits Max, and despite my best efforts to focus on April’s big moment, my stomach is having a rave at the thought of seeing him again.
“Ready, ladies?” the venue manager asks, ducking her head around the hedge.
