‘Babies?’ asked Ellie quietly.
‘Her dogs,’ Alex replied gruffly, not caring to lower his voice. They could pretend he didn’t exist, but he wasn’t going to make it easy for them.
Savannah glanced their way and giggled nervously. ‘I’ve quite a few… I have a bit of an obsession.’
Alex snorted. ‘That’s putting it mildly.’
Savannah blinked and turned away. Liam glared at him but Alex simply shrugged.
His dad, sensing the dangerous turn in the mood, quickly ended the speech. ‘Right. It looks like the food is ready. Help yourselves to the meat, fish and vegan barbecue stations over there. There’s a buffet of sides to your left. Enjoy!’ He nodded at the calypso band stationed at the edge of the lawn and they began to play a cheerful song, the trumpets and jaunty rhythm trying their best to drown out the obvious tension.
‘Savannah, tell me about your next film?’ gushed Caitlyn.
Savannah’s eyes brightened. ‘I play a genetically enhanced doctor who creates a cyborg soldier – played by Liam. We have to save the planet from self-destruction. The film tackles the issues of climate change in a fun yet thought-provoking way.’
Alex hadn’t realised he’d scoffed out loud until all of their heads swivelled towards him. Why were they looking at him like he was the bad guy? They’d all flown in on private jets for this wedding. He’d never heard anything so hypocritical.
‘There are rumours it’s Oscar-worthy. Another trophy to add to Liam and Savannah’s collection!’ Holly said smugly. ‘I’m hoping to get a part in it.’ She glanced over at Richie who was sat at one of the tables closest to them, he gave a non-committal shrug.
Alex rolled his eyes. ‘Oscar-worthy already? Before it’s even been fully cast? Impressive.’
‘Shall we go get something to eat?’ Ellie asked briskly, rising from her seat.
‘Not right now. I’ve lost my appetite.’ He eased back in his chair, and Ellie sank back in hers with a hopeless expression. He knew he was making everyone uncomfortable, but why the hell should he leave? They were the ones who wanted him here.
‘Come on, baby,’ prodded Savannah, and dragged a furious-looking Liam away from the table. A short time later everyone had dispersed, leaving Ellie and Alex alone.
‘Are you okay?’ she asked.
‘I’m fine.’
‘You don’t look fine.’
He sighed. ‘I’m just a little… pissed off.’
‘That’s understandable. It must be hard seeing them together.’ She looked over at Liam and Savannah at one of the barbecue tables with a pained expression. ‘I mean, you loved her, didn’t you?’
Did I?
He didn’t answer. It would sound so stupid and petulant to tell her the truth. That he was jealous of his brother. That his pride and his feelings had been hurt because everyone in his family had chosen him last, again. After everything they’d done, Savannah and Liam still had his parents’ love and affection, and he had to just accept the humiliation in silence. ‘Go, get something to eat. I just need a minute alone.’
‘Okay, if you’re sure?’
He nodded and drank some more champagne. It tasted sour and acidic on his tongue, as Ellie, the only person to actually care about his feelings, walked away.
‘Maybe you should slow down, darling.’
His mother was standing beside him, a plate of food in her hands. She lowered herself serenely into her chair, as if she hadn’t just scolded her adult son on his excessive drinking.
Everyone was queueing at the various stations to collect their meals. Ellie was at the buffet table piling up two plates. No doubt she’d ignored him when he’d said he wasn’t hungry and had gone ahead and made him up a plate anyway.
‘Why? Are you worried I’ll embarrass you?’ he spat, and took another long sip of his drink out of spite. ‘That’s what you want, right? For everything to be nice and easy. No bad press.’
His mother sighed. ‘What I want is for things to be better between you and Liam. Which it can’t be if you continue to behave like this.’
‘How do you want me to behave? Happy? After what they did? How can you ask me to just forget it, like it never happened?’Like I don’t even matter.
‘I know it’s hard. But you can’t keep punishing them for it. I was hoping that by now you’d have both moved on.’
