Rayah sat up, surprised. “I didn’t think you’d liked him like that?”
Keren shook her head. “He was one of those unicorn boys; a bit of a myth. And he dated older girls, like Grace.”
“I forget she was older than him. I never knew her that well.” Rayah had been away at university when Jonny and Grace had gotten together. It was the time in her life when she’d been the most distant from Severton, wanting to explore the wider world and for those few years, she’d grown and stayed apart from her older friends, apart from Keren and her family.
“I’m not sure any of us did. She had her own group of friends who came over and were at their wedding. She was lovely though.”
Rayah heard the caution in Keren’s words. “I won’t break if you talk about how in love they were. I know they were.”
“How do you feel about her?”
She swallowed. “I don’t. I can’t. Because if I try to compete with a dead woman. I’ll lose every time. And he isn’t hung up over her death. I don’t mean it hasn’t changed his life or that he’s forgotten her, but he doesn’t feel like it’s disrespectful of her memory to move on.”
“He’s level headed. And it has been a while.”
“Sadie doesn’t know her. And in all honesty, Harry doesn’t remember her either. He was so young. The only one who does is Charlie and his memories are distant.”
“That’s what you’d expect though. I think I’m going to have to get out of here. I feel like I’m starting to be boiled alive. Plunge pool?”
“Why not? Then we’ll check in on the bride-to-be.”
Sorrell Slater had eventually givenin to the idea of getting married whilst pregnant. Rayah had heard several conversations that Sorrell had pretty much had with herself about whether to marry Zack before she had the baby or wait until she’d lost the baby weight.
Rayah got where her indecision had come from. Sorrell should’ve married the man she initially set up her hotel business with shortly after she moved to Severton, but they’d broken up a few months before, so wrapped up in the bridal magazines and an unhealthy dose of bridezilla, was the worry that history would repeat itself.
So Sorrell had opted for something different, something that would be the polar opposite to what she’d had planned with her ex. Something easy and straightforward. Or it was meant to be.
The spa day had been the main day time event for her hen party, even though she wasn’t able to use all the facilities with being pregnant, she genuinely hadn’t minded the others taking part. The evening had been kept simple – a night out in the city, but because she and Zack were still in the need-to-be-together-most-of-the-time mode, they were meeting up with the men who had been on Zack’s bachelor party at some outside climbing thing where they swung on ropes between trees. It would’ve been Rayah’s preference, given that anything high and involving the odd jump was her craic, but she’d been informed by all three of her cousins and her brother that she was very much not welcome.
“You look amazing.” Rayah studied Sorrell as she came into their room.
“I feel like a bloated whale that’s eaten beans.” She cupped her stomach, the tight dress showing every curve and no bloat at all.
“You don’t look like one. You look like this gorgeous sexy pregnant woman. I suspect you’ll be having an early night when Zack sees you. Are they back yet?”
Keren emerged from the shower. Long dark hair already sleek and styled. “On their way. They stopped in a bar that was showing the football so no surprises there. Scott phoned me as soon as I was out of the shower. I swear the man has a camera on me at all times.”
“Was he in the toilets and video calling?”
“You know it.” Keren fanned her face. “Biggest perv this side of the country.”
Rayah doubted it. She’d had a few text messages from Jonny at various points of the day telling her exactly what he was planning to do to her and how later on that evening. The secrecy of what they were doing was an aphrodisiac, especially on days like this when messages seemed to be aimed at getting one of them to react in a way that would lead to awkward questions from the others. The bet was still on: whoever gave the game away had to agree to something the other wanted.
“Did you flash your tits?” Rayah raised her brows.
Keren grinned wickedly. “He’ll be nice and uncomfortable now. Sorrell, you look amazing. Your bump is so neat and tidy.”
Sorrell looked down and patted it fondly. “It’s hard to believe that we’re going from two people who started off on the wrong foot to becoming a little family in less than two years.”
“Are you finding out the gender?” Keren sat down on the bed, adjusting her boobs without any decorum whatsoever.
Sorrell shook her head. “No. Neither of us want to know. We want the surprise. You didn’t find out though.”
“Scott was convinced it was a girl from the start. I pity Eden when she decides she wants to date or hang out with a boy because I don’t think he’ll let that happen. At least Zack will be a little bit more understanding.” Keren smoothed down the top she had on, still looking at her boobs.
“What about you, Ray. When you have kids do you think you’ll find out the gender?” Sorrell looked at her with her sweet, genuine smile.
Panic started to fluster her because this was a question which she couldn’t answer. Right now, the only man she could contemplate having a future with was Jonny, who already had three kids she was attached too. If they stayed together, if they had a future, she could imagine finding out because Sadie Grace would insist on it and then her head was consumed with Jonny and their baby. Wishing for a dream to come true.
