Zoe’s gaze swept over the gathering. Clusters of people were chatting, some who knew one another well, some meeting for the first time, some who clearly hadn’t seen each other for many years. ‘There aren’t that many of them, to be honest.’ She paused. ‘It’s a shame. I thought they might have made more of an effort for my dad.’
‘Is your brother here yet?’
‘I don’t see him.’ She looked up with a smile. ‘Don’t worry about Tom – he’s going to love you.’
‘He’s still good friends with your ex, though. You don’t think that will have any bearing on what he thinks of me?’
‘Not for a minute. He still sees Ritchie, but it’s only because they go to the same places, and sometimes they catch up over a drink. As Billie would say, it’s really not that deep.’
His tight expression transformed into a grin. ‘Yes, one of her more annoying phrases.’
‘Aww…’ Zoe prodded him. ‘Does it make you feel old when she says it?’
He laughed. ‘Yes! It does, and I don’t like it!’
‘Zoe!’
She spun towards the sound of her brother’s voice and saw him getting out of a taxi, a broad smile on his face. He was in a crisp suit, hair as dark as hers cut in a trendy mullet. With only two years separating them, Zoe had been close to her younger brother when they were kids, but as adults they’d drifted apart, especially since her break-up with Ritchie. She’d responded to Alex’s question by playing down Tom’s friendship with her ex, but the truth was it had felt like a betrayal when her only sibling had continued to meet up with Ritchie as if nothing had happened, while he hadn’t made the effort to visit her since she’d moved to Thimblebury. It had tempered the way she’d felt aboutTom, though she’d done her best to hide it. Suddenly, it struck her that, in nursing a grievance, she wasn’t so different to her mum.
Her spirits lifting at the sight of him, she rushed over and reached up to hug him. ‘Look at you! You look great – very smart!’
‘As opposed to looking like a used bin liner, as I usually do?’
‘Don’t be daft! I’m trying to give you a compliment!’
‘That’ll be it then,’ he replied with a wry smile. ‘It’s easy to get confused when you’re not used to getting them. Still a short-arse, I see.’
‘Hey!’ She slapped him playfully on the arm. ‘Still lanky, I see.’
‘You’d have thought one of us could have turned out a nice average size, wouldn’t you? How long have you been here?’
‘Not long.’
‘So you haven’t seen Dad yet?’
‘No.’
‘Or anyone else?’
‘Not really,’ Zoe replied, her nose screwing up in puzzlement.
Tom laughed lightly as he leaned in and dropped his voice. ‘For once, I’m glad not to be one of the major players.’
‘What’s that mean?’
‘It’s a lot less stressful to be a guest than someone with a role to play. I don’t mind admitting I was pissed off at first when Dad didn’t ask me to be his best man. Especially when I found out he’d asked Chantal’s brother. But I got over it when I realised I could rock up with seconds to spare instead of having to be on duty all morning. Lennon can have it, and he’s welcome to it.’
‘OK…’ Zoe said slowly, unsure whether to fully believe her brother or not. It must have stung not to have been asked by his dad, no matter what he said, but he didn’t seem concerned now.
She felt Alex’s presence by her side. He always wore the same cologne. She’d forget what the brand was whenever she thought about buying him a replacement bottle, but she was quickly beginning to lock the scent into her core memories, so that the slightly sweet sea-air and beach-forest notes would bring him to mind whenever she smelled them. They were there now, and she felt calmer and safer knowing he was there. She smiled up at him.
‘I assume you must be Alex,’ Tom said.
‘I am.’ Alex stuck out his hand, and Tom shook it. ‘Good to meet you.’
‘You too. I’ve heard a lot about you.’
‘Have you?’
