Cordelia brings her hands to her mouth.
‘Andy,’ she says with a gasp – I suppose I should be grateful they’re using their real names for this.
He takes her hand gently.
All I can do is stand there, my feet squelching in my shoes, watching my best friend propose to the woman he’s going to marry, using the ring I just nearly drowned with.
‘Cordelia,’ Andy says again, his voice soft but steady. ‘I know that I’ve already asked you… and you’ve already said yes… but after last night, after seeing everyone here and imagining what it’ll be like when we do finally tie the knot… I…’ He swallows, glancing at me for a second, then back to her. ‘I want to do it properly. And for you to have a beautiful ring.’
He lifts the ring slightly, to show her.
‘I want to marry you because you make me feel like I can actually have the life I always thought was for other people,’ he continues.
Cordelia is crying already. A pretty cry – a movie cry. It’s dry and gentle. Not like the kind I’d be doing if people weren’t watching. Then again, I could probably style it out as fountain water.
‘I want to wake up next to you every day,’ he continues, ‘and build something with you. Something solid. Something real. And I know it’s fast, and I know it’s crazy, but… I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.’
Ouch, this hurts so much. I smile anyway, because that’s what you’re supposed to do, right? When you’re happy for someone. Or pretending that you are.
Cordelia nods frantically.
‘Yes,’ she whispers. ‘Yes, yes, yes, of course, yes!’
Andy laughs, relieved, and slides the ring on to her finger.
It fits perfectly. It doesn’t get stuck like it did on my chubby digits.
Cordelia throws her arms around him, kissing him like she’s in a movie.
God, they look so happy, and I feel sick.
When they finally break apart, Cordelia wipes her cheeks and looks at me, glowing.
‘Whitney,’ she says, voice thick with emotion. ‘Wasn’t that just… perfect?’
‘Perfect,’ I manage to reply.
‘Your female influence has clearly been really good for him,’ she tells me. ‘You were training him up for me.’
I bite my tongue so that I can’t reply.
‘You need to get changed. Do you want to borrow some clothes?’ Andy asks me, suddenly concerned.
‘I’m fine,’ I say automatically. ‘I’ll sort something.’
Cordelia laughs again.
‘We have a spare robe upstairs if you want?’
‘What, and walk around like Hugh Hefner?’ Andy replies to her with a laugh.
‘Honestly, it’s okay,’ I say quickly. ‘Congratulations to you both – I’m going to go to the loos…’
I walk off – well, limp – only for Andy to catch up with me.
‘Listen, we booked a room for Tink’s parents, in case they could make it, but we’re pretty sure they’re not coming,’ he tells me. ‘Why don’t you take it? Dry off, spend the night here, relax.’
I don’t really want to accept, but I can’t walk around like this.
