“How did Dominic rip them?” I ask curiously as Simone collects herself.
“Didn’t you see his flip?!”
“Dominic can flip?”
“No, he cannot,” she says with a knowing smile. “But his attempt was spectacular and the rip down the back of the trousers, absolute perfection. Anyway, if there are any safety pins about, we can try to pin it so he doesn’t have to sit down the rest of the night. Or at least hold them together long enough for him to get back to his hotel and get another pair of trousers on without flashing the whole guest list.”
I agree that this seems like a good plan and head to the bathrooms to try to search for safety pins. As I thought, there is a pack in the basket next to the sink. I remember when I was helping Ruby with the task of preparing the toiletry baskets, I’d thought the safety pins were quite an odd addition to the deodorant, plasters, tampons, and paracetamol. I hereby stand corrected. I return to Cali and Simone holding them up triumphantly. While Dominic stands up embarrassed, the three of us crouch down to inspect how bad the rip is and work out the best way of temporarily fixing it with the tools we have to hand.
“What are you lot doing?”
Cali, Simone, and I look up from studying Dominic’s arse to see the bride and groom looming over us with baffled expressions.
“I ripped my trousers doing a flip on the dance floor,” Dominic cries out over the music.
“Attempting a flip,” Cali corrects, rolling her eyes.
“We’re trying to work out the best way of pinning his trousers back together,” Simone explains. “At the moment his yellow boxers are on show for the whole world to see back here.”
“Not the best day to wear the classic Tweety Pie underwear,” Dominic declares. “By the way, great wedding. Such a blast.”
“Well if that isn’t a sign of a good party, I don’t know what is,” Leo laughs. “Hey, Freya, can we borrow you for a moment?”
“Sure,” I say, straightening up, and follow them to anothertable, where they pull out some chairs. “Do you need me to hand out cake?”
Ruby frowns, carefully arranging her dress as she sits down. “Why would we ask you to hand out cake?”
“Seems like a maid-of-honor thing to do. It really is delicious, too.”
“Your duties are complete, Freya.” Ruby smiles, reaching out and taking my hand. “We just want you to enjoy yourself now.”
“Wait.” I glance from her to Leo. “Is that my final Wedding Season task? To enjoy myself? I love it!”
“Ha!” Ruby narrows her eyes at me. “Nice try.”
“Before the big reveal, I have something to say,” I announce, clearing my throat. “This year hasn’t been… my favorite. In fact, my life has felt like one big disaster. Everything I’d planned fell apart and I felt completely lost.”
Ruby and Leo share a look.
“But,” I continue, before they can jump in, “I can also say with complete and utter sincerity, that I wouldn’t have made it through without you two and your stupid Wedding Season plan. I may have been heartbroken, but boy, did I laugh. It’s reminded me to let go of my inhibitions every now and then. It’s not so bad when I do. Something about this summer… the mix of having to cope with things myself, putting myself out there, renewing my relationship with my mum. It’s given me this confidence I didn’t know I had. I got with that hot French model! Me! I ran naked down a hotel corridor! Who does that?! Apparently, I do!” I pause as they laugh. “I guess what I’m trying to say is… thank you. For being there and for the Wedding Season. It’s really meant a lot to me. And now here you are, married. Everything is as it should be. I couldn’t be happier for my two best friends.”
Leo’s eyes well up. “Group hug?”
“I’m not sure that’s necessary.”
“Group hug!” Ruby wails, leaning forward to envelop me, with Leo following her lead but pouncing on me from the other side so I’m squished in the middle.
Closing my eyes for a second, I smile into Ruby’s shoulder.
“All right,” I say, patting them both on their arms. “Thanks.”
“Wow,” Ruby whispers into my ear. “Just wow.” She pulls back to look at me, the corner of her lip twitching. “Thank you, Freya, for being so vulnerable. That was very emotional and touching. I feel touched. I feel moved.”
I sigh heavily, muttering, “Okay. Here we go.”
“It was justsobeautiful,” Leo joins in. “I feel like I’ve seen a whole new side to you.”
“I wish I’d filmed that heartfelt speech,” Ruby says wistfully. “I’ve never heard you so serious and in touch with your emotions.”
