Outside, Gavin is waiting on a bench in the church foyer. He looks worried, and decidedly more sober than he did earlier. ‘Are you all right?’ He hurries over to us, taking Peach by the arm. She leans against him, swaying from side to side.
‘Just a bit too much to drink. She’s all right,’ I reassure him. ‘Listen, I’ve got to go back in to get my handbag.’ I cast my thumb in the direction of the Nave. ‘You guys sit down there − ’ I point to the bench − ‘and I’ll be back in a sec.’
Gavin nods, rubbing Peach’s back as he helps her over to the bench.
Right. OK. Bag. I dash back into the ballroom. I move quickly through the bustle and towards our table, when I spot Leo sitting there deep in conversation with Summer. She’s showing him something on her mobile phone. His cheeks are red, his handsome face is stony.
Oh my God.
He knows.
He knows.
I halt right in front of the table, my hands starting to tremble.
The pair of them look up at my arrival. Summer gives me an innocent smile. Leo looks at me in astonishment, blinking furiously, his eyes watering.
‘Leo, I can explain—’ I start, but before I can even finish my sentence, he’s shot up, his chair toppling over on the floor behind him.
‘I don’t want to know,’ he says in a strangled voice, darting right past me, his head down to the floor.
I turn back to Summer, my whole chest thudding hard.
‘What did you say to him?’ I hiss.
Summer shrugs delicately and picks up her champagne flute. ‘The guy just publicly told everyone he’s infatuated with you. He deserves to know the truth. That you’re the woman in the onesie who humiliated him atThe Beekeeperlaunch. That – for whatever bizarre reason – you’re lying to him and pretending to be someone else. That you’re not exactly the demure woman you’re painting yourself to be.’ She chuckles to herself. ‘Though maybe I shouldn’t have shown him the picture of you mooning someone on that night out in Leeds last year. He seemed pretty shocked about that one . . . hashtagawkward.’
‘You’re a fucking nasty piece of work,’ I spit, grabbing my bag from under my chair and racing after Leo.
‘You cause destruction wherever you go, Jess!’ She calls out after me. ‘You really need to sort yourself out!’
I flip her the bird and dash back out into the lobby, where Peach is dozing on Gavin’s shoulder. I spot Leo slamming out of the front doors of the building.
‘Hold on right there,’ I shout over to a puzzled-looking Gavin, as if he’s a dog and I’m telling him tostay. ‘Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be back in a second.’
* * *
When I get outside I can’t see Leo, but I do spot three town cars from the company he hires lined up on the road. He must be in one of them. He’s got to be.
I open the first car door.
‘Leo?’ I pop my head in. The car’s empty apart from a sleeping driver, who jumps up in shock as I bellow right inside his earhole.
‘Sorry!’
I race to the second car.
‘Leo?’ I call again. But this car’s just got Benedict Cumberbatch inside, tapping something out on his phone. He looks furious at my interruption. ‘Excuse me, this is a private vehicle,’ he says imperiously.
‘Oh, bloody fuck off, Benedict,’ I grump, throwing him my mightiest withering glance.
He stutters furiously and I slam the door on him.
I go to car three.
Leo has to be here.
I yank open the door. There’s no driver, but there Leo’s in the back seat, staring forlornly at his trophy. He looks up at me, his eyes steely. I slide into the car and close the door behind me.
