‘Deadly,’ she says.
Sweat breaks out across my forehead. I hate weddings. Hate, hate, hate them. That’s why it felt hilarious when we both agreed to do a celebrant course and booked it one drunken night, saying that we would officiate each other’s weddings. At the time neither of us thought we’d get married. We booked it a few weeks after my first rejection of Ollie’s proposals. That’s something I should tell my therapist. Lucy would have a field day with that one.
We both got qualified, though.
‘I suppose we did make a deal with each other,’ I agree. ‘But we also said that if we were single at forty, we’d marry each other.’
She wobbles her fingers at me, the engagement ring laughing at me. ‘Yeah, sorry about that one.’
‘There’s still hope,’ I reply. ‘We didn’t say engagement in that. You’ll still have to marry me even if you’re engaged by then.’
‘Fair,’ Alice replies.
‘Oh, Alice.’
‘Oh, Will.’
‘I can’t believe you chose this cheap wine when there is champagne in there.’
‘Champagne?’
‘I stole it from the Christmas party last year,’ I say. ‘Thanks to Clive, we can celebrate your engagement.’
‘I’ve always loved Clive,’ Alice says.
‘Oh, me too.’
‘Now, tell me about this meeting with Ollie.’
But before I can, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Looking at the finger-marked screen of my iPhone, my brow furrows.
An unrecognisable number is calling. Location: maybe Athens.
All sorts of thoughts run through my head in the split few seconds.
I answer.
‘Hello?’
‘Yeah. Your room is double booked. I’m upgrading you.’ A female voice, monotone and sharp.
‘Sorry?’
‘Is this Will?’
‘Uh … yes.’
‘Then do you want an upgrade?’
She has an accent, but I don’t think she’s clipping her words because of a language barrier. I think she just wants me off the phone, which is weird considering she rang me. ‘I don’t know what you are talking about.’
‘You booked our hotel for August first, but there was a system error and now I am asking if you want an upgrade. Take it or leave it. I don’t care.’
‘I didn’t book any hotel.’
‘Yes, you did. I have your booking right here for twenty-five days in Athens. Will Cooper.’ The woman sighs as I groan. ‘Are you wasting my time?’
I hold the phone away from me, looking at the number again, which is definitely foreign. My eyes scan the apartment, as if I might be on some prank show.
