“And what do you do?” Becky said.
“I work in the library.”
“I can’t believe you’re still working for my mum,” Gayle said, wrinkling her nose.
“Well, good on you,” Becky said. “I love libraries; they’re so quaint.”
“I haven’t been into one in years,” Tara said. “I don’t know why anyone bothers now you can buy books so cheaply on Amazon.”
“What about your love life? Anyone special?” Becky said.
Alex’s face flickered into June’s mind and she quickly shook her head. He’d told June he was spending the weekend with friends, and ever since, she’d been trying not to think about him with the WhatsApp woman, Ellie.
“No, I’m single,” she said, and saw the look of disappointmenton the three women’s faces. Gayle walked off to talk to some other guests, and there was a moment of awkward silence while June tried to think of something else to say. “So, what do you both do?”
“I’m a lawyer,” said Tara. “And Becky’s an interior designer.”
“Interior designer–slash–life coach,” Becky corrected. “Although I’m on maternity leave at the moment with my son, Monty.”
“Wow,” June said. How did they both have such impressive careers at just twenty-eight?
A woman dressed as Wonder Woman came to join them. “I’ve been trying to call the stripper for the past half hour and he’s not answering,” she said to Tara. “Are you sure you gave him the right address?”
“Of course I did.”
“What the hell are we going to do? He’s supposed to be performing after lunch.”
“We’ll just have to come up with something else,” Tara said. “Come on, everyone, it’s time for food,” she called out to the room, and they all filed through to the conservatory.
A long table had been set up with the most amazing-looking spread. There was a rush as people tried to secure seats near the bride-to-be. June took a place at the far side of the table and found herself between Wonder Woman and someone dressed as Lara Croft.
“How do you know Gayle?” Wonder Woman said as she sat down.
June’s knee was jiggling, and she pressed her hand down to stop it. “We were at school together.”
“And what do you do?”
“I’m a library assistant.”
“Right.” Wonder Woman’s eyes glazed over and she turned to talk to Princess Leia on her other side.
June eyed the table. There were platters filled with delicatecrustless sandwiches, exquisite-looking cakes, and scones. She hadn’t eaten anything since her toast this morning and her stomach let out a loud rumble. She reached for her tiny plate and piled it up with three sandwiches, a scone, and a miniature chocolate cake, before realizing that the others had all put a single sandwich on theirs. Next to her, Wonder Woman peeled the smoked salmon out of her sandwich, eating it and leaving the bread on the plate. Both she and Lara Croft were still deep in conversation with other people, but June was happy to be ignored. Once she’d finished her plate, she checked her phone. There were three text messages from Marjorie.
How’s it going?
Please send an update on the hen do.
WELL???
June put the phone back in her bag and helped herself to some more cake.
“Right, ladies,” Tara said, tapping her glass with a spoon. “Shall we play a little game to break the ice?” She waited for the chatter to die down. “Most of us know each other well, but there are a few unfamiliar faces. So, we thought it would be fun to play Never Have I Ever so we can all get to know each other a bit more... intimately.”
There was laughter round the table, and June felt her stomach contract. She’d never heard of this game, but it sounded ominous.
“I’ll kick things off,” Tara said. “And remember, if youhavedone the thing I say, then you drink, and if youhaven’t, then you don’t. That clear?”
There were murmurs of ascent, and most of the women picked their champagne glasses up in anticipation.
