“I’m so sorry, Dylan. Are you okay now?”
“Apart from this scar and my hurt pride, I’m fine. Can I get a top-up, please?” Dylan held his glass out to a waiter who was walking past, and waited for it to be refilled. “So, how’s everything with the pregnancy?” he said once the waiter had moved on.
“All good. Not long to go now.”
“And you’re back in Surrey?”
“I am.”
“That’s good.” He took a sip of champagne. “Simon all right?”
Libby glanced up; Simon was the last person she’d expected Dylan to ask about. “Yeah, he’s fine.”
“Dinner is about to be served,” the master of ceremonies called through the crowd. “Could everybody move into the dining room, please?”
There was a bustle as the guests started to head toward the door.
“I’d better get in,” Dylan said. “I’m sitting at a table with Esme and Johnny, so I can’t be late.”
“Okay. Maybe catch up with you after the meal?”
“Sure.” Dylan started to walk inside the dining room and then stopped. “If I don’t see you then, good luck with all the baby stuff, yeah?”
For a moment Libby caught something in Dylan’s eyes, a look that she remembered from her birthday night. “Thank you.”
“You deserve to be happy, Libby. I hope Simon realizes how lucky he is.”
“Pardon?”
“Everybody take your seats, please!” the MC shouted, and Dylan started to walk away.
“Hang on, Dylan. What do you mean?”
He looked back at her. “I meant Simon’s lucky to have been given a second chance. I hope he’s a good boyfriend to you, that’s all.”
Libby felt her stomach lurch. “Oh my god.”
“Come on, Dylan.” Esme’s mum was walking past and grabbed his arm. “We need to get in. Esme and Johnny are about to make their entrance.”
“I’m coming.”
He turned and followed her into the room. Libby watched him go, her head reeling.
“Wait!” she shouted so loudly that he turned around to look, along with several other people nearby.
“What?”
“Dylan, I’m not with Simon. I never moved back in with him.”
She watched his brow crease as he processed what she’d said; then his eyes went wide. Behind him, loud music kicked in, announcing the imminent arrival of the bride and groom. Dylan stared at Libby for a second longer, then turned and hurried into the room.
CHAPTER
47
The meal passed at a snail’s pace. There were speeches first and then three courses of food. Libby was seated at one of the round tables with Frank, Laura and her boyfriend, and several of Esme’s other friends. They were all lovely, chatting with her and asking questions about the pregnancy, but Libby could barely concentrate on anything anyone said. She kept glancing over at Dylan, who was sitting a few tables away with his back to her. She couldn’t see his face, but she could tell by the twitching of his head that he was distracted too.
As dessert was served, Esme’s friends were sharing funny anecdotes from her hen do, and Libby allowed her mind to wander back to that afternoon at the hospital. She could remember it so clearly: Dylan’s injured face, the old man in the adjacent bed telling her about Dylan’s girlfriend coming to visit, the feeling of despair, Simon’s name flashing up on her mobile phone screen. The moment she’d kissed Dylan on the lips, and those three words had tumbled out of her mouth.
