The Road Trip(99)

‘For the party,’ Cherry says, watching me. ‘Isn’t it gorgeous? Krish’s mum had it made for me.’

It’s the calmest she’s sounded all day. I should have realised fashion was the way to chill Cherry out.

‘Have you got anything I could borrow to wear?’ I ask her.

Behind me, Marcus, Deb, Kevin and Dylan debate the best way to tie a man up when you only have wedding table runners to work with. Dylan shoots me a quick smile when he catches me looking at him. He claps Marcus on the shoulder, one of those manly hug-type gestures guys do when they can’t talk about their feelings.

Cherry’s eyes focus on me. ‘Oh, God, yeah, you can’t wear that!’ she says, horrified. ‘Go into the bathroom, my honeymoon suitcase is in there. I’ll help.’

‘No,’ the hairdresser says, then looks surprised at her own assertiveness. She fidgets nervously on the spot. ‘Sorry. I just mean, can you sit still and let me take your rollers out? Please?’

Cherry harrumphs but sits back down. ‘Try the bright blue dress, Ads,’ she says. ‘And give Deb the little red number, if she wants to pull tonight.’

‘I do,’ Deb calls, testing the tightness of a knot as she does so. ‘Krishna promised me single men.’

‘Bucketloads,’ Cherry says, as the hairdresser begins to undo her rollers. ‘The place is seething with them – that red dress will be like blood in the water. Ooh, that simile was surprisingly graphic. Who are you, by the way?’

‘Kevin,’ Kevin supplies. ‘Hi. Happy wedding day. Thanks for having me.’

‘God, you totally can’t be here, we’re already over the health and safety regulation numbers and we’ve definitely not got enough food. Addie? Does the blue work?’

I’ve barely got to the suitcase yet. This bathroom is about the size of my parents’ living room, with a claw-foot tub sitting beneath an enormous window. The floor is grey flagstones. Cherry’s suitcase is abandoned beside the shower, tilted on its side. It’s big enough that I could comfortably get in it and go to Thailand with them both on their honeymoon.

‘Am I meant to be leaving?’ I hear Kevin mutter to someone on the other side of the door.

‘Nah,’ Deb says. ‘I don’t think she really meant it. Just try to look less conspicuous. Put on a top hat or something.’

‘Well?’ Cherry calls. ‘Addie?’

‘One second!’ I shout, scrabbling through the suitcase.

I go still when I reach the blue dress. It’s not just a blue dress, it’s . . . art. Spaghetti straps, satin. There’s something a little nineties about the style – it reminds me of the dress Julia Stiles wears to prom in 10 Things I Hate About You.

I slip out of my white dress and slide into the blue gown. The sheath style would cling to Cherry’s curves, but it tumbles past mine without hardly noticing. I love that. It’s full length on me, too, where it’d be midi length on Cherry.

‘The barely-there silver heels!’ Cherry yells through the door, before I’ve even asked the question.

I pull them on with difficulty, trying not to tug with my injured hand. These shoes are too big for me and they’re going to hurt like hell, but right now I don’t care. I feel fierce and bright and beautiful. Obviously ideally I’d have had time for a shower, but still.

I open the bathroom door just as somebody knocks at the door to the bridal suite. We all freeze. Dylan’s eyes flick to mine, and the air goes hot between us. I remember how it felt that summer in France. I almost feel the Provence sun, hear the crickets. Dylan’s eyes are fiery. He’s not looking at me like he’s never seen me before – he’s looking at me like he’s never seen anyone else.

‘Cherry!’ Rodney calls through the door. ‘Cherry, please open the door!’

Dylan’s gaze snaps away from mine as Cherry stands and bundles everyone into the bathroom. I back in to give everyone space, and Deb carefully clicks the door closed behind her. My heart is beating too fast. I can’t tell if it’s the stalker outside the room, or Dylan being inside this one. I don’t need to look at him to feel that tug between us. The link that never really broke.

‘Talk to me, Cherry,’ Rodney begs through the door. ‘Please, let me in!’

We huddle by the door. Even Marcus looks serious. Deb and Kevin are between me and Dylan now, but I can still feel his gaze flicking towards me as we crouch, ears against the door.

Cherry lets Rodney into the room.

‘You really shouldn’t be here,’ she says.

‘How could I be anywhere else?’

Dylan’s hand is on the doorknob, ready for us to burst out.

‘I’m not going anywhere until you’ve realised this wedding is a mistake, Cherry!’

It’s so over the top, like he thinks he’s in a play. I’m not surprised to hear Cherry laugh.

‘Rodney. Please. How on earth can you think that?’

‘Does he really make you happy? Does he?’

‘Nobody has ever come close to making me as happy as Krishna makes me,’ Cherry says, more serious now. ‘He is everything to me. I have never been in love like this. And Rodney – I have never been in love with you.’

There’s movement. We brace. I think she’s moved towards him, holding the door open, maybe?