Page 100 of Just Friends
‘Carole’s an amazing force of nature,’ Alfredo said while Felix snapped away manically with his phone camera. ‘I can’t believe how much she gets organised with so little fuss.’ Carole had suggested to Norm a couple of months ago that they renew their vows and they’d decided to do it the same week that Meg was getting married since Lily and Matt, Tess and Tom, Felix and Alfredo and Aaliyah and her family would already be over for Meg’s wedding and staying in Carole and Norm’s newly finished holiday cottages.
‘Meg could learn a lot from her,’ Tess grumbled. ‘Complete bloody bridezilla. She literally just asked me – told me in fact – to stay out of the sun so that I wouldn’t be sunburnt for her wedding.’
‘Are you having alaugh?’ Aaliyah said. ‘I mean, if Megishigh maintenance right now, she learnt from thequeenof all bridezillas last summer.’
Tess glared at her and Lily said, ‘How are you both feeling?’
Aaliyah put her hand into her back and stroked her baby bump. ‘I’m okay except my feet are already swollen to about twice their normal size and we’ve only been here two days and it’s going to get hotter tomorrow. Bloody Greece and its bloody so-called perfect summer weather.’ She’d got a lot more chilled last year after upping her working hours and getting her cleaner and au pair, but she’d got a bit tetchier again after getting pregnant with a surprise fourth baby.
‘At least you’re only in your middle trimester.’ Tess stroked her own bump. ‘It’s a lot harder work when you’re seven months pregnant.’
‘I mean, I do have three other children to look afterwhilepregnant.’ Aaliyah’s eyes were like gimlets and her mouth very straight. Baby bumps at dawn.
‘Clearly it’s harder the first time.’ Tess was glaring even more now. ‘Yourbody knows what to do. Been there done that.’
‘Seriously.’ Aaliyah turned and said to no one in particular, ‘It’s like no one’s ever been pregnant before.’
‘Um…’ Lily said.
‘Okay. I think I have enough photos for now.’ Felix did a little bow. ‘I need more champagne.’
‘He’s taken literally thousands already today.’ Alfredo smiled fondly at Felix. ‘You’re going to have some serious curation to do, Lily.’
‘Hey, only a bit. I want to keep most of them.’ Felix tucked his phone securely into the inside pocket of his very suave lime-green suit jacket. ‘I’ve got some corkers in there. I got a great one of the priest picking his nose earlier. I’m telling you now, Lily, that no way am I deleting it, even if the snot’s blurred. Ooh look.’ He pointed and pulled his phone back out. ‘Not done with the photos after all. I need some of the gorgeous newlyweds-to-be.’
Meg and Pythagoras were walking towards them, holding hands, in another one of their matching colour combos, pale green this time, a very wide, very short dress for Meg and a suit for Pythagoras. A lot of people would struggle to pull off either of their looks, but they both looked gorgeous, and together they were absolutely stunning. Lily and Matt had been up to visit them a couple of times in Edinburgh and they’d been doing the couple-dressing thing all-year round. And genuinely looking good the whole time.
‘I’ve come to say goodbye.’ Pythagoras shook hands and kissed them. ‘Time for me to go back over to Antiparos. I’ll see you all in the church.’
‘Oh my God,’ Meg screamed. ‘I’m getting married on Saturday to my perfect One.’
A few hours later, as they danced next to the swimming pool amidst the dying embers of the party, a long time after Tess, Aaliyah and Meg had all gone to bed, Matt leaned into Lily’s ear and said, ‘I think now’s the time for us to make a move.’
Lily looked round in the direction of his gaze and gasped. ‘We shoulddefinitelygo.’ There was a lot of nipple tassel belly dancing going on and some of Norm’s friends had stripped to their trousers and greased their chests and were now doing some Chippendale-style dancing and, woah, some of the trousers were starting to come off.
Norm, standing with his arm round Carole, caught sight of Lily and Matt, nudged Carole and waved.
Carole cupped her hands round her mouth and shouted, ‘Lilyyyyy, Matty, over here.’
‘No way,’ Matt said. He did a big wave and shouted, ‘Good night,’ and grabbed Lily’s hand and they began to speed-walk in the direction of the cottage Carole had them staying in to try out for her first paying guests, who’d be arriving next week.
‘I adore your aunt and uncle,’ Lily said, opening the cottage front door, ‘but they can be scary at times.’
‘Likewise your friends. This wedding preparation thing’s a nightmare.’
‘I know. It’s the big wedding in Greece thing. Maybe if they’d done a small one somewhere it would have been a lot less stressful.’
‘You know what I’m thinking?’ Matt pushed the door closed behind him and put his arms around her.
‘Mmm?’ Lily could never concentrate when he was kissing her like that.
‘I’m thinking I’d love to marry you.’
‘Mmm?’ Now she was concentrating better, despite the kissing.
‘What are your thoughts about getting married but having a small wedding?’
‘Very, very up for it,’ Lily panted between kisses.
Matt lifted her into his arms and made for the bedroom. ‘I love you.’
‘Me too.’
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