Page 14 of Wedding Games
‘Huh?’ He pulled back to look into her mischievous eyes.
She ground her hips into his and the penny dropped.
He grinned. ‘Shall we leave your parents to Morag and go home?’
‘Absolutely,’ she replied. ‘I want to see if your dick is spotted or not.’
3
Wednesday – Three days before the wedding
Inverness cathedral may have been a tourist attraction, but it was also a place of worship. The few people who’d been milling in the aisles peacefully admiring the architecture and communing with God were currently ducking for cover, their fingers in their ears, as the four horsewomen of the apocalypse reunited in front of the altar.
Sam, Zoe’s best friend, was an actress and singer with the ability to project her voice into the next century. Small, blonde and bubbly, she was more effervescent than two litres of Coke meeting a packet of Mentos. Valentina was a Hollywood star, originally from Colombia, whose sparkling eyes, throaty laugh, and endless curves could make a statue come to life. Fiona was the only one of them with a child, but it was not slowing her down. She grabbed most social situations by the balls, cramming every second of fun in before heading home to relieve the babysitter.
Valentina had flown in late the previous night with Charlie, Rory’s best friend, and Sam had arrived at a similar time from London with Fiona’s younger brother, Jamie. The four women hadn’t had the opportunity to meet before the wedding rehearsal. Now they had their arms around each other in a circle, jumping and screaming as if they’d won the World Cup. Their other halves, Rory, Jamie, Charlie, and Duncan stood to one side as if denying all knowledge or association.
After the stress of the night before, Zoe was delirious with happiness. She had her people back. These three women didn’t think she was too loud or too crazy. They loved and accepted her just the way she was, celebrated her light, and encouraged it to shine brighter. Right now, she felt like a supernova.
A wolf whistle loud enough to separate a dogfight finally got their attention. They turned to see Charlie, his fingers still in his mouth, and Rory pointing at the minister, who was looking shell-shocked.
‘Ahem,’ the minister began, eyes widening as he recognised Sam and Valentina. ‘Shall we begin?’
An hour later,the rehearsal was over and the women were drinking champagne in the private changing room of the bridal boutique where Zoe had bought her wedding dress. Fiona had already been fitted for her bridesmaid’s dress, and Sam and Valentina were trying theirs on. They had sent their measurements through a few weeks before.
The dresses were beautiful, with off the shoulder bodices and flowing gauze skirts. The colours were inspired by heather, with Sam in pale green, Fiona in deep purple, and Valentina in light purple. Individually, they were stunning, but together they were breathtaking.
Valentina was the first to notice Zoe’s emotions.
‘Chica!’ she cried, squeezing her hand. ‘Is everything okay? Are you unhappy with the dresses?’
Sam, who knew the difference between her best friend’s happy and sad tears, lifted her skirt until the hem grazed her bottom.
‘Yep, I feel you. Why on earth are we hiding these pins from the world? Can I grab a pair of scissors? Give my dress a bit of a prune?’
Zoe smiled through her tears as Fiona passed her a box of tissues.
‘Honestly,’ Sam continued. ‘Valentina’s in the gym like twenty-five hours a day. She shouldn’t hide all that hard work. And Fi—’
‘Is a mum who has never even seen the inside of a gym,’ Fiona interrupted. ‘Wait till Zoe and Rory have left the reception before you start lifting your skirts.’
‘Oh, I won’t be the one lifting them,’ Sam replied. ‘Once Jamie sees me in this, he’ll drop to his knees, pull them up, and dive—’
‘Shut-up, shut-up, shut-up!’ screamed Fiona, slapping her hands to her ears. ‘Eww! That’s mybrother!’
Zoe snorted with laughter.
‘Sam and Jamie sitting in a tree,’ sang Sam, ‘F.U.C.K.I.N.G.’
‘God, will you stop?’ Fiona cried. ‘I used to feel sorry for you, being saddled with my brother, but now I’m starting to feel sorry forhim.’
Sam downed the last of her champagne and sang Tina Turner’s ‘Simply the Best’ into the glass as if it were a microphone.
‘Better thanwhatrest?’ Fiona scoffed. ‘You’re the only girlfriend he’s ever had.’
Sam switched to Chesney Hawkes ‘The One and Only’, holding a hairbrush out to Valentina. ‘Come on, babe, I know you can sing.’
Valentina took it and they sang together, strutting around the room.
