‘Thank you, Delilah.’ Clara places a hand on her baby blue cardigan-clad chest. ‘That means a lot. It really does.’
‘Let me give you a hand in the kitchen.’ I leave Ryan in the sitting room, my mind working overtime as I grab glasses from the cupboards. Clara isn’t at all happy that the glasses don’t match, but it’s too late to pop out to the shops to stock up on champagne flutes now. I still haven’t come up with a plausible excuse by the time we’ve poured the champagne into the mismatched glasses (and a couple of mugs, which Clara almost wept over) and distributed them to Clara and Graham’s guests. I join Ryan, my mind still betraying me with its blankness. Luckily Dad comes to the rescue by proposing a toast. We all raise our glasses, chorusing Dad’s sentiment but then I’m on my own. It’s time to fess up.
‘Well?’ Ryan asks once the room has descended upon the happy couple again.
‘Well what?’ I decide that playing dumb is my only answer. If I’m clever enough, the dumb act may just get me through the entire evening.
‘Where were you yesterday? Because you weren’t here or in Par-ee.’
‘I never said I was here.’ I point down at the Clara’s plush grey carpet.
‘But you did say you were with Clara, which you weren’t. And even if you were, I’m pretty sure Clara didn’t go all the way to France to discuss her lady business with you.’
Fudgery-doo-dah. He’s got me there. I’ve managed to double tangle myself in a lie and I can’t see a way out of it.
‘Lauren and I have noticed you’ve been a bit weird lately,’ Ryan says. ‘I said that maybe you’re seeing somebody but Lauren says you wouldn’t do that while you and I are pretending to date. Which is rubbish because you know we’re not really dating, right?’
Ryan looks a bit scared as he awaits my answer and I’m half tempted to go all bunny boiler on him and pretend that I’ve been living under the assumption that we were properly in love. But, as fun as winding Ryan up would be, I’m in enough trouble here.
‘Of course I know we’re not really dating.’
‘Then what’s going on? Are you seeing somebody? And if you are, why can’t you tell us?’
‘Because it’s Courtney.’ I really can’t help myself. Why on earth do I keep digging myself further and further into this hole? It’s an illness, I’m sure.
‘What?’
‘Courtney. The guy from the gym.’ I’ve said it now, I may as well continue on this dodgy path.
‘I know who Courtney is. I’ve had to listen to Lauren bang on about him and his perfect calves for months.’ Ryan runs his hand through his hair, nudging the carefully styled locks into dangerous hedge-dragging territory. ‘How could you do this to Lauren? She’s your best friend.’
‘I know. That’s why I’ve had to keep it a secret.’
I loathe myself.
‘And what happens when she finds out?’ Ryan demands. ‘Because she will. She’s a wily one, that girl. And tough. I’d be pretty damn scared if I were you.’
‘She won’t find out.’ I hope. ‘You won’t tell her, will you?’
‘You can’t do this to Lauren.’ Worryingly, Ryan hasn’t answered my question. If Lauren hears that I’m dating a man she once had a massive crush on, even if it was only a distraction from her feelings for Ryan, she’ll go crazy. And rightly so. Dating Courtney would go against the unwritten girl code. It would be even worse than dating Adam.
Gah! Why didn’t I just tell the truth in the first place?
‘Fine, I’ll end it,’ I tell Ryan. ‘But please don’t tell Lauren about this.’
I plaster a smile on my face as Mum bounds over to us.
‘Isn’t this marvellous news?’ she asks, her eyes shining with happy tears. ‘It’ll be you two next!’ Mum gives me a squeezy hug and plants a kiss on mine and then Ryan’s cheek before she bounds away again. Graham is on us next, offering us a champagne top-up, which we both readily accept.
‘You won’t say anything to Lauren, will you?’ I ask once we’re alone again.
‘I won’t, as long as you do end it. Nobody is worth wrecking your friendship with Lauren for. You know that, right?’
I nod. ‘You’re right. She’s my best friend.’
Sorry, Courtney. Looks like we’re breaking up, dude.
Chapter 38
The Durban Food Festival
Text Message:
Ryan: I’m so hungry, I could eat a dead dog and its fleas
Delilah: The dog next door has been annoyingly yappy lately. No idea if it has fleas but I could bring it over for you…
Ryan: You’re the best friend ever
Delilah: I was kidding!!!
Ryan: Yeah, me too
I’ve told great fat lies to practically everybody I know. So many that my brain is turning to mush trying to keep up with them and I’m in constant fear that I’m going to be found out. Meeting Isaac and Luke was fantastic and it showed me that Adam is serious about me, that I’m not just some passing office fling, but it also brings its own problems to the mix. Meeting the boys opens up the possibility of Adam meeting my family, which obviously can’t happen until I’ve ‘broken up’ with Ryan and I’m running out of excuses to keep Adam at bay.
Luckily, the arrival of the Durban Food Festival means we get to spend the whole weekend together without the worry of my friends or family discovering Adam, or vice versa. The annual festival takes place in Cheshire, within the grounds of Durban Castle and although it’s less than an hour away by car, Neville has been convinced to let us stay over during the course of the festival. For the first time in history, Katey-Louise and her spoiled princess ways have come in useful. The three of us will be attending the festival, but I know for a fact that Katey-Louise will have little to do with the festival as it means not only working but working over the weekend, which will give me and Adam some much-needed time together.
The festival begins at ten o’clock on Friday morning and ends at five on Sunday evening, so the three of us set off early, having loaded the Brinkley’s van with everything we need.
‘It’s barbaric being up this early,’ Katey-Louise grumbles as she slumps into the passenger seat by the window. She’s bagged the window seat but I don’t mind as it means I get to sit next to Adam during the drive. ‘It’s still dark. How am I supposed to function on no sleep? And look at the state of this.’ Katey-Louise pulls at her red Brinkley’s t-shirt and curls her lip. ‘Lame!’
‘Are you going to moan the whole way there?’ Adam asks as he pulls away from the Brinkley’s large, detached house.
‘No.’ Katey-Louise wriggles down in her seat and leans her head against the window. ‘I’m going to sleep. Wake me when we get there.’
This weekend we’ll be staying in a little bed and breakfast in the nearest town to Durban Castle, so we get ourselves booked in and drop our things off first before moving onto the food festival. We’ve been assigned a stall in a marquee close to a lake, with cheese and honey stalls as our neighbours. There’s already a delicious, spicy aroma wafting over from an Indian restaurant’s stall across the marquee and although it’s still early in the morning, my stomach rumbles.
The marquee is filling up fast and as I look around I see an array of produce, from vegan cupcakes to gourmet sausage rolls and pork pies, coffee to beer and wine, plus a smoothie stall (which I will be sampling as soon as possible). There’s also a minor celebrity chef setting up his stall, where he’ll be demonstrating dishes and flogging signed copies of his cook book.
The Brinkley’s stall will consist of individual biscuits, which we’ll be serving with tea, as well as packets, tins and luxury hampers. We’ll also be demonstrating the rocky road bites at intervals throughout the weekend and providing recipes cards, as well as debuting the new product Karen and the development kitchen have been working on – in the hope of garnering feedback before they’re officially launched. Adam and I have been busily preparing for the festival over the past couple of weeks and although it’s been
hectic – particularly the last few days – it’s been fun and a welcome break from the tedium of my usual duties. The food festival was supposed to be Katey-Louise’s baby but, as she failed to even register for it, Neville passed it on to me and Adam. Not that I minded – an excuse to work with Adam is welcome in my books. We’ve been an official couple for over a month now but managing to spend time together has still been an issue due to my ill-thought-out web of lies.
‘I need to find the loos,’ Katey-Louise says as Adam and I lug boxes from the van. ‘I’m desperate.’ She hops around a bit to demonstrate before scuttling away.
‘I bet we don’t see her until we’ve set everything up,’ Adam says as we heave the boxes inside the marquee.
‘I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see her for the rest of the day.’ I plonk a heavy box of mismatched china cups and saucers by our stall and stretch out my spine.
‘Fine by me.’ Adam puts down his own box and wraps his arms around me. ‘I like having you to myself.’
I’d love nothing more than to make the most of this opportunity for some alone time with Adam – and I’m pretty sure he feels the same way, judging by the way he’s kissing me – but we have so much to do before the festival opens, especially as Katey-Louise is being true to form and shirking her responsibilities.
Between us, we somehow manage to set up before the festival opens. I’m expecting a tidal wave of activity but it’s more like a trickle, even with the minor celebrity chef stationed in our marquee. It’s the first time I’ve attended a food festival but Adam assures me it’s to be expected early on a Friday when most people are working. Trade picks up considerably around lunchtime and again around an hour before we’re due to close for the day. We give out quite a chunk of our recipe cards and receive mostly positive feedback about our new salted caramel shortbread. Adam takes lots of photos during the day, which he posts across our social media platforms and he updates our Twitter and Facebook feeds whenever he gets the chance. Katey-Louise – predictably – doesn’t show her face until the packing up has been completed.
‘Who fancies going to the pub?’ she asks as we climb into the van. She doesn’t try to explain her absence and Adam and I don’t press her because we’ve actually been grateful for the lack of moaning throughout the day.
I catch Adam’s eye as he starts the engine. ‘I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll have an early night back at the B&B.’
Katey-Louise shakes her head pityingly. ‘You are such an old woman. It’s Friday night!’ She looks past me at Adam. ‘What do you think? We could go to the pub or see what it’s like in town. It can’t be as lame as Woodgate.’
‘Count me out.’ Adam sets off along the gravel path which will eventually lead to the ornate gates and onto the road. ‘I need to write up today for the blog and send some reports back to Neville.’
Katey-Louise huffs and turns her back on us as much as she can while tethered down by her seatbelt. She glares at the trees lining the path while Adam secretly grins at me. There will be no blogging tonight. No reports sent. But rest assured, there will be an early night.
The curtains at the bed and breakfast are thin – practically gauze-like – so the sun streaming through them directly onto my pillow wakes us early. I’m deliciously squished up against Adam in the tiny single bed and although I fear I could plummet to the scratchy carpet at any second, I haven’t felt this happy in a long time. Adam and I slept together for the first time last night and although we’d had to rein it in due to the walls being as thin as the curtains (nobody wants to hear that through the wall, especially when Katey-Louise is in the next room), it had been amazing and I can’t wait for a repeat performance.
I want this all the time. Not just the sex (although it would be quite nice to partake regularly) but the closeness and intimacy. And, more importantly, the openness. Being with Adam last night was lovely because there were no lies, no looking behind my shoulder to see if anybody could see us. We were together, properly, for the first time in more ways than one. I’m tired of all the lies and I’m going to put a stop to them. As soon as I get home, I’m going to fess up to Ryan and Lauren. I’m going to come clean, end my fake relationship with Ryan and make a proper go of things with Adam. Maybe Adam can be my plus one at Francesca’s wedding, but even if I have to go alone, I wouldn’t care. I have nothing to prove to Ben. He’s happy and now I am too and I don’t need to demonstrate that in front of my ex because he no longer has any relevance in my life.
I’m truly over Ben and he can have as many babies as he likes because my future lies – hopefully – with Adam.
I hear a pleasing intake of breath as I feather my fingers along Adam’s bare thigh. Adam – somehow – manoeuvres himself in the bed so that he’s facing me. I strike what I hope is a sultry pose.
‘Morning.’ The corners of Adam’s eyes crinkle as he smiles. I’m momentarily alarmed at the prospect of my morning breath as his lips near mine, but if it’s a toss-up between dashing to the bathroom and kissing Adam, kissing Adam is always going to win.
It’s still quite early when we emerge from the sheets, but we need to shower and change before setting up our stall at the festival. Slipping on yesterday’s jeans and scooping up his t-shirt and trainers, Adam pads barefoot into the hallway to sneak into his own room while I nip into the bathroom to start the shower going. I hear the whoop even over the gushing water. Clad only in an off-white towel, I peep out of the door and around Adam’s frozen body on the threshold.
‘I knew it!’ Katey-Louise’s face is full of pure joy as she looks from Adam to me. She’s wearing the clothes she’d changed into last night, her strappy heels dangling from her fingers. Her hideously smudged makeup tells me she is on her way into her room rather than out of it. The nightlife in town can’t have been too disappointing then.
‘I knew you two fancied each other.’ Katey-Louise can’t keep the grin from her face and I have to say, she’s taking the news rather well. Much better than I’d anticipated. I’d assumed she’d have thrown a tantrum when she realised her charms hadn’t worked on Adam and gone all-out loop-the-loop crazy when she found out that he was interested in me instead.
But I should have known she had something up her sleeve. Something to poison what Adam and I have. How silly of me to think she would lie down and accept defeat.
‘How long has this been going on then?’ Katey-Louise waves a hand between me and Adam.
‘Not long.’ I wrap my towel around my body tighter. I don’t want to reveal the exact timescale of our relationship. It’s none of Katey-Louise’s business, plus I’m starting to feel nervous. There’s a glint in Katey-Louise’s eye. She’s enjoying this discovery far more than she should.
Katey-Louise reaches for her door handle but pauses just before her hand makes contact. She gives a slight shake of her head before she turns back to me. ‘It’s Ryan I feel sorry for.’ She bites her lip to prevent a satisfied grin from taking over her whole face as she spots my eyes widen. She turns to Adam, the grin completely eradicated and replaced with an angelic, fluttery-eyed look we all know is fake. ‘You did know Delilah has a boyfriend. Didn’t you?’
Chapter 39
Explanations
Text Message:
Delilah: Can you explain to me why my underwear drawer is almost empty?
Justin: I could… but you won’t like it
Delilah: Get my stuff back off your creepy friends!
Adam turns to me as though in slow motion. I watch as his thatch of dark hair slides across and his beautiful face comes into view. Except his beautiful face is marred by the frown pulling his eyebrows low down and creating a groove across his face. He doesn’t look mad. He looks confused with hurt hovering at the edges, waiting to take over. Which is far worse.
‘Do you have a boyfriend?’
I like how Adam asks me the question. He doesn’t simply take Katey-Louise’s word for it. But it’s a pity I don’t have a good enough answer for him.
‘Not really.’ I step back fully into the room. ‘It’s complicated. Come inside and I’ll explain everything.’ I need to get away from Katey-Louise. She’s enjoying this far too much for my liking and I don’t want to humiliate myself further by revealing my silly wedding date plan in front of her.
‘This will explain everything.’ Katey-Louise has taken her phone out of her bag and she thrusts it at Adam. He takes the phone and peers down at the screen. I see the change immediately. The confusion washes away and hurt jumps into its place with both feet.
‘See. Told you.’ Katey-Louise gives a smug flick of her messy ponytail. I lean forward, keeping a grasp on my towel. And there it is. The evidence of my ‘relationship’ splattered all across Facebook. The matching gym gear, the nauseating Lady and The Tramp spaghetti pose and the smoothie maker to celebrate my moving in with Ryan.
Fuuuuuudge.
‘It isn’t what it looks like.’ I make a grab for the phone but Adam snatches it away. He taps on the screen and gives a bitter bark of a laugh.
‘Isn’t that what you’re supposed to say to your boyfriend? The poor bloke is missing you and you’re here cheating on him with me.’ Adam flicks the screen towards me and I see a photo of Ryan doing the cheesy hands-shaped-like-a-heart gesture with the caption ‘Missing you, babe xxx’.
‘I’m not cheating because Ryan and I aren’t together.’ I’m aware that my voice is all squeaky, but I’m desperate to make Adam see what’s really happening.
‘He seems to think so.’ Adam indicates Ryan’s soppy photo. ‘Do you live with him?’
‘Yes but –’
I don’t get the chance to explain as Adam dumps the phone in Katey-Louise’s hands and stalks away, throwing his crumpled t-shirt over his head and tugging it down over his chest as he thunders down the narrow staircase. I can’t run after him; I’m wearing nothing but a damn towel.
The Wedding Date Page 25
