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‘But you have other skills—’

Nancy shifted in her seat, an edge creeping into her voice now. ‘It wasn’t like I had a ton of choices, Ari. I could do it, so I did it. And it’s been reliable. That’s what my dad wanted for me. To always be able to make a living.’ She inhaled. ‘And I do still like it,’ she added softly.

Ari didn’t press further, sensing that she’d pushed Nancy just about as far as she’d go. For now, at least.

‘My turn,’ Nancy said.

Ari looked up from her glass, raising an eyebrow. ‘What do you want to know?’

Nancy shrugged. ‘Why do you need me? What exactly is my role?’

Ari didn’t hesitate, sitting a little straighter. ‘You’re my date.’

‘I need a bit more than that.’

‘I just need the support,’ Ari said. ‘If I look right, I can feel right. If I go stag, I won’t feel right.’

Nancy nodded slowly. She understood that. Nancy had never known wealth, but she had always understood the power of appearances. Looking pristine wasn’t about vanity; it was about control. A pressed shirt, a clean-cut silhouette, and polished shoes. It sent a message: I am put together. I know what I’m doing.

Even now, sitting in this over-the-top restaurant, she felt the familiar instinct to straighten her posture, to smooth down the fabric of her jacket, to make sure not a single detail was out of place. Ari could throw money at looking the part, but for Nancy, it was more than that. It wasn’t about having expensive things; it was about precision. About never giving anyone a reason to doubt her or, worse, pity her.

‘So,’ Nancy continued carefully, ‘it’s just an image thing? That’s it?’

Not a hardball question, but Ari hesitated. ‘Yes, of course. What else could it be?’

OK. Interesting.

‘I don’t know,’ Nancy said quietly. But that wasn’t to say she was satisfied. Ari, for her faults, wasn’t much of a liar. And shewaslying right now.

But she didn’t feel like she could push any further. This was as personal as they’d ever gotten, and Nancy didn’t want to bend things to a breaking point. She didn’t precisely know what the breaking point was with Ari. What she did know was that she was paid to help Ari. Be it driving or whatever.Whateverhad simply gotten a little more complicated. Looking at it like that, standing next to her at a wedding wasn’t all that wild.

Ari met her gaze again, and there was something in her expression. ‘So, you’re still doing it?’ Ari checked.

‘I already said I was.’

Ari nodded. ‘Cool.’ But she didn’t look cool. She looked scared.

Nancy was really starting to wonder what was going on here. How bad was this ex that Ari was freaking out like this? And if she was a monster of some sort, why the hell would Ari go to her wedding?

As their food arrived, Ari smiled at her, her usual confidence back in place. ‘OK, since you wouldn’t order lobster, at least try a bite of mine?’ she cracked the lobster loudly yet somehow, utterly unselfconsciously. She picked some meat out and held it out to Nancy with a wry smile.

Nancy hesitated and then leant forward to be fed. Again, they were in a new and strange zone.

‘Good?’ Ari asked like she already knew the answer. But annoyingly, she did. It was bloody delicious.

Thirteen

The morning was clear and cool. Nancy stretched as she stepped out of the hotel lobby, lifting her face to the sun, letting it chase away the last remnants of sleep. She was wearing her day one outfit.

Her silk dress was a shade of deep sapphire. It had a classic silhouette, nipped at the waist, structured but with just enough movement to keep from feeling stiff. Nancy, feeling rebellious when she chose it, now felt nervous about how Ari would receive it. She hated that she wanted Ari to like it.

Ari, standing next to the car with her arms crossed, turned. She was wearing an effortlessly elegant midnight-blue midi dress. She looked Nancy up and down. ‘Very nice.’

‘I’ll pass as a fancy person?’

‘Nancy, you’re averyfancy person,’ Ari said with a smile.

Nancy didn’t quite know how to take that. ‘Fine. Wealthy, then.’