Page 7

Fine without him. Sure. In theory.

She’d known this whole thing was a long shot, just showing up with Jake and hoping it would work out. But now, without him, she was missing something crucial. That second set of eyes.

Ari tilted her head back against the seat, eyes closing for a moment. She could feel the steady hum of the road beneath her, the occasional bump as Nancy took them further away from home and closer to the wedding from hell.

She’d been doing the strong silent routine since she found out the bad news, but it wasn’t her style. She needed to vent. ‘Jake has cancelled,’ she announced to the front of the car.

In the rearview, Nancy raised an eyebrow. ‘Jake. Was that…’

‘My date.’

Nancy’s shoulders dropped in sympathy. ‘Oh dear.’

She said it like she understood what that meant. Going to your ex’s wedding was one thing. Going to your ex’s wedding alone? From Nancy’s perspective, it probably sounded like real loser shit.

If only it were as simple as social anxiety.

‘What happened?’ Nancy asked.

Ari shook her head as she typed a reply. ‘Work thing. He booked some Prague job.’

Nancy threw the quickest glance over her shoulder as she navigated the motorway. ‘What does he do?’

‘Model. Actor.’

‘Ah, so he’s professionally handsome?’ Nancy said.

Ari snorted a laugh despite her current turmoil. ‘Yes. He’s pretty good at it, too.’

Nancy gave her a long look in the mirror. ‘You OK?’ she asked seriously.

Ari held her gaze, then rolled her eyes. ‘It’s fine.’ She pressed her head back to the cool window, letting her phone fall from her fingers.

She picked up her flask again, turning it between her fingers. Jake was supposed to be her cover, her buffer, the thing that made this whole plan seem reasonable. Without him, she’d have to rethink everything. But there was nowayshe was backing out now.

She glanced at her phone again, nudging it awake with her fingertip. If Jake wasn’t coming, then she needed someone else.

Her thumb hovered over her contacts, scrolling slowly. Who else could she take? It had to be someone willing to drop everything. Someone who wouldn’t ask too many questions.

She sent a quick message to Claudia, who wastechnicallyan ex but had remained solidly in the ‘friendly acquaintance’ zone.

Hey, random question. Any chance you want a free trip to the Highlands this weekend?

She pressed send, then immediately moved on to the next name. Marcus. He owed her a favour.

How do you feel about weddings?

By the time Nancy had pulled in for the evening to the Rosemont Regent, Ari had sent five more messages.

It was fine. Someone would say yes. Theyhadto. Because there was no way she was going alone.

She needed an accomplice.

Six

The glowing sign for The Rosemont Regent loomed ahead as Nancy flicked on the indicator and turned into the sweeping driveway. It was the kind of place she wouldn’t pick for herself. Too refined, too polished, too aware of itself.

A motorway hotel would’ve been easier. Just a bed, a door that locked, and a straight shot back to the road in the morning. No frills, no distractions.