Page 10 of Going Overboard

I try to stand, only to realise I’ve hurt my ankle. Oof, that stings. I hobble forward two steps before Ryan ever so helpfully scoops me up in his arms. He must be at least 6’2” and he’s clearly strong, so he makes it look and feel easy – not that I want him to carry me, of course.

‘They want you to follow them,’ he tells me. ‘I’ll give you a lift.’

‘How much would I have to pay you to run in the opposite direction right now?’ I ask him, not feeling like I have much choice in the matter.

‘I wouldn’t miss this for all the money in the world, princess,’ he replies with a chuckle.

Oh, I bet .

We reach the fountain area where Todd and Nikki are already waiting. Ryan gently lowers me onto the stone edge so I can sit down and take the weight off my ankle.

Todd turns to Ryan.

‘Look, man, I respect you, but stay out of it,’ Todd tells him. ‘But thanks for helping.’

Ryan holds up his hands.

‘I’m just helping my new best friend,’ he tells Todd. ‘To be her feet in her time of need.’

Todd frowns. Nikki huffs behind him like a tiny angry puff of smoke.

Todd turns back to me.

‘What the hell are you playing at, Jessa?’ he asks, those nostrils of his practically having a mind of their own. ‘You pushed her. I knew you’d be jealous, but I didn’t think you’d get violent.’

Joke’s on him, because if he continues accusing me, I could be tempted.

I glance back toward the marquee. We’ve got an audience now. Even the happy couple is watching. Great. Just what every bride dreams of: a side-plot at her wedding stealing the limelight. I feel awful. It was an accident though.

‘I didn’t push her,’ I say through gritted teeth. ‘I didn’t even want to join in. I fell. It was an honest mistake. I’m very sorry. I hope you’re not hurt, Nikki.’

‘You hurt my couture,’ Nikki snaps, peering out from behind Todd, like the small kid shouting insults from behind the safety of the big bully.

‘Is that a bone or a muscle?’ Ryan asks with a cheeky laugh.

‘Shut up, Brody,’ she snaps back.

Wait – Brody? Neil’s friend Brody? Nikki’s ex Brody? Oh, this just gets weirder and weirder .

‘You’re obviously not over me and it’s embarrassing,’ she tells him.

He shrugs, seemingly unbothered.

‘I would have thought it was more embarrassing to be over someone after two weeks,’ he says. ‘But you do you.’

‘Wait. So let me get this straight,’ I start as I put all the pieces together. I look to Todd first. ‘You left me for her. And Brody, she left him for Todd?’

Nikki rolls her eyes.

‘Glad you’re finally getting it,’ she replies.

‘So we’re supposed to believe there was no overlap?’ I ask.

‘No,’ Todd says firmly.

Brody frowns a little.

‘There had to be emotional cheating, at least,’ I reply. ‘We’re supposed to believe this is all just a big coincidence.’

‘Erm, the only emotional thing around here is you,’ Nikki tells me.

Todd sighs.

‘She’s not emotional, Kiki, she’s drunk,’ he tells her. Kiki? ‘Too much to drink always makes her mean.’

‘I’m not drunk!’ I snap, standing up to prove it, except I forget about my ankle, and?—

Splash. Into the fountain I go. Bum first. It isn’t deep but I’m soaked – and kind of stuck.

Out of nowhere Al appears – shirtless, of course – to lift me out of the water like the superhero he is.

‘Don’t worry, I’ve got you,’ he reassures me, smiling his face off, clearly happy to get to be heroic and topless. ‘And you can have my shirt, to wear as a dress.’

I bet I can.

Brody – because that’s actually his name, it turns out – appears at my side .

‘Come on,’ he says, helping me limp off towards reception.

‘Are you okay?’ he asks.

‘I’m fine,’ I mutter. ‘Just wet and shocked.’

‘Normally I’d make a joke,’ he tells me. ‘But I meant about… all the other stuff.’

I know he did.

‘Yeah. I mean, no. But, whatever. It is what it is. I suppose we’re in the same boat.’

‘You look more like you’re out of it,’ he teases. ‘Well, if you’re drunk, no reason not to get drunker, right?’

‘An excellent point,’ I reply. ‘But first I need to book a room.’

‘Did you say a room?’ a hotel employee who happens to be passing asks.

I nod.

‘Fully booked, sorry, love,’ he tells me.

‘Ah, wonderful,’ I blurt.

Brody rummages around in his pocket for a second or two.

‘I’ve got a room,’ he reminds me. ‘Go shower. Get changed into your new gigantic shirt dress. Rejoin the party when you’re ready and I’ll buy you a drink.’

‘Really? Are you sure?’ I reply.

‘Absolutely,’ he says.

I’m about to thank him when he glances over my shoulder and bursts out laughing.

‘What?’ I ask.

He gestures behind me.

‘I still can’t believe you thought that car park sign was pointing at me,’ he chuckles.

I narrow my eyes.

‘And I can’t believe your name’s not Ryan.’

‘Well, it is in a way,’ he replies. ‘Ryan’s my surname. Brody Ryan. ’

‘Erm, okay, good for you,’ I say, not sure what else he’s expecting.

‘Don’t worry about it,’ he reassures me. ‘I’m not that sharp when I’ve had a skinful either.’

‘I told you, I’m not… oh, fab, you’re winding me up, again.’

Brody is teasing me. Al is shirtless. I’m embarrassing myself. It seems like the balance at this wedding has finally been restored.