don’t trust her.”
“Why? I thought the two of you got along well.”
“We do. She’s lovely. I just don’t trust her.”
“There’s got to be a reason why, Carls.”
“Not really.” She shrugs. “I just feel as if I’m missing something. Call it a sixth sense.”
“What could you be missing?”
“I think Lucy and Derek dated before she turned lezzie. They have a history. That much is obvious.”
“So? History is the operative word here. In the past. Yesteryear.”
Carly looks down at her fingers and fiddles with her aunt’s ring, twisting it back and forth. “I get that. I just don’t think it’s entirely in the past.”
I rest my chin on my hand. “What makes you say that?”
“God, I don’t know,” she snaps.
“Hey! I’m just trying to help.” I push up from the table. “I’m going to get a drink. Do you want one?”
She recoils and gives me a sorry face. “No.”
“Fairy bread?”
“No, thank you.”
Smiling, I know what she’ll like, because she’s a sucker for all things mini. “I saw some mini-pizzas and hot dogs. How ‘bout those?”
Her pout morphs into a grin. “You had me at mini.”
“Thought as much. I’ll be back in a minute.”
I make my way toward the buffet at the opposite corner of the marquee and am about to get our drinks when a hand slides onto my hip.
“Don’t hate me, sweetheart,” Will murmurs into my ear.
The hairs on the back of my neck dance, and I momentarily close my eyes. “I don’t,” I breath out.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for walking away from you that day. I’m sorry for not ringing, and I’m sorry for calling you a redheaded walking vagina.”
Laughter bursts from my chest. “Yes, well, you’re not forgiven for that.”
“But I’m forgiven for everything else?”
“Yes, of course.” I turn into him. “It’s me who needs to ask you for forgiveness.”
Will rears back a little, brows pinched.
“No, I do. I’m sorry for holding us back. I’m sorry for not being completely honest with you, and I’m sorry for not trusting you with the real me.”
He cups my cheek. “Lib—”
“Don’t touch me!” Carly shouts.
We snap our heads to where she’s standing a few metres away.
“Don’t ever touch me again.” She wrenches her arm from Derek and storms past us on her way out of the marquee.
“Carly!” I call after her just as Derek stops next to us.
“Fuck!” he snaps.
Will grabs his arm. “Mate, there’s kids around. Watch your language.”
He runs his hands over his shaved head. “I’ve fucked up.”
I point my finger at him. “What did you do?”
“I…. Shit!”
Torn between leaving to go after Carly and staying to tell Will everything I need to tell him, I choose my best friend when he says, “Go. We’ll talk later.”
I nod and leave, soon finding Carly outside.
“What happened?” I rest my hand on her back, her shoulders bobbing as she sobs.
“I… I just want to leave.”
“Okay. I’ll get Will to drive us home.”
She wipes her eyes. “Will?”
“Yeah. He won’t mind.” I wipe a tear from her cheek, my heart breaking at her distress. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay and sort it out?”
She shakes her head adamantly. “No.”
“Okay. I’ll be back in a minute.”
I head into the marquee again. Derek is standing with Bryce and Lucy, his head in his hands. I don’t know what he’s done, but whatever it is, it looks bad. Shit!
Not wanting to leave Carly alone for long, I approach Will who’s with the guy he was talking to earlier. “Hi. Sorry to interrupt—”
“Elizabeth, have you met Matt?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“He plays bass in the band.”
“Oh, that’s right. Nice to meet you.”
Matt tips his head, flicks his eyebrows, and grins while looking me up and down.
I narrow my eyes at him but focus back on Will. “I know this is a big ask, but would you mind taking Carly and me home? We came here with Derek, and she doesn’t want to see him right now.”
“Anything for my favourite Labia—”
I grab his arm. “Knock it off.”
“But you wanted—”
“That doesn’t matter right now.”
His eyes widen, and he passes Matt his beer. “Later, mate.”
I sigh, relieved. “Thank you.”
“No sweat, sweetheart.” He places his hand on the small of my back. “Let’s go.”
“Libby, hold up.”
I pause and turn to Derek, who’s stepping over toddlers to get to me.
“Is she okay?”
“What do you think?” I snap. “I don’t know what you’ve done, but I… I’ve never seen her this upset.”
“Just tell her I’m sorry and that I love her, and I should’ve told her.”
“Told her what?”
“Just tell her that. Please.”
His