jeans. His hair was still wet and slicked back, but the unruly dark curls of his fringe were already springing forward as he brushed them to the side.
‘Thanks for coming,’ she said eventually. ‘You look nice.’
The side of his mouth tugged a little into a smile. ‘And so do you.’ He nodded at her and she could feel a shot of adrenaline rush through her.
‘I owe it to Ed,’ he slowly said, coming further into the kitchen.
Bam! There it was. He wasn’t here because of her, but because of a sense of duty to Ed. She plastered on a smile. ‘Right.’
‘I brought them something, an engagement present. I think you’ll approve.’ She recognised the wrapping from the Shore Café as he placed it on the kitchen counter. Her pottery. What a lovely gesture.
‘Thanks, Greg. I’m sure they’ll love it.’ She smiled, taking a deep breath as his familiar scent of sandalwood filled the air. ‘Drink?’
He nodded and she turned to the fridge to give her something to do, aware that her dress was quite flimsy; she started to feel goose bumps. She poured them both a drink then turned to face him.
‘Cheers!’ she said, feeling a raspberry flame rise up her neck.
‘Cheers,’ he replied, and for a moment the world stood still they searched each other’s eyes. He lifted his glass to his lips and took a huge gulp, then turned his back on her and headed towards the door – just as Ed came through it.
‘What the— What’s he doing here?’ Ed snapped.
‘Ed, don’t spoil things. This is your engagement party.’
‘I know it’s my engagement party. That’s why I want people around me I care about,’ he said, then jerked his head back. ‘Oh, I get it, you think it’s going to be one big happy fam—’
‘Ed! Don’t,’ interrupted Maddie before he could say anything else. ‘Don’t ruin it for Adity.’ That seemed to stop him.
Ed scowled at Greg and Maddie, then barged past them to open the fridge.
*
Outside on the makeshift ‘stage’, Lauren was strumming her guitar, playing covers of some beautiful ballads. She was sitting on a chair, guitar on her knee, her flaxen hair lit up by the fairy lights of the pop-up. As Lauren played some Adele numbers, Maddie looked around the garden; the sea breeze was lifting the bunting on the edges of the pop-up in the wind as the fairy lights glistened on the cherry tree like fireflies dancing to the music. She’d even remembered to save several jam jars over the last few weeks and had put little bunches of wild flowers in them: forget-me-nots and oxeye daisies, each encircled with a blue gingham ribbon.
As Maddie leant on the side of the house, Ed took Adity to the ‘dance floor’ as Lauren began Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shape of You’. He placed his hand on the small of her back as they swayed together to the music, her beaded dress glistening in the dim light. Maddie started to hum to the music, eyes closed. Or maybe it was the wine. Just then, she was aware of someone next to her. She didn’t need to open her eyes to know who it was.
‘When are they getting married?’ Greg muttered. She could smell the wine on his breath.
‘Later in the year, but Ed has to go to Bali tomorrow – Adity’s parents have organised a Hindu blessing. Her grandmother is really ill. They want her to witness this before – well, before it’s too late.’
Greg nodded. As the song finished Ed was staring at her. It will be all right, she told herself and gave him her most winning smile. He frowned and then twirled Adity round to applause from the crowd.
‘She’s a beautiful girl,’ Greg murmured.
As she turned to face him, she felt the breeze brush her shoulders and she was reminded of the time last year when they’d said goodbye by the stone steps at the reunion. She studied the slightly bruised area beneath his eyes – was he tired? – and the way one side of his collar was tucked inside his jumper and the other one was on top. She reached a hand out to tuck the errant one in, then pulled it back again, as he moved away slightly. He smelt of shaving foam.
‘Thank you for bringing the pottery.’
He nodded and held her gaze. She opened her mouth to say something, but she didn’t get a chance to as suddenly there was a loud crash and feedback from the microphone as