told me you’d left your sense of humour in the attic, we could have got on with this so much faster.’ He sits up and squints at the screen. ‘Definitely the one with the two names linked, Pixie loves hearts.’
I’m sure she does. ‘Thanks for the quick decision.’ I’m approximately two questions away from the end of my work here.
He’s biting his lip. ‘They’re all great … apart from the one glaring error, that is.’
‘Excuse me?’
He’s pursing his lips. ‘You’ve got the name wrong.’
I’m ready for this. ‘We’ll simply change Pixie for Elfinor before we print.’
This time he lets out a full-blown snort. ‘It’s way funnier than that.’
I’m not smiling. ‘And are you going to let me in on the joke?’
His eyes are wide and his cheeks look like they’re going to pop. ‘I don’t know how we got so far with this so wrong. Pixie’s not marrying me, she’s marrying Ewan.’
My voice is high. ‘Who the hell is Ewan?’
Nic’s explaining slowly. ‘Ewan is Pixie’s fiancé. That is what you call the soon-to-be-groom?’
‘So where … the hell … do you fit in?’ I need time to pick myself up off the floor.
He’s sounding so matter of fact. ‘Pixie’s my sister and Ewan’s another best mate.’
‘Ok-a-a-y.’ It’s simple but it’s still taking a while to sink in. Nic isn’t going to marry Pixie, he’s just her very devoted brother. It’s as if someone just lifted a weight off my chest. In fact, I feel so light that if I weren’t clinging on to the table, I might just float away. I didn’t kiss/dry hump/throw myself at/spend the night with anyone else’s partner.
Nic’s carrying on. ‘Ewan’s in the navy, they’re both a ten-hour drive away, north of Glasgow, which is why I’m looking after things this end.’
I’m back to my hedgehog squeak. ‘So, whatever happened to the Don’t Tell The Bride thing?’
‘Well, that part’s still right.’ He takes a breath. ‘The less she knows about it, the less likely she is to get cold feet and pull out. Pixie really wants to marry Ewan, but she’s not a diva, she’s shying away from being the centre of attention. I probably should have been clearer about this to begin with. But when I asked Jess for help to sort out a wedding on the quiet because the bride is working away she jumped on it, and that was that. We didn’t discuss it any further.’ Knowing Jess, she’d have been so intent on landing the job, the rest of the details wouldn’t have come up.
I let out a groan. ‘Oh my days, you don’t make it easy do you?’
As he looks at the screen again, he gives a visible shudder. ‘Brrrr, could you close that down? Seeing my name on those is freaking me out.’
Now I’ve heard it all, but what a turnaround. ‘Don’t tell me. Another guy terrified of commitment?’
He’s back to looking pleased with himself. ‘I’m the world’s most confirmed bachelor, destined to stay single forever and all that.’
I’m muttering. ‘I’m sure George Clooney said the same at one stage.’ But I have to ask. ‘So what made you commit to a life as an eternal playboy?’
His smile fades. ‘It’s not quite like that, Milla.’ He sounds hurt, then he blows out his cheeks. ‘It’s another one of those long stories you’re so fond of.’
I shake my head. ‘So if ever I’ve got a spare hundred years you’ll tell me you’re too busy building your business.’
His voice rises in protest. ‘I have a great life. Most of my mates would give their right arm to be as free as I am.’
‘Sure they would, that’s why they’re all getting married.’
I’m not sure why I’m giving him such a hard time over this. I mean, my first thought wasn’t even whoopee, he’s not taken, I can have him for me. I was simply relieved that no one had unwittingly cheated. As it sinks in, I’m mostly thinking that if my theories about why I wanted to grab him were true, I should have instantly stopped fancying him because he had suddenly become available. But I have to be honest, I haven’t quite reached that place yet.
There’s another thing niggling me. Whenever Elfie was in the picture, there was always an outside chance that she would turn out to be a mean-faced bride who didn’t deserve him, a teensy chance that she would turn up and they’d decide for themselves – with absolutely no input from me – that they really weren’t suited. So