Second Chance Lane (Brockenridge #2) - Nicola Marsh Page 0,82

‘I haven’t laughed this hard in ages.’

‘Same here,’ Tash said, reaching for the salt and vinegar chips to pass around. ‘Are you sure this is enough, Lish? Don’t you want to go out dancing or something?’

Alisha shook her head. ‘Having a spa day, relaxing with my best buds, is perfect.’ She raised her glass in another toast. ‘To a bridal shower filled with laughter, champagne and gossip.’

Ruby clinked her glass. ‘And to a phallic-free zone.’

‘I’ll drink to that,’ Tash said, clinking her glass with the others before downing her champagne in a few gulps.

When she reached for the bottle to top up, Alisha covered her glass with her hand. ‘Hey, slow down, missy. I want you conscious for our rom-com marathon.’

‘I’m fine,’ Tash said, accentuating her false declaration with an ill-timed hiccup.

Ruby giggled as Alisha pinned her with an astute stare. ‘What’s going on? You rarely drink and certainly not that fast.’

‘Can’t a girl enjoy her bestie’s bridal shower without getting the third degree?’ To her chagrin, however, she blushed and her friends pounced.

‘Ooooh, what’s going on?’ Ruby asked at the same time as Alisha said, ‘Something’s up with you.’

Knowing they wouldn’t let up, Tash gave a small nod. ‘Okay, I’ll tell you, if I can top up my glass.’

‘Done.’ Alisha removed her hand and Tash filled her glass to the brim. She’d have a mighty headache tomorrow but how long had it been since she’d done this, let loose with friends, secure in the knowledge that Isla was with someone who loved her as much as she did? Though she couldn’t think about that, because the speed with which Kody had bonded with their daughter terrified her, especially when he seemed determined to sort out their custody arrangement sooner rather than later.

She wanted him to recover from his accident, and to heal from the trauma of witnessing those deaths in Wellington, but she knew every day that passed brought her a step closer to losing Isla. Not permanently, but the thought of rattling around her house on her own whenever Isla spent time away with Kody made her stomach clench with dread. Stupid, because she’d known it would come to this when Kody first arrived next door. That didn’t make it any easier to accept.

After downing another healthy slurp of champagne that left her head spinning slightly, Tash blurted, ‘Kody kissed me.’

Alisha let out a loud ‘Woo hoo!’ while Ruby gave a maniacal laugh like she’d already imbibed too much champers.

‘It’s not funny, guys, I’m confused and worried and thoroughly bamboozled.’

‘So I take it you told Rubes about Kody being Isla’s dad.’ Alisha poked her in the arm.

Tash nodded. ‘Nice to know you two don’t gossip about me, otherwise you would’ve already known that.’

‘I’ve been a bit preoccupied with all this wedding hoopla.’

‘Plus I never gossip,’ Ruby said, pretending to be affronted. ‘But if I did …’ Ruby fanned her face. ‘Man, I love Connor, but you’ve had sex with a rock star and I’m so bloody jealous!’

They broke into champagne-fuelled giggles.

‘Does he pluck at your heartstrings?’ Ruby imitated playing a guitar.

‘I bet he strums real good,’ Alisha said, complete with suggestive hand movements.

‘Does he have a large plectrum?’ Ruby guffawed at that one and attempted to pat herself on the back.

‘Stop.’ Tash held up a hand while pressing the other to her side where she had a stitch from laughing so hard.

‘I can’t believe this.’ Ruby shook her head. ‘It’s like something out of a soap opera, but it’s happening right here in Brockenridge, to someone I know.’

‘And love,’ Alisha added, leaning over to sling an arm across Tash’s shoulder and hug her.

‘Yeah.’ Ruby nodded. ‘We love you, Tash, but I’m still a little green about you bonking Australia’s rock god.’

‘Many times.’ Tash tilted her chin in the air, trying to channel haughtiness, and ending up spilling more champagne.

Alisha righted her glass. ‘Tell us more about the kiss.’

‘And don’t leave out a thing,’ Ruby added. ‘We want to know everything.’

But Tash couldn’t tell them everything. She couldn’t divulge the shame that haunted her in the wee small hours when she lay awake in bed, regretting how she’d lied to Kody about having an abortion. She couldn’t reveal her terror at the prospect of coparenting with someone as wealthy as Kody because she could never compete and she feared Isla would come to love him more. And she sure as hell couldn’t articulate one of her greatest fears: that she’d fall for him all over again and he’d break