There was a knock on the door and then it was flung open. Piper stood there with her hands on her hips, looking very much like the queen of the castle.

“Viv, I need you,” she said.

No hi, or how are you, or other nicety.

“I’m not joining your hen party, Piper,” Viv said. She popped a tiny curry chicken sandwich into her mouth and chewed.

“It’s not about that,” Piper said. She tossed her long dark hair over her shoulder. “It’s the bridesmaids and tonight’s dinner. They’re a mess. I mean, how hard is it to pack for a formal dinner? I need you to come and organize their outfits.”

“Me?” Viv asked. “I’m a milliner.”

“Yes, but you have exquisite taste and they’ll listen to you,” Piper said.

Viv preened just a little and Andre and I exchanged a look. Piper definitely had Viv’s number.

“I suppose I could stop by,” Viv said.

“You’re a lifesaver,” Piper said. She turned and walked back to the door, where she paused. After a beat, she turned around and said, “Was Dooney in here earlier?”

Andre and I both went still. Piper’s voice had a calm to it that was like a sheet of ice just before it cracks.

“Yes,” Viv said. “He came by to say hi.”

“Hi?” Piper asked. She sounded doubtful.

I started to sweat. Had Dooney told her that he thought Viv fancied him? Is that why Piper looked so coldly furious?

“Dooney and I went to school together, you know,” Andre said.

Piper did a slow pivot in his direction. “I didn’t know that. He never mentioned it.”

“Oh, it must have slipped his mind,” Andre said. “Lots for us to catch up on, I expect.”

Piper’s spine visibly relaxed. “Well, small world, I suppose.”

“Quite,” Andre said.

Piper turned back to Viv. “You’ll come soon?”

“As soon as I’ve finished tea,” Viv said. She toasted Piper with her cup.

Piper nodded and closed the door behind her.

As soon as it clicked shut, I glanced at Andre and said, “What if she says something to Dooney about seeing you here and he says he never saw you? She’ll know you lied.”

Andre waved a dismissive hand. “He won’t say anything and she won’t ask. They have the sort of relationship where they’re both horribly jealous but also refuse to let the other person see how jealous they are. Honestly, they’re like the worst couple on Love Island.”

Viv, Fee and I were obsessed with that stupid television show, and I had to agree with Andre that Piper and Dooney would have been perfectly cast.

Viv laughed and said, “Now how am I going to look at them without picturing them on the show? They are ridiculous.”