‘Nah, not really.’ She stopped to chug from a beer bottle; Cora loved a dramatic pause for effect. ‘But the girls were giving me really good odds on it and I’m a sucker for an outside bet.’

‘You’re an arse.’ I laughed with her.

‘Hey, I’ve lost money on you, Edi!’

Betty pointed to Rowan, George and Faith who were throwing back another round of shots already. My stomach turned at the thought of how tomorrow morning would look for them all. ‘Faith will drink them under the table if they try to keep up with her. Do you know who’s on the wedding party shortlist for Rowan?’

‘I doubt he’s even thought about groomsmen.’ Oh. Something clicked as I answered. ‘I haven’t thought about the bridesmaid situation, Betty, but you’ll—’

‘Relax, relax,’ she cut across me. ‘I know I’ll be involved somewhere.’ She nodded towards the chaps who were drifting towards us. ‘I was more wondering which one of them I’d be taking home …’

Chapter 5

The morning after the night before was the worst part of any night out. I slapped one hand to my aching forehead and felt around the bed with the other. Rowan wasn’t there. Ah. The memories filtered back in. He and the boys had carried on drinking well into the evening and I’d said I was done – ‘Babe, babe, I need to go home’ – so a few of us had trickled out early. Betty and Lily had … What had Betty and Lily done? I had a half-memory forming of them saying they were going to stay on – ‘We’ll kick about with the lads a bit longer’ – while Cora called a taxi for the rest of us to share. Christ. Another groan tumbled out as the pain started to shift around my head. I needed water and a shower and a follow-up lie-down, maybe even followed by … My stomach rumbled. Breakfast. A massive breakfast.

I grabbed my phone from the bedside table and took it with me into the bathroom. I was filling a tumbler with water when I spotted the message – Went home with George. Not best man material. Average man. Is that a thing? Love Bx – and it wasn’t until the water started to spill over my hand that I snapped back into the room. I hit the dial button and rested my phone on the cabinet while I dropped onto the toilet. Betty answered on the third ring.

‘You utter, utter tart.’

‘Oh, Edi, don’t. It seemed like a good idea.’

‘Famous last words.’

She laughed. ‘He was a really good dancer, though.’

‘I’m sorry.’ I wiped, flushed, and grabbed the phone. ‘What does that have to do …’

‘Come on, you know they say if a man is a good dancer then he’s a good … you know.’

‘Who, Betty, who says that?’