Warm feelings? “I have no feelings for him at all, so there’s no reason to think that would impact on my decision.”

Christy looked unconvinced. “He thought you wouldn’t be comfortable spending time with him. Also that you wouldn’t want the responsibility.”

All of which proved the man had more insight than she would have liked or suspected.

“First of all, I can handle the responsibility. I take it seriously, but I can handle it.” She hoped that was true. What if it wasn’t true? What if she couldn’t handle it? “As for spending time with him, we’d barely see each other, so it’s irrelevant to me whether he’s there or not. I won’t be seeking out his company, and he won’t seek out mine.”

“So you’re not backing out?”

Oh how she wanted to! But that would mean letting her friend down, and she wasn’t going to do that. Also there was her pride.

“No. I gave you my word.”

“I know, but...are you sure? I know something happened between the two of you the day before the wedding, and we’ve never talked about it, but—”

“That’s history.”

“You had a big fight, didn’t you? Presumably about me marrying Seb.”

Alix thought back to the day before the wedding. She cringed with embarrassment when she remembered all the things she’d said, not just to Christy but afterward, when Zac had propelled her from the room to break the flow of words. The details of their encounter was something she had never shared with anyone, not even her closest friend. She’d made a lot of mistakes that day.

“We might have exchanged a few words, but nothing you need to be concerned about. Water under the bridge.”

“Are you sure?” Christy picked up an abandoned yellow duck from the floor. “Just because a person doesn’t talk about something doesn’t mean it’s forgotten.”

Alix opened her mouth and then closed it again. Were they still talking about Zac? Or were they talking about Christy? She was used to the fact that Christy rarely tackled difficult subjects head-on. Usually she ignored them and hoped they went away, which was why Alix had made a point of dealing with that particular episode directly.

I’m sorry about what I said at the wedding. Do you forgive me?

And Christy had said, Of course I forgive you.

But what if she hadn’t?

Alix felt as if she’d been dipped in ice water. She’d always assumed that her frankness hadn’t damaged their friendship. But what if she was wrong about that?

Her anxiety mounted. She wanted to fling her arms round Christy and say, Don’t shut me out, but instead she forced a smile. “Well, I hope Seb’s meeting goes well. And don’t worry about Holly. I’ll make sure she has a great time.”

Their friendship had never felt awkward, but right now it did, and Alix had no idea how to handle it.

Christy rinsed the bath. “I’m relieved. I’ve been scared that you’d back out. And perhaps this will be a good thing in the end. You and Zac will have the chance to get to know each other better because you’ll be living in such close quarters. You’re our best friends. I want you to love each other.”