Amalfi Coast (That Wedding Girl Book 2) Read Free Page A

covered with a neat trimmed beard, it does nothing to hide his cheerful smile and youthful looks. So this is the Kieran who has made Amelia so happy.
    He waves at me, “Hi, I’ve heard a lot about you.”
    “Don’t believe a word she says,” I tease.
    He laughs quietly, making his already friendly face even friendlier. “After we got engaged, one of the first things she said was that you have to be at the wedding somehow. She misses you, I can vouch for that. And Amelia never asks for anything, so this means a lot to her that you are here.”
    Kieran looks at her lovingly. I wish someone could look at me the way he looks at her - so much tenderness, admiration, and devotion.
    “That’s so—”
    I barely get a chance to react when Amelia takes my hand and drags me forward, towards the hotel bar just around the corner of the lobby. Where the hotel foyer is perpetually bright and sunny, the bar is a dark and atmospheric; with just a few lava lamps and lit candles and brown leather couches everywhere. 
    She wiggles her perfectly French manicured fingers at Kieran who pulls out his wallet immediately. Amelia with a French manicure; I never thought I would see the day!
    “Darling, get me a French 75. Lacey, what will you have?”
    My stomach does a backflip at the thought of alcoholic libations. Last time I drank, I stayed overnight and slept in Tristan’s apartment. Best I remain sober for a while.
    “Lemon, lime, and bitters thanks.” I smile at Kieran, before turning my attention to Amelia. “Since when do you drink cocktails? What happened to the girl who would buy boxed wine and drink it discreetly at Centennial Park?”
    She’s changed so much. Her dream was to have her own gallery, get up at midday to work on her designs and sketch more, and eat two minute noodles. Instead she gets to paint in her studio in a townhouse in Hertfordshire, London and eats Tonkotsu ramen. She’s gone from a boxed wine drinking Goth girl to a preened and polished Stepford wife clone, and something tells me she is happy with this new persona. Frankly, I’m green with envy of her fabulous new life.
    She bursts out giggling, her pretty brown eyes widening at my recollection. “Oh my god, don’t remind me! As far as Kieran knows, I have never drunk in a public park. But those were the days, huh?”
    “What about that tattoo on your back?” I still remember the day she showed me the musical heart tattoo on her lower back, thinking how brave she was to get it.
    “He hated it at first, but he’s used to it now. His parents, however, don’t know about it and I would like to keep it that way,” she says it casually, as if it’s the norm.
    She casts her eyes over to Kieran, who is standing by the bar looking stylish in his suit. I look at Amelia, who in turn is looking at him with utter love and affection. She really loves him, enough to no longer drink cheap cask wine. She might not be the girl I remember, but she looks really happy and glowing, that’s all that matters.  I can push away my own feelings of envy, bitterness, and resentment to be happy for her.
    “He is a total catch, and he clearly adores you. I’m stoked for you!” I plaster a smile, shaking off my negative thoughts.
    She shrugs her shoulders. “Honestly, I don’t know how I landed him. I was struggling to pay the bills at my studio in Waltham Forest, and took that bartending job at The Phoenix for quick cash. But then he came into the bar one night and we started talking. He started complaining about how his job and family were pressuring him with his career and to get married, blah blah blah. As the night went on, he got more and more vocal about it. It was so odd, this complete stranger unloading all his problems on me! But I didn’t mind it so much because he was cute.”
    “He just wanted your attention, that’s so sweet,” I gush.
    “Yeah, by complaining the whole time! You know I can’t stand people who pity themselves, especially when he was