Something Borrowed Read Free

reassurance, but there wasn’t a lot she could get past Jenna.
    ‘ Loved your job. Past tense. That’s the point.’ Jenna fixed her with a sisterly stare. Over the years, they’d developed a kind of secret language. A look, a roll of the eyes—sentiments shared and understood that didn’t need verbalising. ‘He broke your heart and now you’re off your game.’
    ‘I’m fine. I won’t let him interfere with my work. And I wouldn’t take him back if he begged on hands and knees. Or hopped like a damned frog.’
    It wasn’t him. It was… well, it was her. It was hard to look at other people, all happy and excitable and… hopeful , when the first thing that always sprang to mind was a breach of the peace order. Followed swiftly by that rising panic as reality sank in— the wedding wasn’t happening and he was breaking her heart. He didn’t love her.
    She hadn’t made it work no matter how hard she’d tried. He’d stomped on her heart and broken her faith in everlasting promises.
    She didn’t believe in love anymore, plain and simple.
    Pretty dumb place for a wedding planner to be.

    ‘ Y oo-hoo !’ The door rattled and, along with a whoosh of cool air, in walked Mum, arms full of sweet-scented baking and a basket of fabric swatches, thread and general haberdashery frippery. ‘Is it me or is it unseasonably cold today? Oh, hello gorgeous little girl. Girls.’ She beamed at them all in turn. Then homed in on Chloe. ‘You look tired.’
    ‘I’m fine.’
    ‘No, you’re not. Fretting over himself again?’ Her native Irish accent always came out when she was anxious.
    ‘For goodness’ sake, no. And I told you, stop talking about it. I don’t ever want to hear his name again. And stop looking at each other behind my back—I know what you’re doing.’ Chloe cleared a space on the overstuffed sofa, indicated for them all to sit, drew up the coffee table and then fetched plates and forks. As they began to eat, Chloe called the meeting to order. ‘Right, let’s talk Davidson and Wright. Where are we up to with the bridesmaid’s dresses? When’s the last fitting scheduled for?’
    Back when Chloe had bought this flat with Jason, he’d worried about being so close to her mum and sister who lived on the next street across. He’d laid down strict visiting rules, which they’d all had to abide by. He didn’t want them popping in uninvited, in case Chloe and he were having mind-blowing sex on the kitchen table. Not that they ever had either. The sex wasn’t mind-blowing, although it had been perfectly fine. Well, maybe not so frequent towards the wedding, but she’d been busy, and they’d had a lot to discuss. You can’t talk and have sex, he’d said. One or the other. As if making love to her had been something he’d had to focus on very carefully.
    And definitely never on the kitchen table. Why would we do that? he’d said. We have a perfectly fine bed. Do they have to be here all the time? he’d moaned. It’s like living in a goldfish bowl.
    Now she was grateful of her family’s proximity—they popped in and out whenever they wanted, sharing keys and food, and everything. They supported each other but had some space. Right now, she was very glad they were here.
    They got through the business in record time. One thing Chloe was proud of was her ability to keep everyone focused and on task. Unfortunately, having so little on her books meant that there was too much time left over to discuss their favourite topic. Her love life.
    It was her Mum who started it. ‘I should have throttled him, really. I should have gone round to his house and cut off his—’
    ‘Mum!’ Jenna shook her head. ‘Children present.’
    ‘I was going to say, cut off his buttons. It was a lovely suit. Those buttons were gorgeous, the perfect shade of grey.’
    ‘Yes, Mum, we know. Like polished steel,’ the sisters chorused together. Jenna leant in and whispered behind her hand to Chloe, ‘Wait for it… wait