Wedding Bubbles: A romantic comedy (Wellywood Series Book 1) Read Free Page B

front of me with complete horror as my speech comes flooding unpleasantly back. Did I really say Dan Ostenberg was my first? And that he was terrible in bed?
    “It’s been a long time, Jess,” Daniel states coldly.
    “Yep, sure has… Dan,” I reply, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me in one big gulp. “You look so…. different now.”
    “That was ten years ago, Jess. We were kids,” he replies.
    Realising some serious groundwork’s required here I respond, “Look, I’m sorry about before. You know, the speech thingy. It was just a joke, you know? Just messing around.”
    I punch him playfully on the arm. “Of course I didn’t mean any of it. Just being silly old Jess, making a joke. None of what I said was true. None of it. Oh, other than the bit about how you were my first,” I babble at them, digging myself further into the hole I’d created.
    They’re watching me, clearly amused by my antics and revelling in my discomfort.
    “Sure,” he shrugs, as though it was nothing that I’d told a roomful of people he was a lousy lover.
    “And you know,” I continue. “I’m absolutely certain you’re so much better at… you know… that , now. And all.”
    Why can’t I just shut up!
    Leona bursts into laughter as Dan pulls her closer to him. He whispers something into her ear.
    “Sorry,” I repeat quietly, feeling utterly shamefaced.
    In my defence I had absolutely no idea that Dan was at the wedding, let alone that he was here with his wife. That’s Laura for you, though. She remains friends with virtually anyone she’s ever met. She really should be more discriminating.
    I turn on my heel to walk away in an attempt to hold onto the last glimmer of self-respect I still have. Which isn’t very much, let’s face it.
    Could this evening get any worse?
    As if in response , Dan calls out, “Jess! I think you remember Geoff Tait, don’t you?”
    With a thoroughly defeated sigh I plaster a smile on my face and turn towards Geoff.
    “Hi,” I mutter meekly.
    He raises his eyebrows at me and not for the first time tonight I wish I could magic myself into a little blue creature in white pants and get the Smurf out of here.
    “I think you said he had a receding hairline. Is that right, Jess?” Dan asks, basking in my embarrassment.
    I regard the now completely bald Geoff out of the corner of my eye, imagining he probably misses the time when he actually had a hairline. Receding or otherwise. Perhaps it could have been a happy walk down memory lane for him?
    “And breath that smelt of… what was that, again Jess?” Dan continues, grinning more broadly than the Cheshire Cat himself.
    “Sardines,” I reply quietly, looking awkwardly down at my hands.
    “You did eat a lot of fish back then, mate,” Dan says to Geoff who’s looking very far from amused right now. “You were hell-bent on becoming the next Mr Universe, weren’t you? You’d make disgusting things like tuna smoothies and eat sardines as snacks straight out of the can.”
    “Not that it did you much good,” he add s, patting Geoff’s rotund tummy.
    “Cheers, mate,” Geoff laughs and I’m momentarily thankful the uncomfortable interrogation light has been diverted away from me.
    But it’s a short-lived reprieve as he turns his attention back towards me. He raises his eyebrows again towards his non-existent hairline.
    “Geoff, look,” I begin, hoping to appeal to his better nature. “I was drunk. Totally plastered. I thought it’d be funny to make a joke about the bride’s ex. Who, in fairness, no-one in their right mind would think would actually be here.”
    I mean really, who invite s their ex to their wedding?
    I continue. “I didn’t mean it. Hell no . You were great. Still are great, as far as I can tell. Really great.”
    Realising I’ve probably told him how great he is a little too often I decide to wrap it up. “ No hard feelings?” I smile desperately at him.
    He glares at me for what feels like a