Laura, who at that moment was standing near the stag’s head, her face illuminated by candlelight, a soft, happy glow better than any makeup. Josie jerked her head toward Laura, and Bia nodded, following her. Josie felt the punch of guilt as they reached her. She’d stayed on, was considered close enough by Laura to stay on—the only work friend to get that honor—but she hadn’t bothered to speak to her all day. Laura, however, didn’t seem upset and beamed at Josie and Bia as they approached.
Josie pulled Laura into a hug, smelling a sweet perfume. “You look beautiful,” she said as she eased back. “Though I imagine you’re fed up of hearing that, after how you’ve looked all weekend.”
Laura tossed back her head and gave Josie a look. “No one, not even me, Josie, could ever get fed up of hearing that.” She smiled, looked around the room as the last few people joined. “It’s been good, hasn’t it?”
“I’d say ‘good’ is an understatement. It’s been amazing, Laura.” Laura grinned. “But how has it been for you, not too stressful?”
“No, once we got the ball rolling it all just sort of fell into place.” Though she didn’t say it, Josie had the distinct impression that it was only religious planning on Laura’s part that had caused it to do so.
“Well, you bloody nailed it,” said Bia with a grin, and gave Laura a hug herself. Laura squeezed Bia back.
“Glad you could make it.”
“Are you kidding?” Bia shook her head. “Thank you for letting me gatecrash.” Neither of them made any mention of the reason Bia had to gatecrash in the first place, for which Josie was grateful.
John came over then, and pulled Josie into a bear hug. Josie smiled at him. “Well, don’t you look dapper? You should wear kilts all the time.”
“Ah, I would but she won’t let me.” He put an arm round Laura, tugged her to his side.
Bia grinned at them. “You guys are just picture-perfect, aren’t you?”
“Aren’t we just?” Laura agreed, making Josie laugh.
“And how’s the Boathouse treating you?” asked Josie.
“God, it’s amazing,” Laura said. “It’s right on the lake, and we watched the sunrise over it this morning. You seriously can’t get any better, even if the sun slightly disappeared after that.”
Josie raised her eyebrows. “You were up at sunrise?”
John gave a mock grimace. “Laura made me.”
Laura shook back her hair, down and straight this evening. “Well, we put the rest of the morning to good use, didn’t we?” John flushed and Josie and Bia laughed when Laura winked at them. John’s parents came over at that moment, and Josie and Bia excused themselves.
Josie gave a little sigh and Bia cocked her head at her. “I can’t believe it’s already over,” Josie said.
“It’s not over yet though. And I’m taking notes—I’m pretty sure I’m going to have my wedding here one day.”
Josie laughed. “Now you just need to find the guy.”
Bia waved a hand in the air. “A minor detail.”
“What about Stuart?” Josie asked with a smirk.
“Nah, that was just a bit of fun.”
Josie jerked to a stop as Max entered the chamber. He looked impossibly handsome in the glow of the room—of course he bloody did. It was a slightly more informal vibe this evening, despite the splendor of their surroundings, so Max was wearing black jeans and a fitted grey jumper. Erin waved him to her side of the room before Josie could decide if she should go over to him or not.
She saw Bia giving her a look, and frowned. “What?” Bia took a sip of mead, raising her eyebrows over the rim. “What?” Josie insisted as they took their seats—separated from Max and Erin by an elderly couple, presumably on John’s side if the man’s tartan kilt was anything to go by.
“I’m just not sure it’s a good idea to go back there, given the way it ended last time,” Bia said.
“I’m not,” Josie said with a frown. “Nothing’s happened. Nothing’s going to happen.”
“You spent the whole morning with him today,” Bia pointed out.
“Yes, and with his girlfriend, Bia.” The bit in between, she decided, she just wasn’t going to mention. Because there wasn’t anything to mention. Not really.
His voice rang out in her mind. I do, you know. Think of you.
Josie shook it off, focused in on Bia. “And I was only with him because you weren’t around.”