‘You’re working?’ she asked.
‘Catching up on a few bits,’ he said, turning his attention back to her. ‘Look at you. In Greece! You’ve caught the sun.’ He smiled warmly, pushing a hand through his thick hair.
The normality of the gesture felt reassuring. This was Ed. Her Ed. She took a breath, feeling a sense of ease. Keeping the pregnancy from him was exacerbating her anxiety, she was certain. She hated secrets – had grown up in a house full of them. Maybe she should tell him about the baby now. Get it done.
‘I wanted to call you,’ Ed said easily, ‘but you know I’m scared of Bella.’
‘We all are.’
‘Where are you?’
‘In the Old Town, having dinner at a taverna.’ She glanced over her shoulder. Bella was leaning close to Fen and hadn’t noticed Lexi was missing, thank God. All communication with the groom was forbidden during the hen party.
‘How’s my sister? Sticking out like a sore thumb, I imagine.’ He laughed.
It was a dismissive, old-fashioned turn of phrase, and Lexi felt a flare of protectiveness towards Eleanor. ‘I admire her for coming. It must be hard being out here, celebrating someone else’s wedding so soon after losing Sam.’
‘You’re right. It’ll do her a world of good. Some sunshine. A few drinks. Company. You’re not missing much here – it’s rained for two days straight.’
‘Has it?’
‘God, I miss you, Lex. I was thinking I could pick you up from the airport on Sunday night. Maybe reschedule my Monday morning appointments so we can catch up properly?’
‘Sounds lovely,’ she said, feeling pleased.
‘Lexi Lowe!’
She startled. Bella was coming towards her, a hand on her hip. ‘Talking to the groom! You are in breach of hen party rule number two.’ She plucked the phone from Lexi’s grip. ‘Hello, Edward,’ she waved into the camera. ‘You know you’re aiding and abetting?’
‘Guilty as charged.’
‘And what have you two lovebirds been talking about?’ Bella asked, gaze sliding to Lexi, an eyebrow arched.
Lexi shot her a panicked look.
‘I was just telling Lexi how much I missed her,’ Ed said.
‘If you’re infiltrating the hen,’ Bella said, ‘I suppose you may as well get the full tour. Come,’ she said, carrying the phone. ‘I am hobbling, by the way.’ She angled the video towards her foot. ‘A scorpion stung me. It was jealous of my exquisite taste in footwear.’ She tottered across the square, mouthing to Lexi: See? Me and Ed: BFFs! To Ed she said, ‘We’ve just finished dinner at the best taverna in Greece. I daren’t pan to my stomach, else you may think I’m expecting.’
Lexi fired another warning glance. Bloody Bella.
‘Right, here we go,’ she said, panning the camera. ‘No one can stand. We’ve eaten our body weight in tzatziki. I think you know most of us. You’ve not met Fen yet, my incredibly hot girlfriend.’
‘Hey,’ she said, lifting a hand.
‘Hello!’ Ed called cheerfully from the screen.
Bella swung the camera around. ‘There’s Robyn. Robyn is very sunburned, aren’t you, Robyn?’
‘Lots of liquids!’ Ed advised.
Robyn lifted her wine glass. ‘That’s the part I’m managing.’
Bella moved on, angling the phone towards Eleanor, saying, ‘You obviously know this face.’
‘Hello, little sis.’
Lexi saw the way Eleanor pasted on a big smile, lifting her drink to toast the screen. ‘Edward.’
Bella hollered to Ana, who was making her way inside the taverna. She was wearing her new jade dress, paired with a simple black headscarf knotted in a funky side bow. Lexi watched her turn, waving vaguely in Bella’s direction, calling, ‘Off to the loo!’
‘There. Now you know Ana needs a piss! Well, that’s everyone. But I’m afraid you can’t speak to the bride again. She’s off limits.’
Lexi rolled her eyes. ‘Give me the phone.’
‘No can do,’ Bella said, holding it out of reach. ‘That’s all for now, lovebirds. You’ll see each other on Sunday. Wave goodbye.’ She held up the phone for Lexi to wave.
As Lexi raised a hand, she saw Ed’s image on screen. He looked strange, eyes narrowed, brows pulling close, a hand reaching to the back of his neck.
‘Ed?’ Bella said. ‘Aren’t you going to say goodbye to wifey?’