Chapter 1: THE INVITE
THE INVITE
There are three things I have learned about life.
First, never trust a person who says, “I have a small favour to ask.”
Second, free food is always worth considering.
And third, if your best friend calls you and starts a conversation with the word emergency, ask questions before agreeing to anything.
Unfortunately, I learned the third lesson a little too late.
My phone rang just as I was settling comfortably on my sofa. I had popcorn in one hand, my favourite blanket over my legs, and absolutely no intention of leaving my apartment.
The name on my screen made me smile.
Sophie. My best friend. My partner in questionable decisions. The person responsible for approximately eighty per cent of the trouble in my life.
I answered. “Hello, beautiful.”
“Lena! Emergency!”
I sat up. “What happened? Are you okay? Did you break something?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then why are you shouting like someone stole your kidney?”
“I need you.”
I relaxed. “Money?”
“No.”
“Food?”
“Lena!”
“Fine. Continue.”
“My cousin Maya is getting married this weekend. The wedding is at this beautiful house in the hills. There’ll be a garden, a swimming pool, music, food, and a whole weekend of celebrations.”
“Congratulations to Maya. Is there a reason you're telling me all this?”
“I want you to come with me. Be my plus-one.”
I blinked. “Your what?”.
“My plus-one. My best friend. My emotional support human. Whatever you want to call it.”
“Why?”
Sophie sighed. “Because if I go alone, my mother will try to introduce me to every unmarried man at that wedding.”
I laughed. “Your mother? The woman who believes every family gathering is a marriage recruitment programme?”
“Exactly. She once asked the delivery guy if he was single.”
“He was delivering your birthday cake. Perhaps he was delivering hope too.”
“Please, don't start. I just need you there. If I have someone with me, Mum will leave me alone.”
I considered this. “And what do I get?”
“Free food, drinks and cake.”
I looked at my popcorn, then at the ceiling. I was a woman of simple interests.
“When are we leaving?”
Sophie screamed. “I love you!”
“I love cake more, but you're welcome.”
By Saturday afternoon, I was standing in front of my wardrobe, trying to decide what to wear. I packed three dresses, two pairs of shoes and enough accessories to make it look as though I was attending a royal wedding.
After several minutes of unnecessary fashion drama, I settled on a pretty dress that made me feel confident. I checked myself in the mirror.
Not bad, Lena. Not bad at all.
The drive to the wedding house took longer than expected, but the scenery was beautiful. The road wound through green hills, with large houses scattered across the landscape. When we arrived, I almost forgot to breathe.
The house was enormous. Flowers decorated the entrance, fairy lights hung from the trees, and tables stood neatly across the garden.
Sophie opened the door before I could knock.
“Lena!”
She pulled me into a hug. “Finally! I thought you had changed your mind.”
“Never. I heard the words free cake.”
She laughed and led me inside.
“So, where's your mother?” I asked.
“Somewhere around here.”
“Wonderful. I can't wait to meet the woman who almost married you off to a delivery man.”
“Please don't remind me.”
We were still laughing when Sophie casually mentioned, “Oh, my brother is here too.”
I stopped. “Your brother?”
“Chris arrived earlier.”
I shrugged. “Okay. And?”
She gave me a suspicious look. “Nothing. Just telling you.”
Before I could question her, a familiar male voice came from behind her.“Well, well. Look who decided to show up.”
I froze.
No. Absolutely not.
Not here. Not today.
Chris.
Sophie's older brother. The man who had spent three years of my college life calling me Pigeon because of one unfortunate incident involving a birthday cake, a karaoke machine and my inability to maintain balance.
He stood near the staircase in a perfectly fitted suit. His hair was neatly styled, and his expression carried that familiar, irritating confidence.
Unfortunately, he looked good.
Annoyingly good.
I hated that I noticed.
“Lena?” he said, raising an eyebrow. “What are you doing here?”
“What are YOU doing here?”
He glanced around the enormous house. “Attending a family wedding. You?”
“Robbing the place. Obviously.”
Sophie closed her eyes. “Please, not today.”
Chris chuckled. “Still the same, I see.”
“Unfortunately, you're still the same too.”
“Charming as ever, Pigeon.”
I smiled tightly. “Call me that again and I'll introduce your face to my handbag.”
He laughed. I hated that laugh. I hated that I remembered it. And I especially hated that my stomach did something strange when he looked directly at me.
Sophie clapped her hands. “Can we please have one peaceful weekend?”
Chris looked at her. “You're the one who invited her.”
I pointed at him. “And nobody invited you to comment.”
“Actually, it's my family's wedding.”
“Then go enjoy your family.”
He smiled. “Gladly.”
Before I could continue, a cheerful voice interrupted us.
“Oh! There you are!”
Diane, Sophie's mother, approached with a bright smile. She was dressed beautifully and carried the energy of someone who had already organised everyone's lives for the next six months.
“Lena, darling! It's so lovely to see you again!”
She hugged me, then stepped back and looked between me and Chris.
“Oh!”
I immediately became suspicious. “What?”
She looked at Chris, then at me. “You're both here!”
“Yes, Mom,” Chris sighed. “We are.”
Diane ignored him. “Lena, darling, are you still single?”
I blinked. “Good afternoon to you too, Aunt Diane.”
She laughed. “I'm only asking!”
Chris folded his arms. “Here we go.”
Diane turned towards him. “And you! Still refusing to bring a girl to family events?”
“Mom.”
“What? I'm just asking.”
I looked between them. Something told me this conversation was about to become a problem.
Diane placed one hand on my shoulder and the other on Chris's. Then she smiled like she had just discovered the solution to world peace.
“Well, this is wonderful. You're both single. You're both here. You already know each other.”
I swallowed.
Chris looked at his mother. “Don't.”
Diane ignored him. “It's fate!”
Sophie and I exchanged a look. A very long look. The kind of look two people share when they realise something terrible is about to happen.
And then Diane said, “Lena, darling, why don't you spend some time with Chris? He's such a good boy.”
I stared at her. Chris stared at her. Sophie stared at the ceiling.
I had come here for free cake.
Apparently, I had accidentally become Sophie's mother's next matchmaking project.
And the weekend had barely started.
