CHAPTER 12
“Please, please, please come to the wedding with me,” Cate said to Zeke as they walked into their Government and Politics class.
Ben and Erin were getting married in a few weeks and she’d found out from Sinead that Kian was taking Alice Devereux as his date. She hadn’t seen him since that day at Mill Lake.
“Cate, I’m really flattered. Don’t take this the wrong way, I mean, I like you but I don’t want to be your boyfriend.”
“Nooo,” Cate quickly backtracked, “I don’t want you to be my date, I just want you to be my plus one. I really can’t be alone at this wedding.”
“Phew,” Zeke ran a hand across his forehead, “what’s so special about this wedding anyway?”
“It’s complicated,” Cate said. “Please say you’ll come.”
“I don’t know. I don’t really do weddings.”
“Alice Devereux will be there,” Cate said.
“I’ll go with you,” Noah, who was sat at the table adjoining theirs, said quickly. “She’s so fit.”
Cate scowled at him, “She’s not that hot.”
“Yeah, right,” Noah said, nudging Barney, who was sat next to him. “Alice Devereux is like smokin’ hot.”
Even Zeke had to concede that, “sorry Cate but as much as it pains me to say this, I have to agree with Noah on this one. Alice is gorgeous.”
Cate’s scowl deepened. “Well, if you think she’s so hot then you’ll have no excuse for not coming to the wedding with me then?”
Mr Knowles walked in to the classroom before Zeke could reply but after class, he walked Cate back to her car. “Okay, okay, I’ll come with you, when is it?”
Cate gave him the details and he typed them in his phone. “What will you be wearing?” Zeke asked.
“I’ve got a fitting this afternoon.”
“Can I come?” Zeke’s eyes lit up.
“To my fitting? Why would you want to do that?”
“If you’re going to be my date, I want to make sure you look hot enough that you don’t embarrass me in front of Alice Devereux.”
Zeke caught Cate frowning again. “Now, why do you frown when anyone says Alice Devereux? Look, you’re doing it again.”
“I just don’t like her, that’s all. I think she’s tacky.”
“I see,” Zeke said. “You never told me why she’s going to your brother’s wedding? Are they friends?”
Cate could hardly say the words, “she’s dating his best man, Kian.”
Cate agreed to let Zeke come to the dress fitting with her. When they got to the boutique, she was really glad he was there.
“Cate?” Erin said, rushing over to her, “I’m so glad you’re here, I can’t wait to see what you think of your dress.”
Cate smiled and let Erin give her a hug but all she could see was the small platform in the centre of the room. Surely that was for brides, she wasn’t going to be asked to stand up on that. “Where’s Liv?” she asked, hoping for some sisterly support.
“Oh, she’s coming in later after work,” Erin hiccupped. “Sorry, it’s the champagne. Would you like some?”
“No, thanks,” Cate said politely.
“I’d love some,” Zeke said.
“Who’s this?” Erin asked Cate.
Zeke stepped forward. “I’m Cate’s date for the wedding.”
Erin raised her eyebrows. “I didn’t know you were bringing a date?”
“It said plus one on the invite,” Cate said, “you don’t mind, do you?”
“No,” Erin said warmly. “Of course not, I’m just surprised, that’s all, and you never mentioned a boyfriend.”
“Oh, I’m not,” Zeke started to interrupt but Cate glared at him. There was an awkward moment where nobody said anything and then Zeke came to the rescue. He slid an arm around Cate’s waist and kissed her on the cheek. “I can’t believe you haven’t told your family about us, Cate.”
“I’m sorry,” Cate said, turning around to kiss him back. “Will you forgive me?”
With her back to Erin, she mouthed “thank you” to Zeke.
“Of course,” Zeke said, “now let me see your dress.”
Cate was right, she did have to stand on the platform in the centre of the room while Erin, Zeke and the dressmaker walked around, scrutinising the dress and her from every angle. The dress was nicer than she’d expected, having read far too many horror stories about bridesmaids’ dresses. Forest green to contrast with Erin’s fiery red hair and made from brushed silk, it was strapless and had a knee length skirt which bobbed as she turned. “What do you think?” Erin said, biting her lip. “Do you like it?”
“It’s beautiful,” Cate smiled.
“It is,” Zeke said, patting Erin on the arm. “It’s gorgeous, you’ve made a really good choice.”
“Thank you,” Erin said, a huge smile breaking out on her face. “You really think so?”
“I do,” Zeke said. “What were you thinking for hair, up or down?”
Erin and Zeke walked across the room to the sofa so Erin could show him her wedding book.
“Can I get down now?” Cate asked the dressmaker.
“I just need to make a couple of adjustments,” she replied, “hold still.”
Cate looked at herself in the mirror as the dressmaker knelt down and adjusted the hem of the dress. Will this be enough to change his mind?
“Just a couple more,” the dressmaker said, standing up and looking at Cate’s cleavage. “Yes,” she looked at the gaping fabric. “We might need to put some padding in here, to make it fit better.”
Why are my breasts so small? Cate felt her eyes well with tears. Why does everybody want to pad them out?
The dressmaker came back with some pads and slotted them into place inside the top of the dress. “There, doesn’t that look better?”
“Yes,” Cate said to be polite but she avoided looking at herself in the mirror.
When she went back to the dressing room to get changed, Erin knocked on the door. “Yes?” Cate said, pulling on her jeans.
“I’ve got a favour to ask you,” Erin said softly. “You can say no if you don’t want to do it.”
“Okay.”
“Monty’s such a good dog but he’s sensitive, you know? He doesn’t really get on too well with other dogs. He’s such a sweetheart; he doesn’t know how to defend himself. When we first got him, Ben took him to the park and there was another dog there. We didn’t know so Ben let him off the leash. Ben threw the ball and just then the other dog barked and Monty went running off in the opposite direction. He’s a really fast runner. Ben had to chase him all the way across the park. The other dog kept barking and it just made Monty run even faster. Anyway, when Ben eventually found him he was at the top of the slide in the children’s play area. He was just sat there, shivering and whimpering. When Ben brought him home, he went straight upstairs and hid under the bed, he stayed there all day.”
Cate opened the door; she’d finished getting dressed. Erin had tears in her eyes. “We’re supposed to be going to Thailand on our honeymoon and my Dad was going to come and look after Monty but he’s got a job in Basingstoke those weeks.”
“What do you need?” Cate asked softly.
“We were wondering if you’d housesit for us?” Erin looked hopefully at Cate. “You wouldn’t have to do much, just watch Monty really. Plus, you’ve got exams coming up so it’ll give you somewhere quiet to study. We could pay you?”
Cate laughed; she knew with the wedding that they didn’t have much money. “Don’t be silly, you don’t have to pay me. Of course I’ll do it.”
“Thank you so much,” Erin gave her another hug.
“You ready to go?” Zeke asked, coming over to join them.
“Thanks again,” Erin said as she walked them to the front door.
“Are you not coming?” Cate asked.
Erin shook her head, “no, I’m going to wait for Liv, she shouldn’t be too long.”
“Who is he?” Zeke asked as they got into Cate’s car.
“Who’s who?” Cate said, she waved to Erin who was stood in the doorway of the dress shop.
“The guy,” Zeke said. “The one you’re using me to try and make jealous.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” Cate said.
“Spill,” Zeke said. “Or I’m not coming to the wedding with you.”
“What about Alice Devereux?” Cate said.
“Hm” Zeke said. “You really don’t like her, do you? Who did you say she was dating?”
Cate went red, “nobody.”
Zeke pulled out his phone, “I could always ask Sinead?”
“No,” Cate said too quickly. “Don’t do that.”
“Aha,” Zeke said, “it’s him, isn’t it? It’s her brother.”
“You can’t tell anybody,” Cate said seriously. “Promise me you won’t tell?”
“Ooh, I’m seeing a whole new side of you and I like it,” Zeke said. “I promise not to tell if you give me all the juicy details.”
The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them. Zeke didn’t say anything until she’d finished. “So you haven’t spoken to him in a month?”
“No,” Cate shook her head, “and he’s dating Alice Devereux. How can I compete with that? Even you think she’s hot.”
“Yes and you’re dating Zeke Elliott, things aren’t always what they seem.”