‘Yeah. He kind of is,’ I admit.
‘Told you,’ she says.
Well, when he’s not infuriating me, that is.
‘And I’m not pretending I have psychic powers or anything,’ she adds. ‘But there’s a reason we’re not seeing each other much this trip, I’m leaving you two alone for a reason, so you can spend time together, enjoy that first flush of romance. It’s just so obvious you’ve been into each other since day one.’
She really does seem pleased with herself and it’s so cute.
‘Oh, you don’t have to do that,’ I insist. ‘We love you guys, we want to spend time with you.’
‘We’ve got plenty of time to all hang out together later. I’m just so happy. Because it’s you and it’s Brody – my childhood best friend and Neil’s childhood best friend. With Todd it just wasn’t the same, none of it was. I know, I never really said anything before, and I never would have if you’d stayed together, but with Todd… I don’t know. You just always seemed like you were trying so hard. Like you were convincing yourself that it was okay to settle.’
‘Really?’ I reply.
‘Oh my God, yes,’ she says, relieved to have finally got it off her chest. ‘There were nights where I would lie awake, worrying. Wondering if you were settling. And I hated the idea of you doing that because you deserve to be with someone exciting, someone who adores you – someone like Brody.’
Okay, so Brody and I may not be an actual couple, but the rest of it is eye-opening. I had no idea she felt that way and suddenly I feel like I’ve had a really lucky escape.
‘Hey, don’t be upset,’ she says, clocking the look on my face. ‘I don’t worry any more. Not since you’ve been with Brody. He’s such a sweetie. I know the press give him a hard time, and say all of this bad stuff about him but, honestly, I think they’re just trying to make cricket exciting. But you know the real him, you know he’s not like that. Yeah, he’s had some trouble settling down but that’s just because he hasn’t found the right girl. But look at him with you, he’s so different. I’m just so happy you’ve both found what you were looking for, and that it’s each other, and that I maybe get to take some credit… maybe.’
She laughs.
I don’t know whether to smile or cry, because I want to believe it. I want to take every word she just said and run with it. But why would I delude myself like that, telling myself it’s real when I know for a fact that it’s fake because we planned it that way? This was only ever an act, I need to keep reminding myself that. And maybe I’ll come clean to Kelsey, once her wedding is over, or maybe we will just have our fake break-up. I’ll have a think and see which one will make her the least sad.
My bloody brain won’t shut up now, it’s running away from me. I need to rein it in.
But are we kind of perfect for each other though? Do we complement each other? Kelsey seems to think so but Brodydoesn’t even fancy me, does he? No, surely not. I think he’s just doing a really good job of pretending, for the act, for me… And he doesn’t have to do this, does he? He seems pretty okay about stuff, happy to move on, and yet he’s still faking it with me. Is he faking it? Am I? I’m not even sure what’s real or pretend any more.
So much of what Kelsey’s saying is built on gut feelings and the things she’s noticed, and most of those things have been carefully staged by me to tell the story I wanted people to believe so… can she even be right about this? I have no clue.
Well, we’re here, so all of that needs to go back in the box for now.
I don’t know what I was expecting from the kids’ area but… not this. Nothing this cool. It’s like I said before, I don’t know how they’re fitting whole places in this one ship. If this was in a city, it would be in a big building of its own.
The moment we step through the doors, Dua Lipa’s voice blasts through the speakers, thudding along with the beat as multicoloured disco lights flash and dance across every available surface. The pool water glows under the lights, causing rainbow-ripple patterns on the walls which only adds to the vibe.
There’s a huge soft play space in the corner, with monkey bars and slides and a ball pool. The place really has been transformed into a nightclub – oh, and now waitstaff are carrying in trays of cocktails that wouldn’t look out of place at a beach bar in Ibiza. Now the party can get started.
Kelsey runs over to Brody and kisses him on the cheek.
‘This is amazing,’ she tells him.
‘Best wedding present ever,’ Neil adds. ‘Other than getting to marry the love of my life, of course.’
We all watch as Al peels off his shirt (because of course he does, he’s Al) before running towards the dance floor and slidingacross it on his knees – so the same energy as a six-year-old at a wedding then.
Then he jumps to his feet and starts grooving to the music like someone’s drunk relative at a wedding who’s had just the right (or just the wrong) number of shots.
The man moves well for a big fella. I never expected it.
Kira rushes out to join him, declaring the dance floor officially open.
Brody, of course, is next. He takes Kelsey by both hands and pulls her toward the makeshift dance floor, twirling her around before the two of them dance together.
Neil turns to me and smiles.
‘Come on, Jessa. I guess you’re stuck with me,’ he says.
