They’ll definitely be on ‘Cora’s Mixtape’. It’s going to take a bit more time to get to know her for a full list of tracks. And I want to get to know her. Depending on tape length, I can get a good hour and a half listening time on one cassette.
Before he leaves, I discretely talk to the wedding photographer and get him to show me the photograph Cora said he took of her and Emma. I wasn’t convinced until he showed it to me and said it was the only one he caught of them before they split apart.
I handed over my email address and asked him to sendit to me, without letting on to the bride and groom. Sometimes it helps to be who I am. I won’t tell Cora he is sending it to me and not her. It’s another excuse to see her again.
There is no way I’m going to get her out of my head. I’ve never been so enraptured by a woman before. She’s a complete contradiction from one second to the next. Not in a split personality kind of way either.
Diego walks past, drawing me out of my thoughts. I jump up and catch up to him in the hall where he is talking with one of the drivers assigned to take guests home if they’ve had too much to drink.
Only a few people are staying in the house itself. Me included. There is a wedding breakfast I have to attend in the morning.
“Hey, you’re leaving?”
Diego yawns as he turns to face me, making me laugh. Then again, not everyone is used to my sleep schedule, which is minimal. I’m used to going to bed as the sun is rising.
“I need to ask you something.”
“If it’s about Cora, then I’m not sure you guys are compatible, but she’s a good person. Her and Emma are close. And I’d rather you didn’t disrupt that.”
I’m also used to people thinking shit like that about me. It’s water off a duck’s back. I’ll not be deterred. But that isn’t what I wanted to ask him about. As diplomatically as possible, I tell him what I overheard and the background of me calling the bride Franny.
“Yeah, that didn’t go down too well. You had them right till the end with that speech.”
“Bullshit. The only person who was annoyed was Franny herself,” I snicker. “Back to my question.”
“I don’t know. But based on that conversation, I’d say it’s all about Cora.”
“She’s a troublemaker then?”
He thinks for a minute. “She speaks her mind,” he settles on. “She’s Em’s sister and they’re close.”
“You don’t want to say anything bad?”
“Not at all. I get on with her fine. If there is an issue with her and Francesca, I don’t know what it is. Want me to ask Em?”
“No.” I shake my head distractedly. I’ll find out myself. I slap my cousin’s shoulder in thanks, say goodbye, and head to the stairs.
I’m not going back to the party now. I need to do some research.
The wedding breakfast is about as fun as I imagined it would be. Especially after I got a lecture from Mom about calling Francesca ‘Franny’. I played innocent and got away with it, swearing I won’t do it again, and telling Mom I’ll apologize.
They’re heading off on their honeymoon straight after this and despite the minor hiccup, Franny, I mean Francesca, is smiling as she and my brother get into the car. My bags are already packed, and Stefan is waiting for me when I finish saying my goodbyes to family and friends. I’ve no idea when I’ll see them all again.
This was a pleasant reprieve from the shit storm brewing in the band. It can’t be put off forever. I call Perry while Stefan makes the half hour drive back home.
Perry is the closest friend I have. We’ve known each other for years, being the first two to come on board with Velvet Echo. He plays bass and is our main songwriter.
“How was the wedding?” he asks.
“Interesting.”
“That doesn’t sound good. What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“Whodid you do?”
“No one, fuck, man, what do you take me for? It was my brother’s wedding.”
