Nic and Geoff were sitting on the sofa. She had her wedding planner open and the phone book. So far they had rung round all the caterers in there this afternoon and none of them could cater for the day.
"Well we've both agreed that we want a buffet so we could ask the diner. I know its not perfect Nic but well they might be upset if we go somewhere else." Geoff said.
She looked at him.
"I want Irene and Leah and Colleen to be guests not worry if they have done enough food for everyone." Nicole said. She still felt rough from the previous night, not to mention she really ought to tidy up a little, looking round at the debris from the previous night. How was she going to keep their place tidy if this was the state of a place she was looking after? She thought to herself.
They turned as they heard a knock at the door before it opened to admit Ruby and her bags.
"You knocked?" Nic asked her.
"I didn't want to interrupt you and Geoff or you and Aden." She said with a grin.
"Ha bloody ha Rubes" Nic said.
"What's up?" she asked quickly sensing Nic was feeling a bit stressed.
"We can't find a caterer. But on the plus side we have the cake ordered and Colleen is doing the middle tier." Geoff said trying to cheer her up.
"Yes but I have to design their dresses, find a caterer, sort out a photographer, decide on the waistcoats," Nic began a list, she could feel her voice rising.
"Nic, we are your bridesmaids. Me and Annie will help you." Ruby said looking at Geoff. "And you forgot flowers." she added as an afterthought.
Nic burst into tears.
"Nicole." Geoff said pulling her into his arms and trying to comfort her.
"Sorry." She said after a minute. "I'm ok really." She tried to smile at Geoff but it ended up being a twist of her lips before she burst out sobbing.
Geoff held her for a time while Ruby collected a glass of water from the kitchen and handed that to her.
"Sorry I didn't mean to have a meltdown. I'm fine really. Geoff can you carry Ruby's bag upstairs for me please?" she asked him.
He pressed his lips to her temple before going upstairs.
"Ok Nic spill!" Ruby told her.
"I want Ella." She said. "She'll know what to do." Nic said bursting out crying again.
"Isn't that a bit selfish?" Ruby asked her. "I mean you told me they didn't have a chance to go away after their wedding so this is like a holiday for them to be together." Ruby stroked Nic's hair and put her arms around her.
"That's why I'm crying!" Nic said. "Because I am horrible and selfish and I kissed Aden when I love Geoff!"
Ruby looked over at Geoff who had come down the stairs and saw that he put his finger on his lips to stop Ruby from telling Nic he was there.
"uh huh!" Ruby said.
"How can he trust me after last night?" she asked.
"I think the fact that you told Aden that you wanted to kiss him because you wanted to prove he was your brother. Then you said that you really did love me and no-one would ever know how good I was kinda told me that you are head over heels in love with me." Geoff told her moving round to the other side of her.
She looked up in shock.
"I said that?" she asked.
"'Fraid so Nicster!" Ruby grinned at her. "There was a bit more there as well."
Nic looked at both of them.
"What did I say?" she asked.
"Well you said that it may have been a long time ago but I was actually better in bed!" Geoff said blushing. "Of course you added that a bed wasn't involved so you really couldn't wait until we were married to try it out!"
Nicole groaned.
"And that you couldn't wait to have "Niff" babies!" Ruby added. "Whatever they are."
"It's when you combine the two names of the people who are dating." Nicole said conversationally.
"Hey!" Ruby said, she screwed up her face. "RuXa?" she muttered. "Xavru?" she tried again.
"Does that mean we refer to Belle and Aden as Bead?" she asked them.
Nicole and Geoff laughed.
He looked over at her.
"How about I stay here tonight and we snuggle?" he said softly.
Nic nodded.
Ruby smiled at them.
"If you insist Geoff but I have to say that if you steal all the covers you are so sleeping on your own!" she said.
Nic and Geoff laughed.
"Sorry that is not one of the tasks of the bridesmaids. I hope you can find your bed tonight!" Nic told her and led Geoff upstairs to her room.