Bridesmaids Read Online Free PDF

to ‘out’ her.
    When our first course arrives, Jack turns and asks if I could pass the pepper. But as I reach over for it, Valentina interrupts.
    ‘Don’t worry, Evie, I’ve got one here,’ she says, touching Jack’s arm as she hands it to him. ‘You know,’ she says, lowering her voice and closing in on him, ‘I’ve read somewhere that pepper is supposed to be an aphrodisiac.’
    I don’t know why, but I suddenly feel a bit ill.

Chapter 13
    ‘Tell me, Pete,’ says Valentina to Georgia’s fiancé. ‘Are you interested in tennis at all?’
    ‘I’m what you’d call an armchair fan,’ Pete responds, flashing a grin at his future wife. Georgia splutters into her drink.
    ‘What he means is that the last time he played he was so unfit he nearly ended up in Casualty,’ she says.
    ‘Thanks for your support, love, it’s touching,’ he jokes. ‘You’ll be telling people I’m a crap shag next.’
    ‘I’d be delighted to give you a lesson,’ says Valentina, handing over one of her trademark red business cards. ‘I’ve done some fabulous work on Jack’s forehand, as I’m sure he’ll tell you. Not that Jack’s forehand wasn’t above averagely skilled in the first place,’ she adds, flashing a suggestive smile.
    We’re onto the dessert course when it registers that Jack and I have barely exchanged a single word since we sat down. No tragedy as far as I’m concerned–obviously–although I am starting to question Valentina’s sanity these days.
    He has turned to me on several occasions, only to be hauled back as if she’s got him on a set of reins. So far, she’s asked him to check whether her lipstick is smudged no lessthan four times, and I suspect she’d prefer to fake her own sudden death rather than let him enter into conversation with anyone other than herself.
    The sole exception to that is Pete, with whom Jack has been allowed to share a brief discussion about their passion for rugby. It ended abruptly, however, when Pete suggested he join him in an executive box next weekend. The invitation was for a single spare place only.
    The only significant drawback to all this for me is that I am stuck with Uncle Giles to my right. I should stress that I have nothing at all against Uncle Giles, who is, to all intents and purposes, a lovely man. But if I hear another word about his collection of nineteenth-century shotguns I may have to ask if I can borrow one to put myself out of my misery.
    ‘Shotguns have been my thing since I was a teenager, you see,’ he tells me.
    ‘You’d get an ASBO for that these days,’ I joke, but he just frowns and moves on to the enduring qualities of British craftsmanship.
    I take the opportunity of this interlude to have a peek at what Charlotte is up to on table 14, and am pleased to see that she and Jim are deep in conversation. At least, Jim is. Charlotte is shredding her napkin nervously and is now surrounded by so many bits it looks as if she’s just come in from a blizzard. Still, it’s a start. And I must say, he looks promisingly interested.

Chapter 14
    Grace’s dad looks so relieved to sit down after his speech you’d think he’d just addressed Wembley Stadium. It was the shortest, quietest speech in the history of wedding speeches, but we all laughed at his one joke anyway and clapped furiously at the end.
    Next up is Patrick, who is used to public speaking and looks significantly more comfortable than his new father-in-law did. He straightens his jacket–the tails he desperately didn’t want to wear today–and runs a hand through his thick blond hair. Grace looks up at him proudly.
    ‘May I say on behalf of both myself and… my wife ,’ he begins, grinning at Grace’s new title, ‘how delighted we are that so many of you have made it here today. Grace and I have been together for the last seven years, and I can honestly say that every day I think to myself how lucky she is to have met me…’
    The room collapses into laughter at what