Never Forget (Memories) (15 page)

~

I hug my arms around my waist tightly, looking out at the crowd gathered. As always, it's busy with both the local teens and their friends. It's definitely a weekly thing here.

Warm, strong arms wrap around my shoulders from behind. I tense.

''Relax, Princess,'' Alec says softly. ''It's just me.''

I relax back into him and he drops his arms to my waist, holding my back tightly to his front.

''You don't have to babysit me,'' I say to him.

''I'm not,'' he replies. ''I'm protecting you.''

''I shouldn't need protecting.'' I scuff the sand with my foot and hang my head.

''Even if you didn't, I'd still do it anyway.'' I feel him shrug.

''You don't..''

''I do it because I want to, okay, Princess?'' He interrupts me. ''No other reason than that.''

I can't argue with that logic.

''Okay,'' I agree. He tightens his arms around me and rests his chin on my shoulder, like he did yesterday at the aquarium.

Someone has a sound system set up - and I'd bet it's in someone's car. Lifehouse is playing - a remixed version, of course - and it's one of my favourite songs, Falling In.

I bite the corner of my lip. I can feel Alec's heart thumping against my back through his top. I move my arms and rest them over his, practically holding them to me. He tilts his face towards me and my head turns involuntarily to him. I can feel his breath fanning over my cheek, across my neck. I close my eyes, content with the feeling of safety swirling around me.

I feel myself trust him a little more. He really has no intentions of letting me go.

''Making your claim, Alec?'' One guy near us yells over.

''You bet I am, JJ.'' Alec replies, lifting his head and looking over him.

''Sweet!'' JJ calls back. ''Let us know if she's any good, yeah?'' He laughs.

Alec tenses. I turn my head and glare at JJ.

''You wanna watch what you're saying, JJ,'' Alec grinds out between clenched teeth.

''Feeling territorial?'' He laughs.

''I'm not a fucking dog, asshole,'' I snap. ''But if you wanna see a human bitch, then keep opening your pathetic little mouth.''

''Oooh.'' JJ waggles his eyebrows. ''She's got a bark.''

I'm fed up of guys thinking they can get their way at these parties.

I spin around and Alec loses his grip. I march up to JJ. He's taller than me but I tilt my head back and glare into his eyes.

''I've got a bark, well done. But it's nothing compared to my bite, so give it a rest before I neuter you, you prick.''

Alec bursts out laughing behind me. ''Think the lady wins that one, JJ.''

JJ's eyes narrow and he looks between us. ''If she's stupid enough to go with you, Alec, then she must be London's bike.''

Alec makes a move behind me and I stand in front of him. His fists are clenched and I put my hands flat against his chest.

''Alec,'' I warn quietly.

''I'm not gonna let him talk about you like that,'' he manages.

''It doesn't matter, it doesn't bother me.'' I insist. ''Alec.''

He takes a deep breath and I put a hand against his cheek, pulling his face down so he's looking at me. He exhales and opens his eyes.

''He's not worth it,'' I say softly.

I can see in his eyes how much he hates hearing it when people disrespect me.

''I'm okay,'' he mutters. ''I'm okay.''

''Sure?''

He nods and pulls me tight against him. I rest my cheek against his chest. 

''Good shout, Alec.'' Bing slaps his shoulder and walks past.

''Bing,'' I say, a warning in my voice.

''I'm not gonna go near the guy.'' He holds his hands out. ''You two sorted him out just fine.''

I nod at him and he winks.

''But that doesn't mean he shouldn't keep his snarky little comments to himself. Just cause the little boy isn't any getting.'' Bing smirks.

JJ glares at my brother. I join him. Bing really needs to learn to control himself sometimes.

''Bing, shut it.'' I order him.

''Baby sis is giving me orders, oooh.'' He taunts me.

I stare at him, stone faced. Jen tiptoes along the sand behind him and my lips twitch as I struggle to hold my straight face.

Smack. Her hand makes contact with the back of his head and she skips over to us, hiding behind Alec.

''What the..'' Bing looks around. Jen giggles from behind us.

''Jennifer,'' he growls.

''Yes, Samuel?'' She pokes her head around innocently, batting her eyelashes.

''Aw you know I'm a sucker for a pretty girl batting her lashes at me,'' Bing softens but I can see the glint in his eye.

''Don't fall for it,'' I hiss out the corner of my mouth.

''Well you know me, Sam, I'm a sucker for a good looking guy when he growls my name that way.'' She twirls her hair round her finger.

Alec shakes his head, his body relaxed once again.

''Chattin' up my girl, Bing?'' Carl laughs.

''Not in a million years mate.'' Bing laughs too. He looks at Jen and raises his eyebrows. ''I'll get you for that slap, girl.''

''I'm sure you will.'' She smiles sweetly. I close my eyes and sigh. Would their rivalry ever disappear?

Probably not.

''Shall we give the drinking game a miss tonight, Princess?'' Alec says softly into my ear. I nod and lay my head back against him.

I can't help but feel something for him, and now if I'm wondering if I've been deceiving myself from the get go.

I'm beginning to wonder if I've wanted him since the second I laid eyes on him.

ALEC

There's something incredibly attractive about watching a girl completely fuck someone over. It's mesmerising when it's Lexy doing the fucking over.

The lips that just put JJ in his place touched mine. I hide my smug grin in my hair. It's one of the things I love about her - she's not afraid to stand up for herself. She's not a clingy, whiny girl. She has more attitude in her big toe than the teens in this place have put together.. And no one knows how to react to it.

I do. I know that I want to feel her lips against mine again and hold her even closer than I already am.

My heart is thudding in my chest, right under her cheek, and I know she can feel it. I stroke my hands down her back.

''Your heart is going crazy,'' she whispers like she can read my mind.

My lips curl up on one side. ''It's because I'm holding you. You make my heart beat like no other.''

Her grip tightens slightly on my waist and I stand there, just holding her.

Because I can.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

ALEXIS

''Where are my-?''

''On the side, Grammy,'' I smirk. She picks up her glasses and winks.

''You're like Sherlock Holmes, Lexy girl, just prettier.''

''And female.''

''And that.'' She bustles around looking for yet another thing. ''Is Alec picking you up?''

''Mmm,'' I answer, a small smile on my face.

Grammy catches it with her beady little eyes. ''Oh, yes?''

A blush colours my cheeks and I look away.

''Hmmm?'' Grammy probes.

''Shush.'' I bat her away and slip on my black heels to match my black and nude dress.

''Love is in the air.. doo doo doo doo doo doo..''

''Oh, shush!'' I repeat and narrow my eyes at her.

She smiles knowingly and wiggles her eyebrows at me once. I shake my head when the doorbell rings.

Chaos begins.

''Where's my tie?''

''Mum, have you seen my shoes?''

''On the back of the chair. No, Sam, I haven't. Lexy, have you seen my mascara?''

''It's on the bathroom sink.''

''Emmy, are you sure my tie is there?''

''Oh, Si, we don't have time for this.''

I take a deep breath and open the door.

Taking a deep breath was the wrong move.

I'm rendered speechless and breathless by Alec in a suit. The sharp, black suit is tailored to fit him perfectly and the baby blue shirt brings the colour of his eyes out so much they almost pop.

I blink. Swallow. Blink some more.

His lips curl up in a small smile. ''Anyone there?''

I swallow again and look up. ''Hi.''

''Hey, Princess.'' He wipes some hair from my eye. ''You look beautiful.''

I rake my eyes over him again. Yeah. That suit is something else.

''You don't look so bad yourself.'' I smile.

''Ready to go?'' He holds his elbow out and I nod, tucking my clutch bag under my arm.

''See you guys in a bit!'' I yell into the house.

Grammy winks as she walks past and I roll my eyes, slipping my hand into the crook of Alec's arm. We walk down the path and he opens the car door for me. He helps me in and stops just before he shuts the door.

I smooth my hair, which is curled and swept to one side.

''What?'' I ask. He's looking at me almost tenderly.

''You really do look beautiful,'' he says so softly I can barely hear him. I smile, warmth spreading through my body.

''Thank you.'' I slowly close my eyes and open them again. Alec shuts the door and climbs in the other side. He glances at me again, shoots me a smile, and starts the engine.

It's gonna be a long day.

~

The venue is amazing. The manor house is decked out in shades of white and the lightest shade of lilac I've ever seen. Bouquets of roses and baby's breath adorn the sides of the reception room. The tables are round, covered with white cloth. The chairs have lilac organza bows around the back of them. But that's not what's amazing.

My jaw drops as I take in the centrepieces. In a splash of colour, large violet, glass vases sit on each table. The biggest roses I've ever seen come out from each one and they all sparkle like they've been coated with a discreet layer of glitter. They're so simple, so understated, but so elegant.

A DJ station is set up in the far corner, along with space for a dance floor. We all take our seats, Alec pulling the chair out for me. Jen rolls her eyes at me as she passes, moving to sit at a table closer to the front.

She looks beautiful, too. Her lilac dress is knee length, strapless, and has a lilac bow just under her bust. Her blonde hair is hanging across her shoulders in delicate waves, and despite her eye roll, I can tell she's delighted for her sister, Hannah.

Hannah and her new husband, Lloyd, enter the room and we all clap. They do make a truly stunning couple. Hannah is an older version of Jen, almost identical in looks. The only thing setting them apart is the bright pink in Jen's hair - which she's dyed out.

Lloyd is taller than Hannah by almost a head, and is dark in contrast. Dark hair, olive skin, and green-brown eyes. It sounds strange, but it makes for a striking contrast.

The meal is served and, as expected, the meal is out of this world good. Me and Alec make some small talk with the other guests around the table, but mostly talk between ourselves. 

''You two make a very cute couple.'' A lady in her forties smiles at us across the table.

I open my mouth to correct her but Alec beats me to it.

''Thank you, ma'am.'' He beams and takes my hand in his. I look at him and discreetly raise an eyebrow. He winks and shrugs one shoulder.

''Sorry,'' he whispers in my ear. ''I didn't want to ruin her little dream.''

I laugh under my breath and the same woman shoots a big smile at us. I smile back and shrug as if to say 'what can I do?'

When all the dessert dishes are cleared away, the DJ welcomes us to the evening event and calls for the first dance. A smile graces my lips as I watch Hannah and Lloyd take the floor. They look into each other's eyes as if they're the only people in the room, and you can almost feel the love flowing from them.

As I watch, I wonder if I'll ever feel that way about anyone. To love someone enough to commit your whole life to them is something else altogether. I think about my parents. They've been happily married for twenty-five years, and together even longer. That's the kind of love I want one day. It's the kind everyone wants.

Alec looks back at me like he knows what I'm thinking and smiles. I smile back.

The music changes and people start to gravitate towards the floor. Alec offers me his hand.

''May I have this dance?''

It's Westlife. How can I possibly say no?

''You may.'' I smile and put my hand in his. He leads me to the dance floor where I catch sight of Jen and Carl. Carl winks at me and nods toward Alec, Jen grins. I roll my eyes at them and turn towards Alec. He pulls me against him, spreading his hands across the small of my back. I wrap my arms around his neck and realise what the song is.