The Complete Memories Series (24 page)

Chapter One

ALEXIS

I look around Alec's flat and wrinkle my nose. “It really could do with a paint.”

He laughs. “So you say every time. But it was the best your Dad could get on short notice. And the best I could afford.”

I sniff. “It still needs painting.” I tug at the peeling wallpaper. “At least you've finished unpacking.”

Alec wraps his arms around my waist and turns his face into mine. “I promise you can redecorate. I know you're thinking of a million different ways.”

I look up at him, grinning, and clasp my hands behind his neck. “How did you know?”

His lips curl up into a smirk. “Because, I'd like to think I know you by now.”

“Hmm.” I twirl a bit of his hair around my finger. “Then you'll know that right now I'm really, really, craving something.”

His stormy eyes darken slightly. His fingers flex on my back and he pulls me into him a little closer. “You are?”

“Mhmm.” I pout. “I really miss Cara's strawberry ice cream.”

Alec stares at me blankly, then shakes his head, fighting his smile. “What am I gonna do with you?”

“Get me ice cream?” I ask hopefully.

“I love you, Princess, but I'm not going all the way to Devon just for some bloody ice cream.”

“Fine.” I narrow my eyes playfully and step away from him.

He chuckles and grabs me back. “Besides,” he mutters, lowering his lips to mine. “I'm pretty sure it'd melt by the time I got it back.”

I graze his bottom lip between my teeth slightly. “Mmm. It might do.”

He pulls me closer and traces my top lip with his tongue. I grip his arms and stand on my tiptoes to meet his kiss properly.

“Carry on,” I whisper after a minute of him exploring my mouth with his tongue. “And I'll be melting faster than Frosty the Snowman in Africa.”

“Is that a promise?”

“Maybe later.” I grin again.

He touches his nose to mine. “Okay, but I'm pretty sure you didn't stop by just to bitch about my wallpaper and turn me on.”

I purse my lips to hide my laughter. “There was another reason.”

“Well?”

“Frosty will have to wait,” I say. “Jen's here, and we're all having dinner with my parents.”

Alec sighs. “And it was so peaceful without her here.”

I slap his arm. “Alec!”

“What?” He grins cheekily and releases me, heading for his kitchen. “You know I love Jen like my sister, but it was kinda nice to not have a thousand sarcastic comments in my ear every ten minutes.”

I put a hand on my hip and raise an eyebrow. I clear my throat.

“Apart from your wonderful sarcasm, of course,” he adds.

“Hmph,” I grunt. “You need to get changed.”

“Why do I?”

“Because we're going out for dinner.” I look at my phone screen. “In thirty minutes.”

Alec freezes halfway through getting a glass down from the cupboard. Slowly, he turns his head towards me. “Did you just say 'thirty minutes'?”

I smile sweetly. “Um, yes.”

He sighs and sets the glass down. “Thirty minutes?”

“Yes, Alec, thirty minutes.”

“Hate to break it to you, Princess, but you won't be ready in thirty minutes.”

I cross the living room and grab my bag from the sofa. “Race you.”

He raises his eyebrows and his lips curl. “It's on.”

We both run, him towards his bedroom and me towards the bathroom. I giggle as I slam the door behind me and push the lock into place. I unzip my bag and pull out the bag containing the new black dress Mum and I bought yesterday. Pulling it from the bag, I smile at the low, dipped back.

It's on, indeed.

~

Alec's eyes are hot on my bare back as we enter the restaurant. I nudge his side and he shakes his head.

“I can't believe you got ready in twenty minutes,” he says in a hushed voice. “And still manage to look... Well, like that.”

“Like what?” I ask innocently, turning to the host. “Table under Edwards?”

“This way, madam.” He waves us to follow him.

“Like
that
!” Alec whispers. “All that... Bare back. Not to mention that beautiful thing you have going on. Yeah, I'm totally not getting through this meal alive,” he finishes to himself.

I giggle slightly and catch sight of my parents and brother. Bing is here? Wait – in a suit? I giggle again.

We thank the hostess, and I grin at Bing across the table. He stares at me stony faced.

“What?” he hisses.

“Are you wearing a suit?” I ask, amused.

He tugs at the tie around his neck. “Yes, I'm wearing a bl-” Mum glares at him. “Yes, I'm wearing a suit.”

“Any particular reason?”

“I asked him to,” Mum says, looking at me sternly. “That is why. We are having a civilised meal tonight to welcome Jen to London, which means no swearing.” She glances at Bing again. “No undressing with eyes.” This time she focuses on Alec. “And no crazy-”

“You have no idea how glad I am to see you again, my little ball of summer lovin'!” Jen's voice exclaims behind me.

“Outrageous exclamations of excitement,” Mum finishes wearily.

I laugh and stand, turning to greet Jen. We hug and she ruffles Alec's hair. After greeting my parents in a more... Civilised way, she takes the free seat between Alec and Bing.

“Evening, Samuel,” she says, taking the menu.

“Jennifer,” he says tightly and shifts in his seat.

“No need to move away. I won't bite.” She grins.

He swallows and hides his face behind a menu. Jen looks at me and raises an eyebrow. I shrug. Alec hides behind his own menu. His shoulders are shaking and I kick him under the table, but he just shakes his head.

I look at Mum, who rolls her eyes, and Dad is trying to hide a smile. This has to be the most dysfunctional table in the restaurant. We place our orders, and Mum takes control of the conversation.

“So, Jen, how was your journey here?”

Jen sighs. “It was okay, if you ignore Mr. Let’s Make Babies eyeing me on the train, and of course then there was the Barbie Bitch on the tube who thought I was making eyes at
her
man. I told her not to worry, her boyfriend looked too much like my best friend's brother for me to even consider him being partially good looking.”

I choke on my wine and Alec pats my back. Bing glares at me across the table before turning his attention towards Jen.

“And what did she say?” he asks.

“She asked what your name was and I told her.”

“And what did she say then?”

“She laughed and said I was a very smart girl.”

I drop my head and purse my lips, trying my hardest to keep my laughter inside.

“Something funny, Lexy?” Dad questions in an innocent voice.

I swallow the bubble of laughter in my throat and look up. “Nope, nothing, Dad. Nothing at all.”

Alec nudges my foot under the table with his when Dad winks and distracts Mum.

“What?” I whisper.

“Do you think Bing fancies Jen?” he says in the same, hushed tone I used.

I glance over at them. Jen is grinning and Bing looks annoyed. “Maybe.” I shrug a shoulder. “But Bing fancies an awful lot of girls, so I'm not sure how it's a big deal.”

Alec's eyes flick towards them. “I think he fancies her a bit more than he usually does.”

I half-frown, half-smirk. “Really? That's crazy. We're not in Lilac Bay anymore, Alec.” My heart pangs a little as Grammy's face flashes in my mind. “Bing's home now... It's different in London. He was calmer in Devon because of Grammy, but now we're back...”

“It'll be someone new every weekend,” Alec states.

“Pretty much.” I sigh. “Jen has Carl, anyway, so it's never gonna happen.”

Alec coughs and rubs his neck uncomfortably.

“What?” I whisper harshly. He opens his mouth then closes it again. “What?”

He sighs and leans his head into me until his lips are right by my ear. “I spoke to Carl earlier, before you came over. When Jen left, they weren't on good terms.”

“Why not?”

“He's, uh... He's refusing to come to London to see her until at least half term.”

“But she'll be going home at half-term, won't she?”

“Exactly.”

ALEC

Lexy opens her mouth and closes it again. “He won't come to London?”

Our plates are put in front of us. “It's unlikely,” I reply.

“But why not? Won't he miss her? They were inseparable this summer.”

“I know that, Princess, but Carl's too much of a country boy. He's... He's not like Jen. Jen wants to spread her wings and find out who she really is, and she can't do that in the Bay. Carl would be happy if he never had to leave the Bay.”

Lexy's silent as she takes in what I've said. She begins eating and I take it as conversation over.

I'm wrong.

“And what did you say to Carl?” she whispers tightly.

“I told him he was a prick and Jen would go and see him if it was the other way around.”

She nods, satisfied with my answer. “Good.”

She turns back to her food before Jen strikes up a conversation with her about the university they'll both be starting next week. Jen doing Fine Art and Lexy studying Fashion Design. Bing looks at me and rolls his eyes. I figure we picked the wrong seats, here. I should have guessed that after a week of mere daily texts discussing the same university, they'd need time to talk about in person.

“Haven't you two been discussing university all week?” Si smirks.

“Yep,” Lexy replies. “But the thing is, Dad, is it's a big thing, and we need to be prepared. Both of us have waited years to get into this uni for different reasons, and I'm not gonna go in there not knowing where I'm going or what I'm doing. This is the start to the rest of my life.”

Emily beams at her and Si smiles proudly. “Of course, darling, I was merely suggesting you leave the university talk until tomorrow and just enjoy dinner. Do you think you can do that?”

“Don't discourage her, Simon,” Emily admonishes him playfully. “It makes me proud when she speaks like that.”

“I'm proud too, Emily, but one night relaxing won't hurt her.” Si winks at me. “Besides, I'm glad she hasn't thrown it all away for love.”

“That's because you only get one shot at your future dream but you can have several at love,” Jen interrupts. “If love was the most important thing, I'd be at Exeter University right now, not ready to start a new life in London.”

“And Carl?” Bing tilts his head to the side.

“What about him?” Jen stabs some pasta with her fork.

“Doesn't he mind you being so far away?”

“Why, Samuel.” Jen cocks her head to the side. “If I didn't know better, I'd say you almost sounded like you actually care.”

Bing snorts. “Not likely, Jennifer. I was being polite.” He smiles at her.

“Oh, you can be polite?” Jen raises her eyebrows and looks at Emily. “Did aliens abduct your son overnight? Because I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a polite bone in his body. At least, not where it concerns me.”

“You don't have a polite bone for him either, Jen,” I remind her. “You two go at each other like an old married couple.”

“He has a point,” Si agrees and nods his head.

Bing snorts again. “The day the idea of even kissing Jen – let alone marriage – crosses my mind, I'll put a gun to my head.”

Jen batters her eyelashes and smiles sweetly at him. “If that ever crosses your mind, let me know, and I'll pull the trigger.”

Lexy puts a hand on my thigh and leans into me. “On second thoughts,” she whispers. “You could be right about those two.”

Chapter Two

JEN

“At least the décor is in better condition than Alec's.” Lexy leans back against the kitchen counter, wrapping her hands around a mug of tea. “Your wallpaper is actually attached to the walls.”

I wrinkle my nose. “Yeah, but it's not exactly tasteful. Dad said he'd transfer some money into my account tomorrow for me to go shopping to redecorate so I don't have to dip too much into my loan. It'll take ages for me to paint this whole place, but at least it'll get done.”

“Ha! Like you'll be doing it alone. Alec will help, and Bing will too.”

“Your brother will not help redecorate my flat. I'm pretty sure he'd rather have his balls run over by a tank.”

She shakes her head. “My brother's balls are way too precious to him.”

“His crown jewels.”

“He'd like to think they were worth as much.” We both giggle. “Anyway,” she continues. “He'll help, because I'll tell him to. Alec doesn't start work until next week and Bing doesn't even have a job yet, so there's absolutely no excuses. Alec can drive us to B&Q or Homebase-”