Never Forget (Memories #1)(25)
Author: Emma Hart

I believe in Lexy. I believe in us. And I’ll always fight for it.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

ALEXIS

Thursday dawns. The day of my eighteenth birthday. I wake with a smile and roll over, automatically feeling under my pillow for my phone. The display reads I have a few text messages. I scroll through the ones from my friends in London wishing me a happy birthday, smile at the ones from Carl and Jen, open Alec’s.

Happy birthday, Princess. Xx

The message says it was sent at midnight. He stayed up til midnight just to wish me a happy birthday? Wow. I say as much to him in a reply.

He texts back almost instantly.

Good morning, Sleeping Beauty. And yes, I did stay up until midnight just to wish you happy birthday. I wanted to be the first. Can’t wait to see your face later. Xx

I sigh happily and shake my head into the pillow. I give myself a moment to bask in the warmth of the feeling spreading through my body before climbing out of bed.

My nose twitches. I smell bacon, and eggs, and toast. My stomach rumbles a protest at my dawdling and I make my way downstairs, towards the glorious smell.

”Happy birthday!” Grammy shrieks at me the second I step into the doorway. She wraps me in one of her world-famous hugs, rocking me side to side enthusiastically.

”Uh, thanks, Grammy.” I laugh and hug her back.

”Oh, you’re all grown up.” She sniffs and wipes a mock tear from her eye. I snort slightly at her theatrics.

”Happy birthday, baby.” Mum cups my face and kisses my forehead. Tears are glistening in her eyes and in a spur of the moment, I grab her and hug her tightly. She sighs into my ear and squeezes me.

”Baby girl, you’re all grown up now. Do you know what that means?” Dad tries for stern but his proud smile gives him away.

”Yep.” I grin. ”I can finally do everything you’ve been telling me not to for the last year.” I hug him.

”Like that ever stopped you before.” Bing ruffles my hair and snatches a piece of bacon from the side. Gram slaps his hand.

”Fine.” I poke my tongue out. ”I can do it legally.”

He laughs. ”Happy birthday, sprog.”

”Thanks, Bing.” I smile at him and he winks.

”Sit down, sit down!” Grammy flaps her hands at us. ”Oh fudge, where are my darn oven gloves?”

”On the oven door,” we all say simultaneously.

”Thanks, dears.” She picks them up and brings out a large platter full of food. Hash browns, sausages, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, more bacon. She’s certainly been busy this morning.

I sit at the table and notice the pink balloons floating on the ceiling. Cards and presents sit on the floor slightly to the side and I look at my family gratefully.

We might not be the most functional family in history – but it’s my family. Any ill feelings I had towards my parents about bringing me here for the summer have disappeared. I know why they did it now. They wanted me away from the city for a while, because you find yourself in the most unexpected places.

”Eat up, and Bing, leave some for everyone else!” Grammy frowns at him across the table.

He puts his hands up innocently, chewing on a large piece of whatever-it-was he put in his mouth while I was having my inner monologue.

”But it’s so good,” he mumbles through his food.

”Samuel!” Mum admonishes. ”Do not speak with your mouth full!”

Here come the manners. Even at a birthday breakfast, proper etiquette is demanded at all times.

I have the best Mum, ever.

”Chill, Mum.” Bing winks and swallows his food. ”You always say not to ignore someone when they speak to you, and Gram was speaking to me.”

”In the case of a full mouth, you put a hand up politely for them to give you a moment, swallow your food and then you reply.” Mum starts cutting her food.

”Well, oooookay.” Bing looks at the ceiling. ”If you say so, Mum.”

”Em, can’t you see the boy’s winding you up?” Dad snickers.

Mum levels a glare on Dad and points her fork in his direction. ”Do not encourage him, Simon.”

”Mum?” I ask tentatively.

”Yes, Lexy?” She turns to me, a smile on her face.

I poke her arm. ”Get your elbow off the table. It’s not polite.”

Everyone laughs and she drops her elbow from the table, smiling at me. I grin back and make a start on my breakfast.

”You taught them well, Emmy,” Gram comments, chewing her food.

”Mother!” Mum looks at her horrified.

Grammy swallows her food and raises her eyebrows. ”Hey, sugarpie, I made the rules. I get to break them.”

She winks at me and Bing. Bing leans over and high fives her.

”Damn, Grammy, you’re one of a kind.” He shakes his head.

”Well, of course I am,” she bristles. ”You think there’s another sixty-eight year old woman in this village as beautiful as me? Don’t be daft, Bing.”

”I dunno..” He looks at me, a playful twinkle in his eye. ”I saw that Mabel yesterday, and phwoar, she’s one hot GILF.”

I snort and cover my mouth with my hand. Oh, hell.

”GILF?” Grammy looks at us. ”What is a GILF?”

Mum’s eyes widen and Dad looks on, more interested and amused than he probably should be.

”It’s a Grandma I’d Like To F-”

”That’s enough, thank you, Samuel.” Mum interrupts him. ”I’m sure your grandmother can work out the last word on her own.”

We all fall silent, looking at Gram. Her eyes are narrowed thoughtfully. She turns to Bing.

”Well, dear, you should probably know about her varicose veins before you decide to make like a rabbit with Mabel.”

We all explode in laughter. Only Grammy.

~

”Ready?” Alec appears at my bedroom door, spinning his keys around his finger.

”Please, come on in,” I say sarcastically and roll my eyes.

”Oh, I will.” He grins and looks around. ”Nice room.”

”Thanks.” I smile at him. ”Gram did it before we came down.”

He nods. ”She sent me up. Said I have to take you out this afternoon.”

”Mmm, she said you were coming over.”

”Judging by the Kindle attached to your hands, I’m guessing you’re not impressed by the idea?” He raises his eyebrows.

”It’s not the idea I’m not impressed by, I’m waiting to hear your plan for the day,” I challenge.

”Hmm, okay.” He leans against the door frame, hooking his thumb in a belt loop. ”It’s still early so.. How about we go for ice-cream at Cara’s, then I’ll drive us up to Ilfracombe and we can go around the aquarium then grab chips and curry sauce to eat on the beach. After that we can go into the arcade.”

I look up at him in amazement and put my Kindle down. He’s just described the perfect day, with all of my favourite things. He smiles at me slowly.

”Surprised, Princess?”

”A little,” I admit, tilting my head to the side. ”Why are you doing this?”

”Because.” He steps towards me and takes my hands, pulling me up. ”It’s your birthday. And someone as amazing as you deserves an amazing day filled with all of her favourite things.”