Never Forget (Memories #1)(26)
Author: Emma Hart

I tilt my head up and look at him. He’s still holding my hands.

”How did you know they’re all my favourite things?” I ask quietly, still amazed.

”Because, Princess, I listen to you, even when you think I’m not. I listen to the little things because I know it’s the little things that make you happy, and you definitely deserve to be happy on your birthday.” He winks and his dimples appear. ”So get your stuff together, ’cause we’re going in five minutes.”

He spins me round by my shoulders and I quickly gather my stuff together.

”Alec?” I put a hand on his back and he looks down at me beside me. ”Thank you.”

”The day hasn’t started yet.”

”I know, but thank you for even planning it,” I say honestly. ”It’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me, as cliché as that is.”

”Good.” He takes my hand and links our fingers.

”And I might be a little glad I get to spend it with you,” I whisper.

”Even better,” he whispers back and kisses my knuckles. ”Come on, or your Gram will start getting crazy ideas about what the two of us are doing up here. She’ll send Bing up and I don’t fancy being on the end of his right hook.”

I laugh a little and take my hand from his.

”Hey!” He reaches for me again and I skip out the door.

”Big brothers don’t approve of that, either!” I laugh.

”Big brothers don’t approve of what?” Bing asks, watching us come down the stairs.

”Touching sister stuff.” I giggle and kiss Bing’s cheek. ”Don’t cause any trouble while I’m out.”

”Hey,” he jabs me in the arm. ”You’re the one who’s just turned eighteen. You stay out of trouble. I’m responsible.”

”Okay, Bing.” I wink at him and open the door. ”Bye, Mum, Dad, Gram!”

”Have fun, kids!” Gram claps her hands excitedly and I give her a look. She winks.

Everyone appears to be winking today.

Alec opens the door of his Jeep for me and I get in, putting my bag by my feet.

”Did you say ice-cream, first?” I grin.

”Of course.” He grins back. ”Cara’s. Would I take you anywhere else?”

”Hmm, I dunno.” I lean back in the seat. ”You’re unpredictable.”

”Is that a good thing?”

”I’m not sure,” I say honestly. ”I never know what you’re going to do next.”

He glances at me out of the corner of his eye. ”And you think I know what you’re going to do? You play your cards so close to your chest they’re practically a part of your skin.”

I smirk. ”Best way.”

”So you had no idea I was taking you out today?” Alec raises his eyebrows.

”Nope, all Gram said was that you were coming over.”

He pulls up outside Cara’s and smiles. ”Ice cream, Princess?”

~

Alec pays our fare at the counter in the aquarium and I’m almost bouncing in excitement. This was always my favourite place as a young girl, especially the Lundy Island Exhibit.

”Come on then, birthday girl.” Alec holds the door open for me and I go through it, walking into the Source Exhibition.

The idea behind the aquarium is a journey from the Source in Exmoor to the Atlantic Ocean. The fish in the Source exhibit are all small, brownish fish. I guess that’s so they can blend in.

I don’t know. I’ve never been one for the information cards.

I practically pass right through the River and Estuary exhibits, going straight to the Rockpool one. I see starfish, hermit crabs, prawns and a small anemone called a Beadlet Anemone.

”I’ve caught one of those before.” I point to the hermit crab.

”With Jen?” Alec comes up behind me and looks over my shoulder. I nod.

”That was how we met. She stole my hermit crab and gave me a fish. It was a bit of an unfair exchange, now I think about it.” I tilt my head to the side and accidentally rest it against Alec’s. He puts one hand on my waist before I have a chance to move.

I realise I don’t really want to move. Not much, anyway.

”She definitely got the better end of the deal with that one,” he agrees.

”Bing scared her with a prawn though.” I giggle slightly. ”He thought I was upset. I was just happy to make a friend.”

Alec chuckles. ”How old were you?”

”Tender old age of five.” I shrug. ”She gave the crab back though. She still holds a grudge against Bing because of the prawn thing.”

”Ahh, I see why she’s so sarcastic towards him. Well, more than she usually is.” He amends and I grin, moving along. Alec keeps his hand resting on my waist as we walk into the next section.

”I’ve caught one of those.” He points to the sea bass.

”Are we sharing our catches now?” I laugh.

”Hmm, no.” He rests his chin on my shoulder. ”Because nothing you’ve ever caught could beat what I’ve caught.”

”Wanna bet?” I try to move my head so he can see my disbelieving face.

”Go on, then, tell me what you’ve caught.”

I tap my chin as I think.

”I’ve caught a lobster,” I say and he shakes his head. ”One of those little octopuses?” He shakes his head again. ”I don’t know then.”

I give in.

”They definitely don’t beat my best catch.” He wraps his other arm around my waist.

”Go on, then, enlighten me.” I smile. ”What’s your best catch?”

He nudges my hair away from my ear with his nose.

”I’m holding it right now. I just need to reel her in.”

I smile and shake my head. ”Smooth.”

He raises his head and grins at me. ”That was pretty good, huh?”

I look up at him. ”Better than that crappy Disney princess reference you made before.”

He grimaces. ”Yeah, that wasn’t my best.”

”It was kinda sweet. In a dorky way.” I start walking again and he releases me, resting one arm over my shoulders. I pat his hand and he snatches it, linking our fingers.

The next – and last – exhibit is the Lundy Island one. They have an amazing marine reserve just off the island, and I’ve always loved seeing the fish in the aquarium.

”I’d love to go to Lundy.”

”Haven’t you been?” Alec looks at me like I’m crazy.

”Yeah, to the island,” I explain. ”But I’ve never done the snorkelling. I’ve always wanted to, but Mum said I was too young before. I guess I could do it this summer at some point.”

Alec nods. ”I’ll take you. How are you on boats?”

I wrinkle my nose. ”Not great, but I can manage it.”

”You’re cute when you do that.” He taps my nose and I fake a glare at him. ”We’ll go one day next week. Promise. My friend has a small boat docked at the harbour and he’ll take us over.”

”He won’t mind?” I look at him in shock.

”No, he does the food runs back here to the mainland. He actually lives on Lundy – one of like thirty people that do – and he’s always happy to come back and save us paying the prices they charge for something he’ll do for the cost of a pint or two.”

I smile. ”That’d be amazing.”