Never Forget (Memories #1)(30)
Author: Emma Hart

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 f**k someone over. It’s mesmerising when it’s Lexy doing the f**king 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.