Page 60 of Promise Me Ever After
I shook my head and rinsed my hands under the tap, drying them on the towel hanging on the back of the door. Without another thought, I left the room and bumped slap bang into someone.
“There you are!” Alex held my arms, eyes sparkling. “Lennon said you were up here.”
I stared at him, suddenly unable to form the words I wanted to say. My mouth flapped open and closed, nothing coming out.
“Are you okay?” He traced a line down the side of my face, his thumb dragging over my bottom lip.
Impulsively, I leaned up and kissed him. Soft at first, my need for him grew as his hands ran up and down my back, fingers dipping underneath my jumper and brushing against my bare skin.
“More than okay, Alex Kane.” His touch fuelled my bravery. “Did I ever tell you how amazing you are?”
His jaw fell slack. “You what?” His hands cupped my face, eyes not leaving mine.
“I love—” I ground to a halt.Too soon. Way too soon.“I love spending time with you.”
The genuine, shit-eating grin spreading across his face reassured me. It was all going to be fine.
“I love spending time with you too, Georgie Cavanagh.”
28
Georgie
The weekendbefore Darcy and Fraser’s wedding brought the hen and stag events. Fraser had taken the lads away to a nearby town for a weekend of paint balling, eating, drinking, and who knew what else. For my part, I’d organised everything for Darcy on the Saturday. Hey, I was getting old and could only hack one night out a weekend. Actually, it had been more about the availability of everyone on the invite list.
Darcy and I had spent the morning in Blossom, courtesy of Amber who had organised a selection of treatments including a massage, a manicure and pedicure. Then we got takeaway lunch boxes from The Blue Goose and headed back to my house to watch one of Darcy’s favourite films before we went to the Ealynn Marina Hotel for afternoon tea. Our mum and Fraser’s mum would be joining us before we headed out to Vaughans in the next town for cocktails and whatever else happened.
After the treatments that morning plus the food, I could have done with a disco nap before heading out for the evening, rather than afternoon tea with the mothers. Mentally, I cursed myself for trying to fit too much into one day.
“What are you wearing tonight?” Darcy asked, as we got ready to go to the hotel. “I’ve got everything in my bag.” She pointed to a small suitcase next to the sofa. “It was so nice of Ems to arrange somewhere for us to get changed.”
“Shit, I totally forgot to sort something out.” I leaped up from the sofa and charged up the stairs. We needed to leave soon, and I probably had around five minutes to source the perfect maid-of-honour-hen-night-outfit. Darcy followed me. I didn’t really mind, after all she’d persuaded me to wear absolutely the right thing for my birthday party.
“Don’t forget you don’t need to wear anything that says ‘I need a boyfriend’.” She giggled.
“How about a nun’s habit?” I joked.
“People will think you’re with the stripper.” Darcy’s expression was totally serious.
I blinked. “Um, I didn’t book you a stripper?”
“Which was absolutely the right thing to do.” My sister shuddered. “Ugh, I can’t think of anything worse than being forced to handle some other guy’s dick while a group of baying women watch on.”
“For a moment I thought I’d made a mistake.” I exhaled a breath which turned into a whistle. “But you have to wear the Bride To Be sash. I’ve got matching ones for me and Stella as maids of honour.”
Darcy grinned. “Oh yeah, that’s fine. As long as it goes with my outfit.”
I rolled my eyes. “When have those things every been anything but pink and sparkly? You’d never wear anything that would match.”
“But we’re not here to find me something to wear.” Darcy marched over to the newly constructed wardrobe. “Alex did a good job here, didn’t he?” She surveyed the rest of the bedroom, taking in the vintage bed frame and almost matching furniture. We’d managed to nail shabby chic. I tried to hide a smile. That wasn’t the only thing he’d managed to nail.
“Here.” Darcy pulled out a pair of black leather trousers and a simple floaty black top which had peacock blue patterns shot through with silver thread.
She was good — I’d actually planned to wear it anyway. I grabbed a pair of heeled boots, found a rucksack and shoved everything in, including my make-up. Afternoon tea with the mothers didn’t require winged liner and ruby red lips.
From downstairs, Darcy’s phone rang. “I bet that’s Mum wondering where we are.” She sprinted from the room.
As I walked down the stairs, I could hear her side of the conversation.
