* * *
“And that’s why I’m running late. Sorry, guys.” I look around at the open mouths of my friends. Alex dropped me at Maggie’s where I found wine already being poured.
Taking another piece of pizza, I take a huge bite, waiting for them to say something. They shouldn’t ask me why I was late if they didn’t want to know.
“Holy hell! Can you write down exactly what leg workout he does? You know, just for informational purposes,” Maggie says, laughing.
“We might have to open some windows to cool off,” Lily says. “I can see why you want to run off to England with him.” We all grow quiet.
“Shit, we’re going to miss you, Claire,” Dia says, hugging me.
“I know. I’m going to miss you guys too, but life can’t stand still. Look at us, one day we’re eating pizza as freshmen, now we’re all living our adult lives. I mean, Izzy’s married and about to pop out their first kid, Dia’s married and on the fast track up the corporate ladder, Lily’s engaged and you, Maggie, are getting married in less than a week. We’ll always be closer than sisters but it’s exciting to see us moving on.”
I wipe the tears out of my eyes as I look around the room. I’ve managed to make everyone cry. “Oh fuck this shit, guys! We’re here to get the nasty on Maggie’s wedding.” We all toast that, clinking our wine glasses together before listening to what promises to be the whirlwind wedding of the century.
It’s close to midnight when I text Alex to come get me. I’ve told him several times to go home, that I’d just get an Uber, but he insisted on waiting for me. We have a crazy week ahead of us between the wedding and packing up to move. When we finally fall into bed, Alex pulls me against him, curling around me.
“How were yer friends?” he asks with a yawn.
“Good. I managed to make everyone cry,” I say, resting my head on his arm.
“How did ye dae that?”
“They were saying how much they’ll miss me, but I pointed out that life can’t stay still. We all have to keep moving forward. Sometimes that means we have to move away to do it.” He pulls me closer to him, placing a gentle kiss on my forehead.
I push up so I can look at his beautiful face. “You and I together, right? We can conquer anything?” I ask, searching his face. He reaches up, gently running the back of his knuckles up my jaw before cupping my face.
“Anything,” he whispers, pulling me in for a kiss.
The week is just as exhausting as I predicted it would be. Most of our stuff is already packed up, so that gave us a break. But the wedding runs us ragged. Since I was without a job yet, I was the obvious person to run most of the errands. Mrs. Rhett did most of the planning, so it was the least I could do to help out. Alex did his best to help me, mostly by making sure I got fed or fell into bed sometime before midnight.
It was worth every hectic minute though when we got to watch Colin marry the love of his life on Saturday. He has loved Maggie since we first started college, but has never had the nerve to follow through until now. When he whispers to me that they will be honeymooning in Great Britain, I make him promise to stay at least one night in Manchester.
It’s impossible for Alex not to look swoon-worthy in anything he wears, but the dark suit he chose for the wedding is beyond even that. When we finally make it to the dance floor, I can’t stop myself from running my hand up his chest.
“I dinnae think that is where yer hand goes.” He laughs, pulling me in.
“I can’t help it. I guess it’s hereditary.” He laughs again before we work our way around the dance floor. “Do you realize it’s one more day before we leave?” He nods his head. “I’m nervous but also really excited.”
“Me too,” he answers, smiling down at me.
After one last breakfast with my friends, we board the plane heading for our new life. We’re so exhausted that most of the flight we spend asleep.
Alex wakes me not long before we touch down. I get my first glimpse of my new home out the window as the butterflies in my stomach rise to a manic level. I take a deep breath when the wheels hit the runway, trying to at least fake bravery. Alex interlocks his fingers with mine.
“Ready?” I nod my head at him. We have to wait at the carousel for our extra bags before walking outside to find a cab.
I don’t think either one of us is prepared for what greets us as we walk out of the terminal. There are people waiting outside with signs welcoming Alex to Manchester. They break out in raucous cheers when they catch a glimpse of him. There are even news crews taping his arrival.
Gripping my hand tighter, he points to a driver holding a sign up outside of an SUV. He waves to the fans, plastering a grin on his face, but I’m caught like a deer in the headlights.
When we’re settled into the back seat, we can hear the fans thumping on the roof as they wave signs by the windows. I realize I’m practically sitting on top of Alex, so I try to slide over to give him more room. He pulls me back to him, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
“Sorry. We knew there would be a crowd after your arrival was announced, we just didn’t realize there would be that many. We’ve got them outside your hotel too,” our driver tells us looking at Alex in the rearview mirror. I grip his hand tighter.
“The Man City fans are really loyal. You’re really big news right now. They might be there for a while. The sooner you can find permanent housing, the safer you are,” he adds. My eyes cut to Alex in panic. He must sense it because he pulls me into a kiss until everything else fades away. When he pulls back, we’re already at the hotel.
“Ready?” he asks again as we look out at the police holding back fans on both sides of the hotel awning. The doorman is waiting for us when we pull up, quickly opening my door to help me out. Alex keeps hold of my hand as he slides across the SUV, stepping out behind me.
