Never Forget (Memories) (13 page)

''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.''

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.''

He squeezes my shoulders. ''Anything for you, Princess.''

I'm starting to think he's right.

He's gone out of his way to spend the day with me, doing my favourite things with me just to make my birthday special. Now, he's planning a trip to Lundy just so I can snorkel. I have no doubt he'd fly to Africa to get me a fresh mango or a pet monkey if I asked him to.

I have no doubt..

Jen was right. He's doing this to prove to me he's worth a chance, worth the risk. He's doing it to prove to me that I'm not like the other girls in the past. That he wants more than one night.

The thought trickles over me slowly, slowly peeling away the film over my eyes that's been there when I've looked at him before. A layer is stripped from my heart as I look up at him. He glances down at me and I see how happy he is.

Alec's happy because I'm happy.

It’s a surreal feeling, knowing I've made him so happy through my own happiness. He really did do all of this for me, to make my birthday perfect.

I'm not completely ready to trust him fully. I know that. But, I am ready to give him what little I have.

I lean my head against his shoulder as we leave the aquarium, my body curling into his slightly. I let my arm slip around his waist and he pulls me towards him. His lips press against the top of my head in a soft kiss.

Without my stubborn layer hiding it, I'm struck by how right it feels.

ALEC

Her body curls to mine and I press my lips to the top of her head. Her hair still smells of strawberries and I squeeze her hand and smile to myself.

If all it took was a trip to the aquarium to get her to trust me, I should have done this weeks ago.

''Where to now?'' I ask her as we stroll along casually.

''Mmm, I'm pretty sure chips were mentioned this morning.'' Lexy licks her lips and I'm momentarily distracted by the movement of her tongue.

''Hello? Alec?'' Her lips curve in a smile and I blink.

''Sorry, Princess. What did you say?''

''I said, I'm hungry.'' She laughs quietly.

''Well then. We'll feed you.'' I grin and wink at her. She shakes her head and I turn us in the direction of the chip shop. It feels natural, walking with her so close and buying her food like she's actually mine.

She is. Almost.

Her stomach rumbles and she blushes.

''Honestly, you'd think you never ate.'' I roll my eyes and she pokes my side with the hand resting on my waist. ''Oi.'' I lift our hands and poke her head.

''Stop it!'' She squeals and turns, her chest pressing against mine. She looks up at me and her eyes are wide. Not shocked wide or scared wide. Just.. An amazed kind of wide.

''What?'' I smile slightly.

''Nothing. Everything. I don't know,'' she mumbles.

''Lack of food is making you delirious, Princess,'' I whisper and push open the door of the shop.

I order our food and try to ignore the little side glances she gives me as we wait. It's not easy. I can see it in her eyes - it's like she's really seeing me for the first time.

I take our chips from the counter and she grabs the curry sauce and forks.

''I love these little forks.'' She examines one thoughtfully as we make our way down onto the beach.

''How? Why?'' I double-take.

''They're kinda cute, and good for poking people too.'' She pricks me in the arm and giggles.

I glare at her playfully and she gives me a butter wouldn't  melt smile.

''Sit, before I toss you in the sea,'' I order and hand her her food.

''Are you coming in with me?'' She tilts her head to the side. '''Cause if you are, then toss away.''

ALEXIS

Did I just say that? Holy crap, I did.

Why did I say that? Oh god.

Alec stops unwrapping his chips and looks at me like he can't quite believe what I said. I can't either.

''Did someone give you alcohol this morning, Princess?'' He smirks.

''Um, no. Why would they?'' I stab a chip and dip it in curry sauce, bringing it to my mouth.

''Because you're awfully..'' He stops and his gaze flickers to my lips, pausing there as they close around the chip. ''Open.''