Holding On (Memories)

Bing looks at me and rolls his eyes. I figure we picked the wrong seats, here. I should have guessed that after a week of mere daily texts discussing the same university, they'd need time to talk about in person.
    “Haven't you two been discussing university all week?” Si smirks.
    “Yep,” Lexy replies. “But the thing is, Dad, is it's a big thing, and we need to be prepared. Both of us have waited years to get into this uni for different reasons, and I'm not gonna go in there not knowing where I'm going or what I'm doing. This is the start to the rest of my life.”
    Emily beams at her and Si smiles proudly. “Of course, darling, I was merely suggesting you leave the university talk until tomorrow and just enjoy dinner. Do you think you can do that?”
    “Don't discourage her, Simon,” Emily admonishes him playfully. “It makes me proud when she speaks like that.”
    “I'm proud too, Emily, but one night relaxing won't hurt her.” Si winks at me. “Besides, I'm glad she hasn't thrown it all away for love.”
    “That's because you only get one shot at your future dream but you can have several at love,” Jen interrupts. “If love was the most important thing, I'd be at Exeter University right now, not ready to start a new life in London.”
    “And Carl?” Bing tilts his head to the side.
    “What about him?” Jen stabs some pasta with her fork.
    “Doesn't he mind you being so far away?”
    “Why, Samuel.” Jen cocks her head to the side. “If I didn't know better, I'd say you almost sounded like you actually care.”
    Bing snorts. “Not likely, Jennifer. I was being polite.” He smiles at her.
    “Oh, you can be polite?” Jen raises her eyebrows and looks at Emily. “Did aliens abduct your son overnight? Because I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a polite bone in his body. At least, not where it concerns me.”
    “You don't have a polite bone for him either, Jen,” I remind her. “You two go at each other like an old married couple.”
    “He has a point,” Si agrees and nods his head.
    Bing snorts again. “The day the idea of even kissing Jen – let alone marriage – crosses my mind, I'll put a gun to my head.”
    Jen batters her eyelashes and smiles sweetly at him. “If that ever crosses your mind, let me know, and I'll pull the trigger.”
    Lexy puts a hand on my thigh and leans into me. “On second thoughts,” she whispers. “You could be right about those two.”

Chapter Two

JEN

    “At least the décor is in better condition than Alec's.” Lexy leans back against the kitchen counter, wrapping her hands around a mug of tea. “Your wallpaper is actually attached to the walls.”
    I wrinkle my nose. “Yeah, but it's not exactly tasteful. Dad said he'd transfer some money into my account tomorrow for me to go shopping to redecorate so I don't have to dip too much into my loan. It'll take ages for me to paint this whole place, but at least it'll get done.”
    “Ha! Like you'll be doing it alone. Alec will help, and Bing will too.”
    “Your brother will not help redecorate my flat. I'm pretty sure he'd rather have his balls run over by a tank.”
    She shakes her head. “My brother's balls are way too precious to him.”
    “His crown jewels.”
    “He'd like to think they were worth as much.” We both giggle. “Anyway,” she continues. “He'll help, because I'll tell him to. Alec doesn't start work until next week and Bing doesn't even have a job yet, so there's absolutely no excuses. Alec can drive us to B&Q or Homebase-”
    I cough. “Laura Ashley.”
    Lexy smiles, and her eyes are twinkling in excitement. “Okay, then Alec can drive us to Laura Ashley, we'll spend all your Dad's money and come back and supervise them re-papering and painting. We'll do the easy things, like set up new kitchen appliances.” I glance at the bare sides. “And pretty your front room and bedroom. They can do the hard stuff.”
    “I like the way you think, girl, I like the way you think.” I grin.
    “So...” she says hesitantly. “Alec said something about you leaving the Bay on bad terms with Carl?”
    My jaw clenches, and I slam my mug on the side, sloshing tea everywhere. “Don't even mention his name to me. He's being a butt-headed pratface. Seriously, I asked him to come up for the weekend in a couple of weeks once I'd settled in and got this place sorted. I know he doesn't work at the weekend, and I know the farm doesn't pay him much so I even said I'd pay his