Never Forget (Memories)

begins.
    ''No, no, I can see it in her eyes. Her cheeks are flushed, her eyes are sparkling and she's trying to keep the smile off her face, I'll give her that, but she ain't tryin' hard enough. That's the signs of young love, that is. Why, Em, I remember the same look on your face the night you realised you were in love with Si.''
    ''Gram,'' I groan.
    What about this time?
    ''I'm just sayin', Lexy girl. You could do worse than Alec Johnson.''
    Oh, about how you're my boy and we're in love, apparently. She needs a bucket of cold water over her head.
    You could do worse ;)
    ''She is right, you know, Lexy,'' Mum agrees. ''He's good looking, polite, and rather charming if I might say so.''
    Oh, Mum, you have no idea.
    Funny, that's what she said.
    So we're in love, huh?
    According to my Grandmother, yes. It's news to me. Sort of. Maybe.
    In that case, I'll see you at half nine.
    He signs off before I can dispute it. I sigh.
    ''Lover boy has signed off,'' Gram announces.
    ''Do you have a tap on my Facebook account or something?'' I ask her sarcastically.
    ''Why would I need that? Your emotions are as easy to read as Fifty Shades of Grey was.''
    ''Oh, Gram. No!'' I shake my head. ''You're in your sixties! Why would you read that?''
    ''For the love story,'' she says. ''But that's not the point, girl. That boy's getting to you something chronic, believe me. You might not realise it yet, but he is.''
    ''Okay, can we change the subject?'' I look at Mum. ''She's getting carried away again.''
    ''Deny it all you like, Lexy girl,'' Gram continues.
    ''Gram! Please!''
    ''So he's coming over, then?'' Mum smiles at me.
    I hold my hands out in defeat. ''He's coming over at half nine. He likes TOWIE. Who knew, huh?''
    ''It's not all he likes,'' Gram snickers and gets up. I throw the nearest object at her – a magazine – and she laughs harder. ''I fancy that Alec wants more than a bit of you, Lexy.''
    ''Uh, okay, mother.'' Mum takes her by the shoulders and directs her to the door. ''Cold shower for you.''
    Gram winks at me and shuffles out of the room.
    ''I'll make sure your father is out of the way tonight.'' Mum smiles and follows Gram out.
    Was I born into Cupid's family or something? Because I think someone forgot to give me that memo.
    Sheesh.

CHAPTER NINE

    ALEXIS

    Alec rings the bell at half nine. I let him in kitted out in my Snoopy pyjamas and fluffy slippers.
    ''Nice pyjamas,'' he chuckles.
    I give him a playful shove into the front room and flick on the TV.
    ''There's still half an hour until TOWIE,'' I say.
    ''I know. I want half an hour of your attention before you start drooling over Joey Essex or Ricky.''
    I roll my eyes. ''I don't drool.''
    ''Huh.'' He scratches his chin and I sit down next to him. ''You could of fooled me. You looked like you were drooling the first time you saw these babies.'' He pats his stomach and a small laugh bubbles out of me.
    ''I think you need to go to Specsavers.''
    ''Really? So you weren't drooling?'' He raises his eyebrows.
    I shake my head firmly. ''Nope, no drooling.''
    ''Then it's you that needs to go to Specsavers.'' He grins.
    I bring my legs up and kick him playfully. He grabs them, setting them on his lap. He examines my slippers.
    ''Bunny slippers?''
    ''Hey, they're comfy, don't judge.'' I glare at him and he holds his hands up.
    ''No judging, Princess. They're cute, a bit like you.''
    ''Cute? Alec, I don't think I've ever been called cute in my whole life.''
    ''Bet no one called you Princess till you met me either, did they?''
    ''No...''
    ''Then I'm the first.'' He winks.
    The first for more than you know, it appears.
    He gives me a look like he knows what I'm thinking and turns his attention to the TV.
    ''So..'' I say in an attempt to break the silence.
    ''So your Gram is pretty set on the idea of me and you.''
    His comment takes me by surprise.
    ''Yeah, seems that way.''
    ''She ain't the only one,'' I think he mutters, but I can't be sure.
    I think it's best to drop that subject before we reach uncharted territory. I'm so not ready for that conversation when I'm not even sure how I feel.
    Sure, he makes my body go crazy, my heart goes into overdrive whenever he's around but I need more. I need to know with every part of me that what I feel is more than attraction.
    But, if he keeps rubbing my leg that way, the attraction might just take over and jump on him.
    The opening credits for TOWIE come on and pull me from my thoughts. Good.
    I don't like the direction they're