Never Forget (Memories)

hair, and she wants the dimples? What is the world coming to?''
    I slap his shoulder and giggle. ''You forgot your charming personality.''
    He thumps the sand. ''How could I forget that?''
    ''God knows, your ego is big enough.'' I kiss his cheek.
    ''Oi.'' He frowns at me. ''Just because you're mine doesn't mean you can be mean to me!''
    ''Oh, I'm yours, am I?'' It's my turn to raise an eyebrow.
    ''No doubt about it.'' He kisses me again.
    ''Again with the caveman,'' I mutter.
    ''Your caveman,'' he chuckles.
    Alec brushes my hair away from my face and looks into my eyes.
    He might not have been what I expected when I came to Lilac Bay, or even what I was expecting when I met him, but he's nothing less than I want.
    Opposites. A city girl and a small town boy. Dirty jeans and designer jeans. Surfing and shopping.
    We couldn't be more different, but that doesn't matter anymore.
    He drops down next to me and we lie there together, listening to the waves crash up the beach. The world could be ending and I wouldn't care because I was with him.
    "Oh yay!" I hear Jen shriek.
    "Way to ruin their moment, Jen!" Carl calls after her. I turn my head and see her running down the beach towards us, Carl shaking his head as he walks behind her.
    "Oh, shush you. Just because you're as romantic as a teaspoon!" she hollers back.
    "Hey, I can do romance!" he replies, indignantly.
    "You wouldn't know romance if it hit you between the eyes." She laughs and turns to him.
    "I take offence at that." He stops in front of her and I press my face against Alec's chest as I laugh.
    "Oh yeah? Prove it then," Jen challenges him.
    "Fine." He stalks towards her and grabs her, tipping her back so the tips of her hair graze the sand. She grabs his neck to stop herself falling as he plants a deep, thorough kiss on her mouth.
    "Think they need a room?" Alec laughs into my hair. I nod my head in agreement and smile.
    Carl releases Jen and she stands up, staggering slightly. She looks slightly dazed and I cover my mouth with my hand.
    The two of them are crazy.
    "Romantic enough, baby?" Carl asks smugly, catching her dazed expression.
    "Uh, yeah." She fans herself and blinks dramatically. "Phew."
    She looks over at me and Alec still wrapped in each others arms and grins.
    "About time you two sorted your shit out." She waggles her finger at us and sits down on my towel. Carl sits next to her and she snuggles against him.
    Alec moves to sit back up and pulls me up with him, sitting me between his legs. He wraps his arms around my waist and buries his face in my hair. Subconsciously I turn my head towards his and smile.
    "It's so cute," Jen sighs. "Did you feel that tension before, Carl?"
    "Jen, baby, they're right there. No need to talk like they're not." He rolls his eyes and squeezes her shoulders affectionately.
    "I'm just sayin'," she says sarcastically. "It was tight, like, oh my god someone get me some scissors to cut it, or for god sake just kiss her already, you get what I mean?"
    Alec begins to shake behind me and I know he's laughing. I smile widely at her and Carl sighs dramatically.
    "You have such a way with words," he tells her.
    "Well duh, someone has to be smart with them because goodness knows you're not,'' she jokes.
    "Nice to know I'm loved.'' He raises his eyebrows at me and Jen punches his arm.
    "Shut up."
    "Can't do that baby."
    "Why not?"
    "Because you like what I do with my mouth too much." He winks and grins cheekily. Jen gasps and the laughter explodes out of me. I rest my head on my arms as I laugh like I haven't in a long time.
    Something about Devon has revitalised me in three short weeks. It's reminded me of the girl I used to be, the girl I buried away each September when it was time to go back to London.
    Something about the Bay has stripped away my defences, and I'd bet anything it's Jen and Carl's easygoing, loving banter. Not to mention the guy sat behind me. Alec has always been a dangerous gamble, but despite my thoughts earlier, I know he's something more than everyone else sees. I saw it in his eyes, and I can feel it in the way he's holding me against him tightly, like he's afraid I'll still run.
    Even though I won't.
    I don't know if anything could tear me away from him now.

    ~

    ''It's about bloody time, Alexis Edwards!" Grammy waggles her finger at me the second I step through the door. "Three weeks I've worked my butt off trying to get you to see sense!"
    I smile at her theatrics and release Alec's hand, hugging