Never Forget (Memories)

eyes are wide and Jen gives us a look that says she gets it.
    I cough slightly and pat my chest. ''Dear god, Jen,'' I manage.
    ''I thought you might say that,'' Grammy sighs. ''I might just get myself a cat instead.''
    I laugh, my earlier comment coming back to me. I have a future in clairvoyance, for sure.
    ''Samuel Edwards, you turn that song back on!'' Mum shouts and appears on the porch brandishing two bottles of wine as weapons. We all look her way.
    ''Mum..'' Bing groans.
    ''Turn. It. Back.'' She's using her no-nonsense, no arguments tone. Bing rolls his eyes and flicks back a song on the iPod dock.
    Michael Buble.
    I smile as Mum puts the bottles down and begins to sing. My mum has the voice of an angel, but it's not something she flaunts. She has a husky quality to her voice that you couldn't get if you paid for it.
    She puts a hand out to me.
    ''I'm not that drunk yet.'' I glance at the porch.
    I can't believe that I'm your man, and I get to kiss you, baby, just because I can, Alec mouths and winks. I smile and Mum pulls me up.
    ''Alexis,'' she warns.
    ''Fine,'' I sigh and let her twirl me around.
    ''And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times, its you, it you, you make me sing,'' Mum sings.
    ''You're every line, you're every word, you're everything,'' I reply.
    She spins me and Dad takes her hand. Two hands land on my waist and I spin into Alec.
    ''It's you, it's you,'' he whispers in a sing-song voice.
    I giggle, feeling the effects of Mum's unlimited wine pouring and the high from the dancing. I step into him and slip my arms around his waist, resting my head on his shoulder. He wraps his arm around me.
    ''Nope.'' I smile into his neck. ''It's you, you make me sing.''
    I feel him smile into my hair and I close my eyes.
    ''Alec, do you know something?'' I whisper.
    ''I know lots of things,'' he chuckles.
    ''Shush,'' I giggle again. ''I have to tell you something.''
    ''What? That when my Princess is drunk she's really cute?''
    ''I'm not drunk. Not very, anyway.'' I frown. ''Stop distracting me!''
    Alec looks down at me. ''I'm sorry, baby. What did you want to tell me?''
    I grin. ''Not much, but you should know I've turned out liking you a lot more than I originally planned to.''
    His smile says it all. It says that he knows, that he's happy, but it's his eyes that tell me like is a weak word for how he really feels.
    And I'm pretty sure my eyes say the same.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

    ALEXIS

    ''You make me sick.''
    ''You're just jealous.''
    ''Of what?''
    ''Because the opposite sex gives me attention without me needing to get naked.''
    ''Load of rubbish.'' Bing slams the cupboard door.
    ''Is it?'' I look up from my phone and raise an eyebrow. ''What happened when you and Matt left here the other night, hmm?''
    Bing looks at me and averts his gaze.
    ''That's what I thought, Bing.'' I slide off the counter and drop my phone into my bag.
    ''Shut up.''
    ''Really? That's your comeback? Devon's making you soft.''
    ''You're pretty wrapped up in Alec, you realise.'' Bing turns suddenly and his eyes meet mine.
    ''Your point?'' I stop, my bag resting in my elbow.
    ''I just..'' He runs a hand through his messy bed hair. ''It just isn't like my sister to be so into a guy. It's weird.''
    ''Ahhh.'' I nod and smile. ''Now I get it. My hard nut big brother is worried I'll get hurt.''
    ''You're my sister, unfortunately, so I have to care.''
    ''Gee, thanks.'' I say sarcastically. ''If I get hurt, I'm a big girl, Bing, I can deal with it, but don't worry, you'll be the first to know.'' I stop at the kitchen door. ''After all, you are my brother. Unfortunately.'' I grin and skip out of the house.
    I slide my sunglasses onto my face and step onto the pavement, the burning midday sun hitting me full force. As I make my way to Cara's to meet Alec, I find myself wishing for some rain.
    I sigh. Maybe coming to Devon instead of Spain was a good idea if I'm fed up of the heat already.
    My hair sticks to the back of my neck and I pull it away, welcoming the cold air from Cara's café as I push the door open. Surprisingly, it's practically empty in the café - not even Alec is here.
    It's just like him to keep me waiting.
    Hands slap over my eyes and I shriek a little in shock. Alec laughs and I spin round, narrowing my eyes at him.
    ''Necessary?'' I ask.
    ''Always.'' He bends his head and kisses me. I lean back slightly and he puts a hand on my back, holding me to him.
    ''Hello to you too,'' I laugh.
    ''Mm.'' He licks his lips.