Chapter Forty-Eight
Seven Months Later
Lucy
Watching Maya and Tommy get married has been one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life. Maya couldn’t take her eyes off him as she walked down the aisle. The way Tommy couldn’t wait another second before kissing her when the officiant said “You may kiss the bride”. The whole feeling of love radiated from the pair of them the full way through. It really was the dream fairytale ending for them both.
My plus one, on the other hand, has been acting all kinds of weird since we got here. I don’t know what the hell has got into him. One minute, he’s jittery and overly loud, the next, he’s unnaturally quiet and wants to hold me. I’m not going to lie, it’s starting to freak me out a little. I was putting it down to his best man speech, as I know he was nervous in case he fucked it up, but that went down like a dream. If there is one thing Max is good at, it’s talking. Especially when the attention is on him.
The evening party is just getting started now, and we have all relocated to the most magical venue you could think of. It’s also the place where they will start building their dream home next week. We’re in a huge gazebo in the middle of a meadow that has a stream at one end and trees surrounding the rest. They’ve hung warm coloured fairy lights from everypossible place they could find, with a forest theme decoration throughout. It is absolutely breathtaking. They even have a light-up dancefloor in front of a pop-up DJ booth.
The only thing missing is Max. He buggered off a few minutes ago with Tommy for a boys' chat, and I haven’t seen him since.
“Nobody’s dancing! Come on, girl, let’s get the party started,” Sara says from beside me as the music starts to ramp it up.
“You know I’d never say no to that.” I laugh, taking her hand as we make our way over to the dancefloor.
It doesn’t take long for Gracie, Blair and Maya to come over and join us.
“Hey, where’s Fallon?” I ask the others. There’s no way she’d want to miss this.
“I have a feeling I know where she is,” Blair smirks, tilting her head to the forest behind us.
“Do you think she would? Not here, surely?” Gracie gasps, but I see the sly smile creeping on her face.
“What is going on?” I ask them, and they all just laugh.
“You must know who she’s been secretly seeing.” Maya laughs and lifts an eyebrow.
“It wouldn’t be a secret if I knew. Tell me.” I whine, which makes them all laugh some more.
“The doctor, of course,” Gracie says, wiggling her brows at me.
Oh, my God. How have I missed this? I thought she always looked startled around him, but the thought never crossed my mind. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. The brief times I’ve met him, he has always been lovely. Fallon needs someone who’s nice, and who better than a doctor to fix her broken pieces. The fact that he’s drop-dead gorgeous doesn’t hurt either.
“Leave them alone. She deserves to have a little fun after everything she’s been through, and doctor sexy will know the exact spot to make her…” Blair says as Gracie interrupts.
“Bloody hell, Blair. Pack it in.”
“Pack what in?” Max asks from behind me.
“Oh, nothing. Are you going to dance with your girlfriend tonight or what?” I tease, backing myself away from the girls.
A little bit of alone time with my man is exactly what I want right now, but that definitely wouldn’t be allowed here. Max looks so handsome tonight. Every time I see him suited up like this, my insides melt. As well as my panties. Jesus, how does he look so irresistible. You’d think, after how long we’ve officially been together, I’d be used to his looks by now.
Without saying a word, he takes my hand and begins swirling me around the dance floor. Dancing has always been my thing, but ever since we made our feelings known, it’s now become ours. So many late nights spent together in my studio have ended with us dancing, and then that ended with us fucking. I honestly couldn’t picture a better life than what I have right now. But in this moment, in his arms with no worries over who can see us, is something I never imagined I could have.
We continue to dance, laugh and drink wine for the remainder of the night. It’s almost time for the taxis to arrive for us all to head back home when Fallon calls over to Maya.
“Maymay! You haven’t thrown the bouquet!”
“Oh, my God. I forgot all about that. Come on, ladies, everyone behind me.” She says to everyone who’s still here.
I didn’t realise this is something people actually do at weddings. I walk to the side of the room to where Max is standing stiffly. God, he mustn’t be ready for marriage at all if this is how worried he looks at the throwing of the bouquet.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to join in with the girls?” He asks, his voice strained.
Before I get the chance to answer, Fallon rushes over and wraps her fingers around my elbow.
