My Future Husband

Chapter 76

“Is she still here?” My heart is pounding, I ran all the way here and now my ankle is screaming at me, but I had to make sure I didn’t miss her.

“Yeah bitch, she’s here.” Brie opens her front door to let me in, her legs still shaking. It’s been a few hours, but I wouldn’t be remotely surprised if her and Steve only finished their personal brand of therapy a few minutes ago. “They were supposed to be leaving in an hour but Fiona had to delay, something about her bitch girlfriend. I don’t know, my head wasn't really in the convo.”

“Are you okay?” Clearly she’s not, but it’s Brie, she’d survive a nuclear holocaust.

“I’m good, what are you doing here anyway?”

“Bellissima?” Why is Elba only in Steve’s shirt? And it’s the one he was wearing earlier! Has she even got panties on... You know what, I don’t want to know.

“Put some clothes on, you're coming with me.” We might have said our goodbyes this afternoon, but there's one more thing we need to do.

Elba gets dressed quickly, Brie agreeing to give all her stuff to Fiona if we aren’t back in time and send her to meet us.

“Have you written your vows?” She links her fingers with mine as we walk through the park.

“My vows?”

“Sì, I assume that you are kidnapping me this late as you have finally agreed to my proposal.” This fucking charmer, even after all this time, her lips on the back of my hand still sends tingles down my spine.

“One day, when I’m standing at your wedding with your super hot bride giving me evil’s across the room, you're only going to have yourself to blame.” She erupts with laughter, the both of us giggling and skipping like schoolgirls until finally we come out by the bay, making our way across the rocks until our toes are buried in the sand.

“I cannot remember the last time I came to a beach. I had forgotten how peaceful they are at night.” The stars shine above us, the cold air nipping at my skin, but not for long after she wraps her jacket around me.

Whatever the female version of a gentleman is, that’s her.

“Do you remember when we went to that festival in the village? We were laying on the floor by the fountain, everyone dancing around us, looking up at the stars just like this.” She lays back with me on the sand, it feels like a lifetime ago now.

“A different time, a simpler time.” Yeah, I guess so. When I arrived at that place the only thing I was looking for was an escape, one goal, now I have so much more to live for. I couldn’t have imagined back then I’d ever have this life now.

I reach into my purse, pulling out a glass bottle I’ve had for far too long.

“Well not long after that, I made you a promise. I said one day we’d be laying on a beach, back home, drinking cheap wine and talking about how crazy it was that there was a point when we thought we would never be free...” Her eyes, her smile, the way she lights up a room. No one has ever deserved this more than she does. “Although I’m certain this isn’t a cheap bottle.”

“Where did you get this?” She runs her fingers over the wax seal, her lips turning up at the familiarity.

“It appeared on my sister’s doorstep the day after I had Teal, with a silver rattle worth more than her shoe collection. I only know one person that would do that.” Fuck, I miss him.

Okay, I miss the daddy-ab appeal. There’s only so long Coach can carry the weight of that title around here. We need some new blood.

“My brother always did find ways of never leaving the hearts of the women that cross his path... I believe it is a family trait.” Fuck right it is.