Lingering Kiss

Chapter 29

"I love you," Izzy said hugging her just as tight as she was.

"I love you too," Mia said as they pulled apart. "Have fun on your honeymoon."

Izzy blushed.
"I think the fun started last night."

Mia laughed.
"Isabelle Ashton-Alli!"

"Isabelle Leon now." Izzy smiled.

They stood outside the restaurant after Andre and Izzy had hugged everyone goodbye.

"Don't lose yourself in the workload. I'll be back soon to take it off you." Andre said to Fred next to them.

"Don't even worry about it. You just enjoy your honeymoon." Fred said.

"You're heading back to Seattle, right?"

"Yea, I'll have Vincent take care of things here."

"Oh, Mia you could go with Fred," Izzy said as the guys turned to look at them. "Mia and Josie were supposed to head back together."

Fred looked at Mia.
"If Mia wouldn't mind."

Mia looked at Izzy and Andre's faces before looking back at Fred.
"I wouldn't."

Fred smiled.

"Then it's settled." Izzy said.

"We got to go, Love." Andre pulled Izzy into him and kissed the top of her head.

Izzy sighed and hugged Fred and Andre did the same with Mia.
"Bye." They all said as Andre and Izzy got into the car.

Fred and Mia waited at the curb and waved them goodbye. Mia turned to face him when their car was out of sight.

"When do you want to head back?" Fred asked

"Hmm, I have to visit my mum in Birmingham before I leave again," Mia said.

"That's an hour away." Fred said. "When do you want to go?"

Mia checked her wristwatch before looking up at him.
"If I leave now, I could spend the afternoon and head back down in the evening."

"I'll drive." Fred held her arm and moved to walk them to his car.

"What?" Mia stopped them from going any further.

Fred looked at her.
"I'm taking you. We'll head up and back down together."

"You really don't have to."

"I want to." They stood staring at each other outside the restaurant, oblivious to the people walking past them or the cars driving by.

"Mia." The sound of her name burst the bubble that was forming around them.

Mia turned around to see who it was just as Fred cursed.

"Zander." Her ex-boss at Cross & Cross where she had interned made his way to her.

"It is you." Zander beamed as he wrapped his hands around her, hugging her. "It's so good to see you."

"Same," Mia said as she pulled away.

"What are you doing back here?" He asked

"I came for my best friend's wedding."

"Right, I heard around that Isabelle was getting married."

Mia nodded then felt a hand on her waist. Zander's gaze lifted from hers and to someone behind her.

Fred.

"Fred, remember my former boss, Zander," Mia said.

"I can't say that I do." Fred's grip on her waist tightened.