I only managed to get a few hours' sleep because James came rushing into my room as soon as he was awake. I gathered he must have seen my shoes I kicked off at the front door and realised I was home "Maggie Thorne where the hell have you been I was worried sick and Q was absolutely distraught we were so close to calling the police to go out and look for you"
"Relax mother" I groaned from under the covers I had pulled over my head "I spent the night at Sal's"
"Sal's as in our Sal?" James took a seat on the bed
"Yes James, Salvatore Vulcano our Sal we had a few glasses of wine and ended up chatting all night" he hit me with a cushion for my sarcasm
"You look like shit, also I had better call your boyfriend and tell him you haven't been kidnapped" he chuckled leaving the room before I hit him back
I sat up and rubbed my sleepy eyes I needed a shower to wake myself up. The cold water felt good on my skin I had never liked warm showers I felt more refreshed after stepping out of a freezing cold shower it reminded me of being home again at the beach during the cold summers and even colder autumns and springs.
I stepped out pulling some fresh jeans and a t-shirt on and made my way to the kitchen to grab a coffee Murr had made me "I called Q he was obviously relieved and told me to tell you not to forget its date night tonight and I'm guessing by the look on your face you totally forgot?"
I giggled nodding "Shit I had better get some laundry done I don't think I've anything to wear" I hopped off the chair taking my coffee to my room as I loaded up my bed with things to wash.
A letter addressed to me fell to the floor James must have brought it in when waking me this morning I sat down on the bed opening the letter.
Dear Miss Thorne
We have received your application and after some consideration are absolutely delighted to offer you a place on the team. As you know Travel America are all about reaching out to people through our advertisements and marketing showing what amazing adventures people can have here in the U.S and we do believe with your studies in both travel and photography/media your talents will be greatly valued during your time with us. You are also being informed that although the job will require you to travel from state to state with our film crew the official headquarters is in Phoenix AZ and should you take the job with us we will expect you to find residence in the city. Please respond to the email address down below as soon as possible so we may be able to set up an information meeting with you regarding your new job with us.
Many thanks
Anna Kennedy
Travel America careers manager.
Shit.
I sat on the bed reading the words over and over again I couldn't quite believe it but here it was in black and white my new start I know I had sent the application away when everything turned sour between me and Brian but this was an incredible opportunity but it meant moving all the way to phoenix. I only knew it was almost at the other side of the country I opened the map on my phone
Staten Island NY to Phoenix AZ by car
Search result: 1 day 11 hours (2402 miles)
I ran my fingers through my hair blinking at the results 35 hours and 2 thousand miles away from everything I had come to know I would have to say goodbye to everybody it would be heart-breaking but could I really afford not to take this chance? Doing what I loved and getting money for it I couldn't work in a coffee shop all my life.
I shoved the letter in my bed side drawer and told myself I wouldn't say anything to anybody until I had reached a decision. And a difficult decision it would be.
I flicked through the album of wedding pictures I had yet to show the guys as I had got them back while they were on tour I felt a warmth inside as I looked at the group photo of all of us even though Q and I weren't speaking much then we both managed a smile for the camera as we stood at opposite ends of the group there was Me then Sal ,Lynda ,Murr ,Bessy ,Joe and then Q thankfully Alyssa had been away getting another drink while the photo was being taken there was also the couple Sal and I had taken in the Hotel room before leaving we looked so silly but that's how we were. There was also a great one of the four guys all looking quite handsome in their suits all smiling I had come to love these guys so freaking much and now it looked like I would have to say goodbye to them.
My favourite photo came last in the album I still don't know who took it but Bessy had sent it to me a few days after returning from the honeymoon it was of Q and I dancing his arm was firm around my waist I was looking up at him and he looked at me we were both smiling as the blurred fairy lights sparkled in the background there was nobody else in the shot just us and that's exactly how it felt the moment I realised I loved him if I did take the job telling Brian would be the hardest having to leave him would probably kill me.
The bad voice came into my head again catch yourself on Maggie he'll have another girl in his bed as soon as you've left the state. I didn't want to believe it but it was probably right.
A knock came to my bedroom door as I shoved the photo album under my pillow I was having a copy made for each of the guys and didn't want to spoilt it just yet "Hey Maggie, I'm going upstairs to Lynda's I'll see you later"
"Sure Murr" I called back to him I had a huge lump in my throat "Have fun!" I gave myself a good shake and continued getting the laundry sorted I needed to be ready on time Brian had a very good habit of arriving early just as I was getting out of the shower he swore it was a coincidence that it happened 3 times but he's such an adorably bad liar thankfully I was a better one when it came to avoiding things.
Brian text to say he was outside I pulled a shawl over the black dress I was wearing and gave myself a last check in the mirror I smiled as I realised it was the same dress I had worn the first time I met Murr in the apartment I could hear Q impatiently blowing the horn out on the street. I smiled once more in the mirror and ran out the door.
He was leaning against the cherry red jeep looking oh so handsome in a smart shirt and jeans his hair was combed with not a hat in sight and his beard was groomed damn he looked good. "There's my pretty lady" he beamed as he pulled me in for a huge warm hug I pressed my face into his chest he smelled so good I reached up and ran my hands through his beard into his hair I stood on my tiptoes and I reached up to kiss him. Four months and I still felt the fireworks every time his lips touched mine. "Why don't we just skip dinner tonight" I whispered softly to him he looked so good I just needed to have him he gave a booming laugh as he ran his finger under my chin and kissed me on the nose "Not tonight baby girl I've something special planned."
"What's the occasion?" I panicked slightly had I forgotten an anniversary? No it wasn't the 14th I couldn't and it definitely wasn't his birthday it was only reaching the end of August.
"No occasion Baby, I just felt like spoilin ya tonight" he opened my door and shut it again climbing into his side all I could do was admire him as he drove furrowing his eyebrow at the road when trying to concentrate fuck he was gorgeous.
We arrived at the restaurant I had never been here before it looked like somewhere I wouldn't even think of going either like crazy fancy, ladies covered in jewels toasted glasses of champagne and called each other darrrling that's how fancy it was.. well maybe not quite that fancy but there were candles and fresh roses on every table "oh my god Q this is way too much" I hissed at him as the doorman took my shawl and Brains coat
"shhh just enjoy it babe." he kissed me on the cheek before approaching the guest "Hi I made a reservation for Quinn."
The waitress smiled at him "Ah yes Mr Quinn your table is ready please follow me."
Brian lead me by the hand to the table he ordered a beer for himself and a sweet sparkling wine for me he held my hand across the table looking at me with a silly smile on his face and his head crooked sideways "what?" I said I was starting to feel self-conscious
"nuthin." he shrugged "you just look so beautiful."
"Oh c'mon Q what is all this? I know you love nothing better than keeping it simple with whiskey and a take out at home now we're out having dinner with candles and roses what's going on."
Q raised his hands in defeat "Okay Maggie you got me, how do you always read me so well?"
"Clearly my intelligence matches my undeniable beauty." I sighed stroking my face
Q laughed his eyes sparkling as he squeezed my hand "Let's get serious for a minute babe, I've been doing some thinking and I'm not getting any younger y'know I'm pushing 40 and still living alone it's gotten to that stage where I like the idea of settling down and raising a family which a year ago I would of laughed at y'know." I was starting to panic where did all this come from my heart was racing I was expecting him to get down on one knee any minute "Don't look so scared baby I'm not proposing just yet but I was wondering Miss Maggie Thorne if you would do me the honour of moving in with me...."
I'm pretty sure I stopped breathing my head felt fuzzy I loved him so much but I had to consider the job "Wow Q I uh don't know what to say.."
"Well say yes you silly goose"
"I...I can't"
He laughed a bit thinking it was a joke, it wasn't. "What do you mean you can't?
"Brian you can't just spring this on me I've never given you any hint I wanted to settle down I'm only 23 for god's sake!" people at the tables where watching and whispering my voice was barely a hushed breath now "I'm so Sorry Brian I don't want this" I got up from the table completely forgetting my shawl on the way out the air was cold and bitter on my arms outside I walked up the street nothing was making sense where was I, where was I going to go, what was happening?
It was all falling apart again that's what