The Deal (32 page)

With all the presents out the way, the food goes down a treat and before I know it the guys head over to Kelsie's flat whilst us girls stay here to get ready. Craig leaves me with a breath-taking kiss and tells me to 'be good'. I smile innocently up at him and he swats my backside before closing the front door behind him. I turn around to see Tammy, Sophie and Kelsie stood in the hallway watching me.  I lift my hands into the air and scream.

“LETS GET DRUNK, BITCHES!”

I've been blood bound by the girls to promise to stay out longer than the half hour last time we were in ZoHoKa and longer than a few seconds at my Christmas party, so I’ve relented and been taking my time with my drinks. It doesn't help that it's my birthday so every time someone goes to the bar, they come back with a drink for me. I have a slight buzz and I am swaying along to the music, whilst sat on Craig’s lap, drinking my vodka lemonade. Craig is peppering kisses up my neck, already drunk and horny but I elbow him in the stomach to make him stop. We are not going home early. This is a celebration for Kelsie and Rob as much as it is for my birthday and I promised my first born to Kelsie if I left early, and that is not going to happen. Not one little bit.

My elbowing does nothing to deter Craig and he pulls me back against his hard chest and nibbles my earlobe. I have to bite my teeth down on the straw to not moan out loud. His hands are rubbing circles on the top of my thighs and he lets out a deep breath that goes straight down to my clit. Instant wetness.

The little fucker.

I spy Matt and Jamie smirking over at me, and I stick my tongue out. As much as I love my husband's hands all over me, he needs to stop or I am dragging his arse into the toilet. I wiggle on his lap and before I can feel his erection digging into me, I jump from his lap and hold my hand out to Joe, wanting to dance with my bestie. I wink at Craig, who is scowling at me for leaving him hanging, so much so he has to readjust himself and I follow Joe out onto the dance floor. I'm used to the dirty looks when I’m around my blonde beauty because he oozes the rough, alpha male and he is absolutely buff and such a looker it's sometimes hard to remember he is gay because you want to climb him like a fucking tree. I down the rest of my drink and throw the plastic cup on the floor. Inhibitions out the window, I grind up against Joe, knowing that Craig won't mind too much seeing as he would prefer a dick in his mouth than my pussy.  Some Calvin Harris song is playing and before I know what is happening, the rest of the table have joined us for a dance. We start off in a circle, pissing off the people around us while we take up quite a bit of room but after a while we are all pushed around and partnered off.  Tom and Sophie are dancing next to Jamie and I while Craig is with Kelsie and Matt is with Tammy. The rest just make a circle of their own and dance along beside us.

Jamie and I pull out the silly moves, dancing the Macarina to a DJ Fresh song, head-butting to a Rita Ora song and doing the running man to LMFAO's Party Rock Anthem. I don't think I have ever had so much fun on my birthday. All the people I love are here and just making massive dickheads of themselves on the dance floor. This is what it is all about. Who needs sexy moves when you can let loose, dance like no one is watching you and make up random dance moves which get everyone staring at you. I know the whole gang have gotten the attention from fellow dancers, who look in amusement and confusion then get on with their own bumping and grinding. I watch Craig spin Kelsie around in circles, both of them laughing hard until Kels falls on the floor and Craig has to pick her up. That girl has no shame at all because she gets on her feet and starts to do the Birdy song dance, just like in New Girl. Jamie and I are looking her way and then Craig joins in. Every member of our group is chuckling at her and Craig until we all seem to migrate towards them and join in.

We're all in a circle yet again, David Guetta is bouncing around the room and we are all doing the Birdy song dance routine. I throw my head back in laughter, wondering just how the hell I managed to bag these people; how we all became friends and turned out completely mental. I grin widely at Craig who chuckles and continues to keep up with the beat of the song with his actions. We definitely all look mad now but would we have it any other way? Oh hell no.

This is us. This will always be us.

Our crazy, mental, loveable group.

And none of us would want anything less.

I jump into the middle and hold my hands up to stop them. I spin slowly around until I grab Rob and Kelsie and hold our hands up.  “To Rob and Kelsie on their engagement and happy mother fucking birthday to me!” I scream, hoping someone caught my announcement. Even if they didn't, everyone shouts and hoots and cascades around us, enveloping us into a group hug much like the one back at home. I get squished between God knows who and I giggle, wrapping my arms around someone’s waist. I love these guys so much and to have them with me every step of the way, well, it makes life bearable. It's made this past year bearable through the ups and downs, through the lies and secrets but in the end, love will prevail and no matter how much you hurt or let someone down, if they love you enough, they will fight for you, they will see past the bad and showcase the good in you.

I spot Craig through a gap in the circle and I smile with love flowing through every pore. He has Danny and Tom wrapped around him, the twins humping his side, pretending to be mid-orgasm while Craig tries to tear himself away from them. His eyes are looking around the group hug until they crash into mine. A grin spread across his lips and he winks at me. I throw a kiss at him and smile back, my heart beating erratically at the most beautiful guy to roam the earth. And he is mine.
              Who'd have thought a few years ago that Craig and I would get married for a deal? For money no less? And who would have thought that we had loved each other since we were sixteen? Love has a weird way of showing itself and deep down, I know our grandparents pre-determined this, even if they didn't know it would end this way.

Two families.

One secret.

One deal.

One marriage between enemies.

But now, now it reads:

Two families

No secret.

No deal.

One marriage between soul mates.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how it's going to stay.

Epilogue

2 months later

The Maldives has always been on my wish list. From the sandy, white beaches, to the clear blue sea and the little shack apartments in the sea where you can just jump straight from your room into the water. And the Maldives is exactly where I am right now. Why, you ask? Well, Craig and I decided to renew our vows and we wanted somewhere exclusive and exotic and peaceful. Somewhere we could also have a honeymoon and spoil our family and friends, too. Over the past three days we have been in paradise, everything has been perfect. And in a few minutes time, everything will be beyond perfect. My perfect will be walking towards my husband and making him mine again. This year hasn't been easy, but the love we have for each other will prevail over anything we have to face now. Which is why I’m currently say smiling like a maniac into the mirror in front of me finalising the flower in my hair and making sure everything is in place.

“You look beautiful, Nic, just like you did the first time around,” My dad's voice floats into the cabin. I turn my head and grin widely at him. He's had a stressful and painful past few months but he has always been on my side, always been the most amazing and caring father I could ask for and now he is back with his best friend, who now adores me, I think this is all the family I need. I take his arm when he offers me it and I stand up, letting him take a look at me.

The girls, who have been on watch-out outside my apartment, spot my dad and I coming out of the room and stride ahead of us to let Craig know that I am on my way. I don't feel any nerves, just the familiar and exciting butterflies that are always in the pit of my stomach when I think or see or speak of Craig. They never seem to go away and that's the way I like it. I feel relaxed, happy, euphoric that I get to do this a second time, to the same person. I feel different from last time, but that's a given. Everything is right in the world. I did the twelve months and told Craig I loved him after five, only to have him say those three words back. We have gotten through the past, through the pain of the secret being revealed and we have gotten two best friends back together, but in the process I lost my mother to bitterness. This past year is just one year in my life, one year that can be covered with new memories, new moments and today is just the beginning. The beginning of a new chapter for Nicole and Craig Thomas. Just two twenty-three year olds from little old Swansea who were enemies who loved from afar. Two people who were brought together by their deceased grandparents to fix a feud that lasted longer than it should have. We were brought together to fix our father's friendship and in some weird way, I think our grandparents knew we would fall in love with one another and I thank them every day for bringing Craig into my life.

“What are you thinking about, baby girl?”

I beam up at my dad and take the final steps to reach the mainland where it will only be a few more steps until I reach Craig. “Just how I am thankful to gran and granddad. They brought Craig and I together. Despite the situation, they brought the guy who I have always loved into my life and he loves me, too. I can't thank them enough for that.”

“You would have found your way to each other regardless of both your grandparents. Love has a way of pushing the boundaries, and even if it was years down the line, you would have found one another. Endless love doesn't have a time limit, and you and Craig prove that. I just wish it could have been the same for me and your mother. But in a way endless love did happen – it brought my best friend back into my life and that is all down to you, sweetheart.”

Tears begin to fill my eyes and I jump on my father, squeezing him and thanking him for his words. He isn't one for soppy declarations, much like Kelsie, but when he does say meaningful things, they shoot into your heart and fill you with joy and now I know I have the acceptance of marrying Craig from my dad. I clutch his hand and I power walk to the corner of the aisle, dad trying to keep up with me. I stop dead when I see Craig. He looks breathtaking in a white shirt, the top few buttons popped open and the sleeves rolled back and black ¾ trousers to accommodate the heat. He is bare footed and I just want to run up to him and kiss him. Kiss him with everything then go back to the hut and fuck him senseless but I know that has to wait a few hours. Everyone is seated, apart from the bridesmaids and Rob, who is stood next to Craig at the 'alter'. The boys, apart from Joe and Jamie, are sat on Craig's side and I know the girls and my father will be joining them soon, so I don't feel like no one is for me. Kelsie walks over and I tell her I'm ready. She skips off to tell the adjudicator and I see a grin spread over Craig's face. He looks around to try and spot me but I am hidden behind trees so he can't see me.

Craig and I decided to play Marry Me – Jason Derulo when I walk down the aisle. Cheesy I know, but Craig told me that all the lyrics are right. That he wants to spend 105 years with me by his side, spend all his money on me, wake up every morning with me. I wanted Ellie Goulding – How Long Will I Love You, so we compromised. I would walk down to Jason and we would walk back up to Ellie. So when Marry Me starts to play, and everyone stands up, I watch my girls walk down the silk runway and when they take their stand at the altar, I appear from the trees, my dad by my side. My eyes instantly find Craig's and I watch his roll down my body and back up again. He looks like he is about to run up to me, throw my over his shoulder and charge back to our room. Rob puts a hand on his shoulder and laughs at his best friends reaction to me. I'm glad that after all this time, I can still make Craig feel that hunger for me. I never want that look to spark out. I give Craig a big smile and a wink, not wanting to break contact with him. I want to see every part of him.

“Come on, Nic, let's go before Craig loses it and drags you down the aisle himself,” I take my dad's arm again and one step at a time I draw closer to Craig. Unlike the first time around where I was looking anywhere but Craig, this time I stare right into his ocean blue eyes. His dangerous eyes. I don't even register my friends around me, I just focus on the man at the end, the man who I get to spend the rest of my life with, the guy who stole my heart at sixteen and never gave it back. Every step love fills my every pore until I take the final step towards Craig and know that he is it for me. Forever. My father kisses my cheek before leaning around me to give Craig a handshake and giving my hands to Craig. My husband pulls me up onto the crate and takes a deep breath. We were barred from spending the night together last night, so he went to stay with his father and Joe came and stayed with me. I take the ultimate final step, closing the distance between us and I glow.

“You are the most breath-taking woman I have ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on. Even more beautiful and gorgeous and stunning than the first time around and even then I thought you were every brilliant adjective I could think of, even the crude worded ones,” He whispers into my mouth and I chuckle at his choice of words, tingles spreading around my body.