Thankfully, the rest of the week flew by. I hadn’t heard off Liam and I was marginally thankful by Saturday to get out of the city for the night. I hadn’t plucked up the courage to call him and apologize yet and decided I would start a fresh on Monday. Jason had picked me up from my flat in his black sports car, and we headed out to the hotel.
“You do realize you’ll need a bigger car when you have kids right?” I laugh from the back seat, where I’m squashed between Jason’s seat being so far back due to his long legs and our overnight bags. Who buys a car that doesn’t have a boot?
“Nope” Liam is dead serious in his reply.
“What? Are you seriously going to try and get a pram in here?” Becca almost shouts.
“No honey. I’m keeping this, you can get a new car, like a mini bus or something” I roll my lips together to stop myself from laughing as Becca’s face turns thunderous.
“Are you being serious? You want me to drive a minivan? While you get to drive around looking like some sort of hunk in this thing?” she waves her arms around the interior and they continue to bicker back and forth for the duration of our journey. They aren’t serious but I kind of wish I’d kept my mouth shut.
After checking in and Becca squealing in excitement at the Bridal Suite, we’d had a light lunch in the restaurant. If the food at lunch was anything to go by, the catering for the wedding will be perfect. The old stone Country Manor is set in a few thousand acres of land and would be the perfect backdrop for a summer wedding. The trees lie dormant during the winter, but the fields are a bright green in the winter sun, and the crisp country air is just what the doctor ordered. The long sweeping driveway carves through the gorgeous gardens at the front, coming to a stop around a large stone fountain in the center. At the back is a huge extension where a large space has been converted into a pool and jacuzzi room. Floor to ceiling windows line the walls and a glass roof lets streams of light in to dance in the bubbling water. Jason headed to the gym, insisting that some of his friends at work had told him it was one of the best they had ever used, while Becca and I sip on chilled champagne and lounge in the jacuzzi before our massages this afternoon.
“This is beautiful” I say dreamily before sipping at my champagne and leaning back into the delicious bubbles.
“It really is! Thank you so much for suite, it was such a nice surprise”
“You’re very welcome, so what do you think for the wedding?”
“Is it crazy that I want to pick the first one we’ve visited?” Becca sighs.
“No” I laugh before continuing, “But maybe you should see a few others before you make a final decision”
We both finish our champagne, just as a very dashing employee comes up with two fresh glasses.
“Thank you” we say simultaneously, taking the glasses from the silver tray he presents us.
“You’re welcome ladies” he winks and walks away.
“Go for it” Becca eyes me before quickly glancing at his retreating backside.
“Shut up” I mutter. The sun suddenly breaks through the clouds and into the room, lighting it up in a gorgeous waltz of colors. The walls are a silver glitter and the light reflects off the water making them sparkle all around us.
“Why? You look hot” she says deadpan before swigging her drink. I could so get used to spending my Saturdays like this. I glance down at my bikini clad body, and I have to admit for the first time in a long time, I feel comfortable in my own skin. Granted, I’m still slightly shook up from Saturday, but I’ve worked hard to get my body looking like this. My rather large cleavage is enhanced in this black crossover bikini bra, and my toned stomach gives way to the matching bottoms. I kick my legs out, happy that they too are looking more and more toned with every week that passes.
“What’s going on with you and Liam Hadleigh anyway?” Becca askes, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“What? Nothing”
“Oh yeah, come oonnnn” she drawls.
“Fine. I haven’t heard from him all week. I doubt I will after my little show anyway”
“Show me a man that isn’t afraid of a headstrong woman Mia. Give him a break, men need a little push sometimes”
I giggle and eat the strawberry from my glass before swigging the bubbly goodness.
“I don’t know. It’s weird”
“Well, that’s normal. After Saturday do you think it’s going to change anything?”
“No, maybe. I don’t know Bec! Jesus help me” I sulk, sticking my bottom lip out. I honestly don’t know what I’m feeling right now. Becca is like my guardian angel in all things weird and I need her take on this.
“Well, have you spoken to him at all since you kicked him out?”
“No”
“Maybe he’s just being nice and giving you some space, but how do you honestly feel about him? Would you want a relationship with him?”
“I don’t know. I’m not ready for a relationship but it’s the damned attraction between us. Have you ever felt it? That stupid pull between you and Jason?”
Becca smiles affectionately as she glances out at the lush forest in the distance.
“Yes, all the time” she glances back at me and I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen her look so in love.
“Really?”
“Yea, when we first got together all we ever did was argue and then fuck to get over it” she laughs “but it was amazing. It still is. I think if you’re feeling that with Liam then my advice is don’t let it pass you by. You won’t find that with someone else. You have to grab him by the horns Mia” her voice trails off at the last part. This is a first for Becca. I knew she loved Jason, but I’ve never heard her speak so fondly of love before. I twiddle my lip between my teeth and we both glance up as the door to the gym opens. Jason walks in rubbing his head with a towel, I glance at Becca to see her almost dribbling into the pool.
“Down girl” I huff, and she snaps her mouth shut and giggles with me. Walking over to us, he squats down at the edge of the pool.
“You girls having fun?”
“Yeah, how was your workout?” Becca asks, her eyes roam all over his bare torso. I roll my eyes and finish off my glass.
“Great actually. They have all this new high-tech stuff. It’s pretty cool” he smiles an all dazzling smile at her and I cringe at their soppy loviness. Yuck. Glancing behind me, Becca’s eyes almost bulge out of her head. Flicking her forest green beauties at me she sends me a silent command to turn around. I turn slowly to glance behind me only to see Liam coming down the hallway and through the door from the gym. He too is shirtless and covered in sweat. Why can’t I get away from this man? Why the fuck is he here? I inwardly groan but it quickly turns to something else as he walks closer. A towel is slung around his neck, and he wears black workout shorts that cling to his thick thighs. Visions of him in my flat dressed like that swirl into my mind, and I wish we could go back to that point. Each move he makes his muscles flex, and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to stop the groan building in my core from escaping. Dark mahogany hair is mussed from whatever workout he’s been doing, and beads of sweat trickle down his temples. I avert my gaze back to Jason and Becca who is grinning like the Cheshire cat as he nears the pool.
I stupidly glance up as he walks by, meeting his baby blues. Damn it. With a cheesy, smug grin painted across his face he walks past but not before winking at me and I almost melt into the jacuzzi waters. I squeeze my eyes shut and wait for the click of the door as a sign to open them again. Jason and Becca burst out laughing and I can’t help but smile at my own reaction.
“You are so fucking him” Becca says between laughs.
“What?”
“Oh, come on Amelia. You practically eye fucked him anyway” Jason huffs before standing.
“I’m going to the room. I’ll see you in a bit”
“Okay. I’ll come up once our massage is done” Becca smiles and watches him walk away.
Not long after two women come to greet us for our treatment. Dressed in black uniform, the modern contrast of this space does wonders for the otherwise prehistoric mansion. I can’t relax at all during the massage knowing that Liam is in the same building, and I’m sure I’m wound tighter than I was before I went into the tranquil space.
Becca and I head back upstairs to our rooms and agreed to meet later for a drink at the bar before dinner.