74

I’m not freaking out, she argued, blinking as I leant forward and cupped her cheek, my face a mere inch away from hers.
Good, I murmured. Because I’m starting to think that you wouldn’t want to marry me.
That’s not true, I
Laughing softly, I pressed my lips against hers, cutting her off mid-sentence. I knew that Lily wasn’t ready to talk about such things and in truth, neither was I. But as my mind played over what she had just said, I realised that she had unwittingly admitted to the posibility that some day, she would marry me. Gently pulling away, I stepped back and entwined my fingers with hers.
Lets not talk about this now, I said. But some other time, we will talk about this Lily. For now though, let’s just finish packing and take the stuff out to the bike. We’ve got a long drive ahead of us.
She just nodded still looking up at me wide-eyed, like she still couldn’t understand what had just happened. So are we going to pack then ? I chuckled. Or are you just going to stand there and stare at me all day ?
Lily seemed to snap out of it and she nodded, dropping my hand. You’re so frustrating, she mumbled, although I could hear the affection in her voice. You seem to have a talent of pushing my buttons, college boy.
In more ways than one, I teased, winking at her as I walked past and stopped at the foot of the bed. If I recall, last night I pushed your buttons multiple times.
She blushed and walked over to the left, resuming the packing she had started earlier. Well if I recall, she smirked, glancing at me out of the corner of her eye as I absent mindedly began to pack my stuff. I wasn’t the one who almost got us caught by being too loud.
I laughed and cocked an eyebrow at her, watching as she folded her clothes and looked up at me innocently, although I could see the amusement in her eyes. That’s true, I admitted, images running through my mind of last night. But whatever that was, we’re definitely doing it again.
Good, she whispered. Because I was thinking the same thing.
I shook my head and smiled as we both carried on packing our stuff away. Sure, I was still feeling down about having to leave my home but I realised that it didn’t really matter. After all, wherever Lily was, that was where I belonged. Around five minutes later we were all packed so Lily and I heaved our bags down the stairs and put them in the hallway. Grabbing hold of Lily’s hand, I guided her in to the kitchen where my mother and father were standing by the window, keeping an eye on JJ who was sat at the edge of the dock with Sammy by his side, like he always was.
Morning, I said, causing them both to turn around in surprise. We’re all packed and ready to go. I know it’s early, but Lily and I have to get back in time so we don’t miss more college than we need to.
My father glanced at his watch and frowned. But it’s only 7am son. Can’t you two stay for a bite to eat and then get on your way. We feel like we’ve hardly seen you.
I wish we could, I said regretfully. But we’re gonna grab something to eat on the road. We’ve got two days of driving ahead of us. So we might as well get started as soon as we can.
Oh, I wish you didn’t have to go, my mother cried, rushing forward and thowing her arms around my neck and practically strangling me. She threw her other arm around Lily and pulled her in, so the three of us were all mushed together in some wierd, oddly shapen hug in the middle of the kitchen.
I caught Lily’s eye over my mum’s shoulder and rolled my eyes, noticing the way she was grinning at me. Oh what the hell ! My father said suddenly, throwing his hands in the air as he walked over and awkwardly put his arms around all three of us.
So…. I said, after we had been standing there for a full minute. It would be nice if you two would actually let Lily and me go instead of refusing to let us leave the house.
My father chuckled and stepped back, grabbing hold of the belt around my mother’s dressing gown and pulling her back with him. Come on honey, he smiled, putting his arm over her shoulders. Noah’ll be back soon, won’t you son ?
Of course, as soon as I can.
Lily, you’ll be coming too I hope, my mother said, smiling at her kindly. We’ve loved having you here. Especially JJ. I know he’s going to miss you. We all will.
I reached an arm around Lily’s waist and pulled her against my side. Smiling down at her, I nodded as she glanced up at me. Lily’ll be coming with me next time. We made a promise to JJ.
We did, Lily said, snuggling in to my side and putting her hand on my chest. She looked towards my mother and father and smiled. And I would never break a promise to him.
As if on cue, he came walking through the double doors at the side of the kitchen with Sammy trailing behind. I felt saddened when I saw the defeated look on his face. Maybe he had thought we weren’t really going, or weren’t leaving so soon, but when he saw us all standing there something inside him seemed to realise.
You’re going now, he mumbled. Aren’t you ?
I’m afraid so little man, I nodded, hating to see him so sad. We don’t want to but we don’t really have a choice.
I’m going to miss you JJ, Lily said beside me, bending down and holding her arms out. You’re a great kid. Don’t you ever change, you hear me.
Suddenly, he ran over and launched himself in to Lily’s arms, almost knocking her to to the floor. She managed to hold her balance though, and hugged him against her as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. I glanced up to my parents who were looking down at the two of them with small smiles on their faces. I could tell they still hadn’t gotten used to how JJ was around Lily, how different he was, but they had come to realise that maybe things could get better for him.
After a minute, Lily dropped her arm and JJ stepped back. There were tears falling down his cheeks just like earlier as he walked over to me and threw his arms around my leg. He was short for his age and only just reached past my hip, and I smiled when he held on tight.
I’m gonna miss you bro, I whispered, ruffling his hair.
Me too, he mumbled in to my shirt, his voice barely audible. And Sammy will miss you.
Ok that’s enough of that, my mother said, walking over and pulling JJ away.
She settled him on her hip as he began to cry. My father looked down at him sadly for a brief moment, before taking a breath and walking past us. He wasn’t an emotional man, but when things got too hard for him, he tried his hardest not to show it. And the one thing that got to him more than anything was seeing JJ upset.
Sighing, I turned to Lily and took hold of her hand. Ready to go, I asked, feeling miserable.
Sure, she muttered, sounding equally unhappy.
Nodding defeatedly, I led her through the hallway with my mother and a still sobbing JJ following behind. The front door was wide open and as we stepped out in to the driveway, I saw my dad loading our bags in to the back compartment on the Harley. After shoving them in and shutting the door, he strolled back over to us, seemingly having composed himself from the obvious upset he had felt barely ten seconds ago.
You’re bags are all in, he said, walking past and going to the doorway where he stood with my mother and JJ. Looks like you’re all set to go.
Thanks dad, I said, winking at JJ as he stared up at me through his tears. I’ll see you later big man. You look after mum and dad for me, alright ?
I will, he said, wiping his eyes with his pyjama sleeve.
Okay then, I smiled sadly, turning towards Lily. Let’s hit the road.
She nodded and we walked over to the Harley. But just as Lily handed me the keys and I was about to swing my leg over, I heard a car engine coming from the other end of the drive. Glancing up, I watched as Jackie and Rich drove through in their Jeep. What are they doing here ? I whispered to myself. They had been staying overnight in the hotel before leaving for their honeymoon in a couple of days. The two of them should have been asleep in their suite, but there they were, climbing out of their car with huge smiles on their faces.
What are you guys doing here ? I grinned, grabbing Lily’s hand as I jogged towards them.
Well you guys couldn’t leave without saying goodbye now, could you ! Jackie laughed, throwing her arms around me as I reached her.
Smiling, I hugged her hard. You two should be at the hotel, feeding eachother strawberries and sleeping in. That’s what just married people do, right ?
I heard Rich laugh beside me. Looking over, I saw him throwing his arm around Lily’s shoulder and pulling her in for a hug. You take care of the pleb over there, won’t you ? He grinned, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. After all, we’re kind of brothers now.
And yet you still call me a pleb ! I muttered, shaking my head at him.
My husband only speaks the truth, Jackie chuckled, stepping past me and pulling Lily’s arm. I watched as Dick let her go and Jackie pulled her in to a hug. They both held on to eachother as they giggled about something. But after a minute they finally parted and Lily stood next to me, slipping her hand in to mine.