Page 74 of Just Like You
I had Gina. The two of us both finally in a place now where we worked. No ifs, no buts, no weird guilt trip of missed connections and awkward encounters.
We fit. And we worked.
I loved my job. I strangely really liked it, despite the idiots working there and Juliet being constantly on my back. I needed that. And I was grateful.
And now?
I was getting married to a guy I’d known for what? Three odd weeks? Perhaps four?
And he was definitely a drug. My drug of choice. Perhaps I was being obsessive and over the top, and my sensibilities were screaming at me, but there we were. This felt right, and I was going to run with it, and whatever other people thought, I didn’t care.
Gina would laugh. Juliet? She’d tease me and then probably send me totally inappropriate flowers. Leave me weird notes with little threats on. Send Faye to annoy me. Hug me when nobody was watching.
I loved when she did that.
Damn it, now I was sat here with tears in my eyes, right in public with strangers watching, but I couldn’t help it. My chest was spasming with feelings, a weird mix of happiness and grief.
I wondered, if my mother could see me now, would she be proud of who I’d become? Would she have laughed? She’d had such a fun laugh, and she’d often been happy. I remembered her happy.
Strangely, hoped she still was however that worked. I had so few memories from back then, having blocked out most of it in grief and anger. Now though, I felt it. I felt a weird sense of pride in myself, that I’d made it this far. Built a life for myself and become…this me. Someone who lived freely and without fear. I was just me. And I didn’t want to change that, instead I wanted to build on it. Become a better person. Calmer. More satisfied with the world around me.
Less alone.
Happier.
Goddamn it. I smiled to myself and just allowed myself to feel. And the next thing I knew? A crew member was tapping my arm, telling me we’d landed and that I had to get off because the cleaners needed to get on. Also, here was Julian, laughing at me.
“Babes, you need to get off. We’ve got things to do.”
Did we? Had we?
“Come on,” he said. “Get off, you big oaf, and meet me outside Customs. I’ve been promised tea and a bed for the night. Remember?”
I did, and I hastily gathered my stuff, my phone in my pocket. Bag. God. What was I like?
“Love you,” he said quietly. “Now get off. See you in a bit?”
Yeah. Absolutely.
“Love you too,” I replied. And then? Life. What a bloody circus this was.
I had to laugh at myself, walking up the jetty, pressing my phone to my ear.
“Kieron,” she said in my ear.
“Juliet.” I grinned.
“I hope you’re on your way.”
“I’ll be there in two hours sharp. Just walking off the plane.”
“Great.”
“And…I have news.”
“Fabulous. Did you get him pregnant? Have you been headhunted? I’ll bloody shut that firm down if they come for you again.”
“Nah.”
