Always You

Epilogue

{One Year Later}

{Layla}

"Hey, Meg. I've just had a group message off Jasmin, Jada and Amelia."

I'm sitting on the sofa in the living-room while Meg is busying around in the kitchen.

"That's out of the blue. What do they want?" she says moving to look over my shoulder.

"They want to get everyone together for a catch-up. Want to know if I have a way to contact you or the guys."

"Well, I've got Dan's number and I think he has the other guys."

"So, you're up for it?"

"Yeah, it could be interesting to catch-up with everyone."

An idea comes to me and I'm typing before she can react.

(I'm in. I might be able to contact the guys, I'll let you know what they say. 😊)

(I recently started dating my high school girlfriend again, would you mind if I bring her along?)

(OMG YES!!)

The messages come flooding back in voicing their joy at finally getting to meet my allusive girlfriend. I look up to Meg and see her roll her eyes at me. "Well, you've made it interesting now."

Two weeks later we make the trip to Cardiff, opting to stay the night in a hotel. Abby barely saying goodbye before running off to play with the boys at Gracie's for the night. She's changed so much in the past year, she's a right little miss independent now. Nursery, has done wonders for her.

When we arrive at the arranged meeting point, aka a pub, Jasmin was the only one present.

"Should have known you would be the first one here." I call as Jas spots us coming.

She pounces on me when we get close enough. "Layla it's been too long. And Meg, I so glad you made it, I wasn't sure if anyone could get hold of you." Jas says pulling Meg into a hug. The latter looks a little shocked by the show of affection but takes it in her stride. "I can't wait till everyone's here and we can have a proper catch-up of everyone's lives."

"I'm glad we're do this." I say, bouncing on my toes, looking to the door, wondering who's going to turn up next.

"Layla, I thought you were bringing your girlfriend?" Jas asks.

"I did bring her." I answer with a smile. Reaching out and taking Meg's hand.

"Where is she th..." she cut's off when she sees our clasped hands. "FUCK OFF!"

Meg and I break out laughing.

"You're shitting me?" Jas says.

"Jas, I believe you know my girlfriend, Meghan."

Before Jas can react more the others start arriving. "Don't say anything." I smile a warning at Jas before the next member of the group arrives. She nods her head, a conspiratorial smile taking over her face.

When all the drinks are in and everyone's starting to settle into old habits Jada takes the lead.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm so glad we could arrange a time for all of us to meet up. It's been over ten years since some of us has seen each other and I want a chance to catch-up with everyone tonight."

"Here, here." George cheers.

"It's been too long but the first person I want detail's from is Layla."

"Oh, would you look at the time, I've got to dash." I joke, pretending to stand up.

I get a few laughs before Jas orders me to sit down.

"You said you were bringing your girlfriend." Jada states with a finger pointed at me.

"I did say that and I did bring her." I simply smile back at her.

"Well, where is she? I've been waiting years to meet this girl."

"Ahh, have you been thinking about me all this time Jada."

"Not like that," she says with a quirked eyebrow, "and stop changing the subject. Where is she?"

"What if I told you that you already know my girlfriend?"

"What do you mean?" she exchanges a confused look with Amelia.

"What if I told you that she is sitting with us right now?" I say making a display of putting my arm around Meg who is sitting next to me. Completing another teenage dream, showing off my girlfriend in front of my friends. I love this woman. I loved her then and I love who she's become.

"You're enjoying this way too much." Meg admonishes me. A warm smile lighting up her face, she's enjoying this just as much as I am.

"NO WAY, SHUT THE FRONT DOOR." Jada exclaims

"Is this for real?" Amelia chokes out.

Dan who has known for a while now and has spent the last few minutes smiling into his pint, speaks up. "As someone who has known for a few years, I can vouch for the relationship." Him and Meg don't get to talk that much but he's still protective of her. The first thing he said when we greeted each other earlier was to ask if I was looking after Meg and Abby. It's because of this I asked him a question, that I'm hoping to find the right time to put into plan tonight.

With everyone flipping out over our relationship it takes a while before I find a space.

After taking a big sip of my drink to wet my bone-dry tongue I get everyone's attention.

"Guy's I've got something I want to say." Turning to face Meg, I grab her hand. I need to hold something to settle me. "Meg, we had our first kiss in front of this lot so I think it only right they get to witness what I have to say. I made a promise to you over ten years ago. On our last night together, I promised you that if neither of us were in a relationship by the time we were thirty we would get married. I want to break that promise."

"What?" she asks sadly.

"Let her finish." Dan jumps in.

"Yeah, I want to break that promise because being your back-up is not good enough. Meg, I want to be your one and only choice." Pushing my chair back, I reach into my pocket, pulling out the little box and drop down to one knee. "Meghan Carter, will you marry me?"

"Yes." She cries before I can even finish the question. I jump to my feet and pull her into a kiss. A kiss that promises all the tomorrows in our future.

I slide the ring on her finger and kiss it, sealing it in place. "I love you."   

A/N: Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed Layla and Meghan's story as much as I did writing it. It started as a back-up plan story, what happens if two people who once dated agreed to be the others back-up but ended up falling in love just before the deadline. From there these two characters kept growing so it became more about their love than the back-up plan. The lockdowns really helped me to focus on this story and some others I've got saved away.