London Has Your Eyes

Chapter 28. Janine

Tyler and I are spending our romantic evening in a cafe. Things are different now than they were just a few days ago. Now I have become not just a "girl", I have become a "bride". There's a ring on my ring finger that I can't get used to.

I certainly thought our relationship was invariably headed towards marriage, but I didn't expect him to mature so soon. My romantic. He took me out to dinner at our favourite restaurant to celebrate our anniversary. And then he looked languidly into my eyes and asked me the very question. I wasn't expecting it. I threw myself into his arms. I found out later that a photographer had taken pictures of us at the restaurant. He was filming from a distance, trying to catch my reaction. Tyler made a film for me. About me, about us. I watch it every day. And now we're supposed to set a wedding date, and I'm going to be his wife.

I've been texting Alex all month, and I miss her terribly. And, of course, I can't wait to share the biggest news of my life with her.

Tyler takes my coffee and dives into his laptop, he needs to edit another video for the company, and I have a free day today when there's no shooting. It's still convenient when you work on a floating schedule.

The café door opens, and Dany and Alex appear on the threshold. He holds her hand, which doesn't escape my view. I smile at them affably and hug my friend.

- It's so good to see you, Janine, - Alex says, breaking the hug.

- It's good to see you, too! - She's changed somehow in a month. The light in her eyes. Is it Moscow or my friend that's encouraging her?

We stare at each other, Alex's gaze lingers on my arm.

- Is he ripe? - she asks, and I nod quickly in response.

- Yes! I was so excited to tell you! - I chirp. - It was so romantic!

- Who knew your serious Tyler is such a vanilla inside, - she smiles.

Tyler looks away from the computer, shakes Dany's hand, hugs Alex and sits back down to work with his headphones on. Dany goes to get coffee for himself and Alex, and we finally get to chat with her.

- When's the wedding? - She asks.

- I don't know yet, we're thinking. How's your move going? Is it all set? - I ask a counter question.

- Almost, I just need to find a flat here, I think 2-3 weeks, it all depends on it. In Russia I've almost got everything ready, there are just a few small things left. Where's Liam? Stella? - Alex looks around.

- Should be here. Liam's got some shooting today, and Stella's just running a bit late. By the way, where are you staying? - I ask. Alex asked me to help her out with a flat, but I couldn't find her a match. Then she asked me to stop searching, said she'd found one.

- At Dany's. That was the surprise,- she shrugs.

- I'm not surprised. All he did for a month was talking about you and staring at your pictures. Look, have you seen that girl before? - I ask, pointing Alex to the person in the window. There's a girl standing on the opposite side of the street, staring intently at us.

- No, though wait. I think I saw her at the airport. Dany! - she calls out. - Look in the window, remember that girl from the airport? Is she following you?

- Shit, it looks like it. She keeps showing up at all the places I go. She hangs around my house sometimes. I don't know how she got my address. I'm gonna go find out what she wants.

Daniel resolutely leaves the cafe and goes straight to the girl. He talks to her about something, then gets annoyed and seems to even raise his voice, she snorts and walks away. Daniel is so angry. Very angry.

- What did she want? - We ask together as Dany walks back in.

- She thinks I'm hers and we should be together until death do us part. Shit, she even got a tattoo of my name on her arm. Sick.

I didn't bother asking for the truth, because I know Dany hasn't told us everything. Fans who are eager to meet him or become his wife constantly come into our field of vision in one way or another. He's always been cool about it. But now he's seething. So it's something serious.

Alex's phone rings, she answers in Russian and steps aside to talk. I lean over to Dany:

- Will you tell the truth? What did this girl want? - I ask in a whisper.

- She said that if she saw Alex around me, she'd do anything to mess with her life. I've told her everything I think about it and where should she stick her threats, but, Jen, she just has crazy eyes. She's not adequate. The first time I saw her at the bar when I kissed Alex, she was standing in the corner, almost clenching her fists to blood. She has a very heavy look in her eyes that makes me feel uncomfortable. Then she ended up at the airport, asked for a photo with her and clung to me like a herber, for a month her face flashed here and there. And now Alex has flown in and she became more active. I don't know how to rein her in. She hasn't done anything. You can't get her for just saying something. Don't tell Alex. I don't want to upset her.

- Okay,- I say, but a bad feeling has already crept under my skin.

Alex comes back to our table, and Dany takes her hand. You can tell he's head over heels in love. I thought it wouldn't happen to him for a while after a past relationship, but Alex has stormed into his life like a tornado. There's some chemistry between them, and you can see it from a distance.

- If Dany's not answering messages, then Alex is already here,- Liam's voice is heard at the entrance. - Hey, guys. - Liam shakes hands with the guys. - So, old girl, what's up? - He turns to Alex.

- Are you still not settling down? - She smiles.

- Never.

- Seems like last time someone shit their trousers instead of doing the punishment, huh? Didn't it teach you anything? Like keep your mouth shut or else you'll get into trouble? - Alex likes to be in control.

- Oh, oh, you scared me,- Liam goggles and raises his hands.

- Dude, chill out,- Dany says. He's still hugging Alex, occasionally kissing her on the temple.

Liam pulls out his mobile phone and takes a picture.

- Delete it quickly,- Alex tenses up. - I'm serious.

Dany and Liam look at each other in surprise. Alex reacts very strangely, not sure what's going on.

- No way, - Liam says solemnly and takes another shot. Alex keeps her eyes on him like a panther before she jumps. She seems very nervous.

- I said remove it. God forbid, Liam, I see one picture online,- she grits through her teeth.

- Alex, it's just a photo. What are you doing? - Dany intervenes.

- I don't want your groupies prying into my life, - she says. Dany grits her teeth and nods understandingly.

Liam says nothing and puts his phone in his pocket. Tyler finishes his work so we can all hang out together. I love hanging out with our company. Somehow we've become a real family, even though each other's personality traits are bad.