London Has Your Eyes

Chapter 45. Alex

Four days later. Wedding day

The bachelorette party was amazing! Even though we had honestly promised ourselves and each other that it wouldn't last long... alas, it turned out as it did.

Ending it with karaoke was probably the best idea. I had no idea Janine loved to sing so much. And that she's so great at it. But Stella did. Of course, for such a long friendship, they have studied each other inside and out.

Anyway, we finished at 4:00 a.m. and slowly went home. But it was worth it! Remembering this evening, I smile, finally open my eyes and force myself out of bed.

Today is such an important day for my now close friends. I'm very happy for them, and I sincerely wish that the celebration goes as well as it can. Just as Janine dreams. "I have to be at least one happy wedding," I say to myself and chuckle, remembering Anton.

For some reason, for the first time in a long time, the thought of him doesn't warm my soul.It's like he'd trespassed on my personal space, violated the borders. And now I instinctively want to protect myself from him and his attention. And there is plenty of it. Anton calls and writes, apologizes for that night and blah, blah, blah... I honestly don't know how to respond to all this. So I choose the safest option - to give myself time. Which I've asked him to do as well. But the regular "innocent" messages are still coming in daily, scouting out the situation.

There is still no news from Daniel. He still hasn't contacted me. No matter how hard I tried, the breakup is final, and he made that very clear to me. I've been all over the internet these days, watching every interview that's come up online. And I wasn't really listening to what he was saying, but rather trying to discern this "chemistry" between him and his nasty partner. No, she was nice enough outwardly, which annoyed me even more. They were flirting with each other, constantly trying to touch, leaving ambiguous jokes. And every such moment was a needle in my heart. Like the ultimate masochist, I watched them over and over again to remember it and convince myself that it was over. That little flame of hope that had been steadfastly glimmering in the soul was fading, leaving a void behind.

I step into the shower. While the drops of warm water awaken my body, the events of the day line up in my head. The main thing is not to forget anything. Especially considering that I deliberately missed all the rehearsals – I didn't want to cross paths with Daniel's mother. I wished he was here. The memory of the last day we'd seen each other flashed through my mind. How he pressed me here, how I forgot myself.. and then that damn bouquet... No! Not today!

I wrap my wet hair in a towel, put on my pyjamas and take on the most difficult task of the day - wake up a teenager.

- Max, get up! It's morning, - I say, leaning over his bed. - We should get ready.

- Mm-hmm, - he mutters, turning back against the wall and raking the blanket closer to him.

- Maxxie, son, come on, get up. You knew today would come early, - I shake his shoulder lightly.

- Mum... 10 minutes. And, honestly, I'll get up, - he keeps rambling.

- Okay, - I set the alarm for ten minutes and leave it in the opposite corner of the room. Endlessly long ringing. Cruel, but effective.

While my insidious plan wakes up my son, I brew fresh coffee and pour us a cup each. Yes, Max loves it too. He always says that coffee is the only thing that can keep his eyelids open in the morning.

- Mum, that wasn't nice at all with the alarm clock, - he says as he appears in the kitchen.

- Ready to appease you with some fresh coffee. Do you want some? - I ask.