Will We Talk?

82- Outing

"Let the wedding planning commence." I heard a voice whisper, immediately waking me from my slumber.

My thoughts were not linear at this point. Was I dreaming? Because why the fuck am I marrying someone without even knowing I'd been engaged. Was Sam hinting at something? Because why the fuck am I so unaware of something I should've made my whole persona.

But I'd soon calmed down upon taking notice of Rylee sat on the side of my brand new bed- which we only got to break in once. She had her typical french plaits in and her England football t-shirt, paired with jorts- which only she can wear and still look fit. Her posture was straighter than her as Fran lay beside me. Her arms were sprawled and her hair spread sporadically about the pillow she lay on. Upon noticing them, I finally realised that this was wedding planning for their wedding, not for my own. And it quickly dawned upon me that Sam had been away since yesterday morning, preparing and travelling down south before his appearance on the Graham Norton Show.

Then, I suddenly realised the fact that my top half was uncovered, only being hidden by the bedsheets. The shock made me visibly flinch and grab onto the bedsheets, hauling them up to sit just beneath my chin. My eyes were heavy and stinging as I balled my fists and rubbed my eyes free of the sleep I'd just had.

"It's nowt we've not seen before, Evie." Rylee snorted as I ensured the duvet covered all areas of my body.

To be fair to her, she was right. In fact, Rylee alone had probably saw more than Sam, considering the states we'd used to get in during school. Not only that, but the dark flashbacks of a few year back had also crept up on me as they tormented me with the thought of my abuse of alcohol. Without the two of them, I'd be in two scenarios right now: in a hospital bed with wires and tubes entering my body or simply six feet under.

"Very true." I groaned, pointing my toes and stretching my body, now carefree of the fact they might see anything, "What ungodly time do yous have is awake today then?" I asked as a hand held onto Rylee's thigh and my other tangling in Fran's hair.

It's a known fact that the latest Fran and Rylee could sleep until is 8:30, if that. I guess it comes with the nature of being a midwife, in Fran's case, but as for Rylee, I don't have an excuse for her. She could go to bed really late, yet still wake up and be fully functioning and active at 7:45. Which she is. It's always bang on that time when she sends my good morning text. Rylee's always been the structured and routined type.

"It's 10 man." Rylee spoke in a not-so-friendly tone, "Get up and get ready and I'll make you some brekkie." she demanded before getting up and heading to the kitchen.

"It's a nice place this." Fran smiled as she looked around the room, "You've scored with Sam like."

An eyebrow of mine raised, "How so?"

Her jaw dropped as though her answer wasn't the most obvious thing ever, "He's head over heels for you, Evelyn, he fought so hard to get you back and now look at him. Such a gent."

"As if Rylee isn't the same with you." I assured, although I wasn't too sure if I was making her feel better or just confirming what she knew.

"I know." she smiled, "It's scary all of this, though."

"Do you not want it? A wedding?" I questioned as I placed one of Sam's seemingly dirty t-shirts over my head.

"Of course I do." she defensively explained, "I guess it's just different."

I looked at the woman in front of me, knowing that after all of these years of her consoling me, it was time to return the fever, "I don't reckon you're scared, Fran. You're probably just worried about Rylee because she fails to show emotion." I laughed, rounding my bed and grabbing the required toiletries to take into my en suite. I held out my hand for Fran to take as I led her into the bathroom, "But in reality, babes, she's only got eyes for you. To be fair, I always thought she'd never ever date someone, hence my shock when I found out yous were together. But the way she looks at you, treats you, respects you, I can just tell that I was wrong for so many years."

Now, Fran crying was an extraordinarily rare sight, so to see that my words had successfully comforted her and made her actually cry, I knew my job was done.

*****

Mid-outing with the girls, Sam had decided to inconveniently call while we were discussing the hen party. As expected, the girls excused me as Rylee got a round of drinks for us- alcohol free ones, of course.

I rushed to the bathroom and answered my phone. My front was leaning against the sink as my eyes checked myself for any makeup faults or hair issues.

"Evelyn?" a voice sounded from the other side of the phone.

"Samuel?" I replied in the same tone.

"Where the fuck are you?" his tone was suddenly one of anger, and I frankly didn't like it.

"Wedding planning with the girls." I explained slowly and in confusion, watching my face distort in the mirror ahead, "Why like? What's up?"

"I've been waiting of you to text back all day, and I can see you're active on social medias." his voice was a bit softer now, "Sorry, I was just worried. Plus I'm pure shitting meself for tonight."

I gulped back a rather anxious gulp, "Ah, I understand. But why're you nervous for? You're always mint and I'm certain you're going to smash it again tonight."

The conversation went on a little longer before he ended the call to go on vocal rest. Afterwards, my mind was racing with emotions as his sudden outburst had made me overwhelmed and uneasy. It reminded me a little of Joseph's behaviour. Although, I think Sam's just paranoid after losing me for a while. Rightfully, he'll get a bit overprotective and insecure at times. Nothing to worry about.

*****

After I'd saw the girls off from my flat, I busied myself around by hoovering the floor after days on end of building furniture and unpacking things. Slowly but surely, the house was becoming my home. Where there had once been dust collecting on the end table, there was a welcoming tray sat in the centre which contained one of my many house-warming bouquets, a vanilla candle, a pile of cup coasters and a selection of magazines. I had even busied myself with beginning to repaint and gloss our doors, removing the boring beginners texture and colour that they were before.

While I hoovered, I had the dryer going with a fresh pair of pyjamas for me to wear after my deep cleanse this evening. The plan was to lie in the bath until a few minutes before Sam was on the TV, then get out and enjoy my night as though I was with him, front row and dancing.

Surprisingly, I did stick to my plan and had a relaxing evening, accompanied by the silence of my empty home and a lovely glass of pink gin and lemonade. Unsurprisingly, though, I was a little disproportionate with the lemonade to gin ratio, making me drunk rather quick. The more I drank, the more I knew I'd hate myself in the morning as the headache and droopy eyes began to creep in.