Part 2- This is Your Pilot Speaking

Chapter 8

"Bruce!!" Paddy exclaimed as she opened up the door to their flat, "Thank you for coming."

Bruce smiled up at her, admiring her beauty. He could feel his heart beating fast in his chest. He was nervous. He didn't know what to expect. Were he and Paddy going to reconcile? Did she call him over to tell him that she had begun the divorce paperwork?

"Of course, thank you for asking me over." he handed her the roses, blushing as he saw her eyes light up.

"Bruce....darling..." she took the bouquet from him, taking them into the kitchen to put in a vase.

"I also brought some wine." he took the bottle out of a bag he was carrying. "They didn't have the one you usually drink, but I know you fancy this one as well."

Paddy smiled at Bruce, she grabbed the bottle from him and put it on the counter, turning to Bruce, she saw him give her a shy smile.

"Thank you." Paddy wrapped her arms around Bruce, giving him a kiss on the cheek as she embraced him.

Bruce's heart stopped in his chest. He had the woman he loved in his arms. The woman he had loved, the woman he had hurt...she was in his arms. Her smell was all around him, he could feel her heart beating against his chest. Bruce wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face into her hair, breathing her in.

"I missed you so much." he could feel himself getting emotional. Bruce couldn't bring himself to care, he would do whatever it takes to prove to her that he loved her. If it meant bringing down his walls and being vulnerable in front of her, so be it.

Paddy squeezed him tight. She missed being in his arms. He was her safety. She pulled away from him and looked him in the eyes, giving a shy laugh as she wiped a stray tear from his eye.

"Bruce, darling. I missed you too. I love you so much, these last couple of weeks have been a living hell. I missed us."

Bruce wanted to ask her if that meant everything was OK, but he didn't want to push his luck. She'd let him know if it were.

"We do still need to talk." she grabbed his hand and led him to the living room, sitting down on the couch. Bruce sat next to her, he was ready to beg for forgiveness if he had to.

"Bruce, I need to know, do you love me? Are you happy with me?"

Bruce couldn't believe she was asking him that, she should know, "Of course. I love you more than anything. You make me the happiest man alive. I love you with every thing I have."

Paddy shook her head, "No Bruce. I know you love me, I have never doubted that. Are you still in love with me?"

Bruce sat quietly, thinking of the question. Was he in love with her?

He sighed, he didn't know how to answer her.
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"Hey Griff, what's going on, mate?"

Griffin was at his flat, he needed to talk to Austin. He needed his older brothers advice. Griff and Austin were only 19 months apart, so they got along well. They were best friends and would always confide in one another.

"Are you busy? Can I come over. I need someone to talk to."

Austin knew that whatever it was, it had to be serious. Griffin barely had any problems, and if he did, he would take care of them himself, relating them to his brother after the fact.

"Yeah, of course, come over. Liz is over at her brothers house visiting the baby. I haven't been feeling well so I stayed home."

"Thanks mate. I'll be over shortly. I'll pick up a case of beer and something to eat."

"No worries. I'll be here."

Griffin hung up the phone. He let out a breathe of shaky air he hadn't realized he had been holding.

He had woken up 2 days ago to Alice in bed with him. He remembered bits of the night before, there was a lot of flirting, a lot of drinking...them kissing in the bar, kissing in the cab ride home, fucking numerous times....

Once he woke up and was sober, he realized what had happened. Him and Alice talked things over, and they decided to go out on a date, but no drinking this time. He wanted to see if there was still that draw to each other when they were sober. They were going to meet in a couple of days at a restaurant downtown, a proper date.

He needed Austin's opinion. What if they liked each other? Should he pursue a relationship with her? How would Paddy feel about him brining his new girlfriend around the house? How would Bruce feel? Did he trust Alice not to make a move on Bruce? Did he trust Bruce?

"Fucking hell...." he cursed to himself. "Of all the fucking birds in the UK, I had to fall for the one that was banging my Dad not too long ago."