Compared to the brides I'd seen on TV and in movies, Charlotte was ridiculously calm and easy-going the next morning, as we sipped champagne and ate cream cheese bagels for breakfast.

Alex and Noah were getting ready in our room, while myself, Charlotte, Kris and Nora had taken over the honeymoon suite. As I braided Charlotte's hair into two plaits - a plus of practically growing up in a salon - then pinned them into a crown around her head with delicate, fresh white flowers, she applied her own make-up.

When she walked out of the bathroom wearing a plain white, knee-length sleeveless shift dress I couldn't believe how beautiful she looked. So simple, yet so stunning, like a nineteen-sixties icon.

Dabbing my eyes carefully so as not to ruin my own make-up, she smiled shyly as I took her hand in mine.

"You ready?" I smiled.

"As I'll ever be," she winked back at me.

Alex and Noah were already waiting outside the registry office when we arrived in time for the four o'clock ceremony. They both looked so handsome stood against the old brick wall of the building; Alex smoking a cigarette in his dark green suit, and Noah - dressed in his navy ensemble with white shirt - playing with the ring boxes anxiously as he watched our taxi pull up.

Charlotte was right; this place was so cute it could have come straight from a 'Visit England' postcard. Originally a school back in the Victorian times, the dark grey building was covered in lashings of thick ivy with flowers around the door.

As we stepped out, Alex rushed over. "Holy shit," he exclaimed, holding Charlotte's hand as she stepped down from the old black cab. "You look out of this world."

Laughing gently, she leant forward on her tiptoes to kiss him softly.

"Looks like a beautiful day to get married," she whispered, before turning to take her simple white bouquet from my hands with a huge grin.

The sun was warm for early April, and the bright blue sky over the old building was filled with sound of birdsong. As I glanced to look at Noah, still hovering over by the entrance of the building, he gave me a wink.

"You all look beautiful today," he called out, causing Nora to blush slightly, and Kris' head to grow about another foot in diameter.

"Break a leg," Kris winked, kissing Charlotte on the cheek before linking his arm through mine and heading towards the entrance, where Noah stood holding the door open.

"Miss Wilson, you are a picture," he smirked as we walked past him into the registry office. I don't think Kris noticed the cheeky slap across my bum that Noah followed his comment with.

The simple ceremony was perfect. After stating their legal declaration, Charlotte and Alex read their own vows. I couldn't help crying as they talked about how they would be each other's rock for the rest of their days, how no challenge would ever come between them. The reality of what Charlotte had already been through just a couple of months ago was already testament to how strong they were, and their words hit me hard.

I felt Noah's hand rest gently on top of mine and looked up to see him smiling softly at me. "You okay?" he whispered.

Nodding back at him, I wiped my eyes with a tissue then leant my head on his shoulder as we watched them make their final promises to each other. When the registrar declared them husband and wife, we jumped to our feet to cheer.

Following the ceremony, we posed outside the building for some candid photos on Kris' vintage camera, including some hilarious attempts with him trying to set the timer then run back in time to be part of the picture.

"Abi and Noah, maid of honour and best man together for one please," he called.

As Noah and I leant up against the wall side-by-side, he reached over and held my hand gently as I dangled my small bouquet down against my side in the other. As we glanced across to look at each other, I heard Kris' camera click.

"Got it!" he declared.

"Wait, that's it?" I laughed.

"That was perfect," he smiled. "I'm a cool, reportage kind of photographer remember, Abs, not poses and forced smiles. Trust me, you're going to love that one."

Shrugging it off with a smile, I stayed with Noah as Kris moved on to grab some of Charlotte and Alex sharing a moment on their own.

"Do I get a kiss yet?" Noah smirked.

"Oh, sorry, I hadn't even realised," I replied, leaning up to place a lingering kiss on his lips.

"You look very handsome today, Mr Hartnett," I smiled, as he wrapped his arms tightly around my waist and pulled me close.

"Me?" he laughed gently, "Look at you, you're like an angel or something."

The dress Charlotte had chosen for me was definitely... ethereal. The long, dusky lilac tulle swooshed around my feet as I walked, and the sweetheart neckline accentuated my cleavage in a way that still looked classy enough for a wedding. My hair, styled in loose waves, hung over one shoulder and was finished with one small, white flower pinning my fringe to one side.

"I don't feel like an angel," I smiled back at him, "My head is pounding."

"Mine too," Noah whispered, "I could do with a nap before we have to start drinking again."

"We could always not get wasted tonight," I said, cocking my head to one side. "I want to make sure we're both fully functioning when we get back to the room."

"Got something special planned, have you?" he smirked back.

"Well... it's just such a romantic day," I said, lowering my eyes, "I want it to be a special weekend for us, too."

"It already is," he said, leaning in to nuzzle my neck, "You killed me crying during that ceremony. It means a lot to you, right? All this wedding stuff?"

"It just gets to me," I responded as I straightened up his collar and tie. "People promising to spend the rest of their lives together, until death do them part."

"You know it's just a piece of paper, though?" he said, a small smile at the corner of his mouth. "Plenty of people spend their whole lives together quite happily, just knowing they love each other."

"Well, I guess if they definitely know that for sure they might feel differently about having to make it legally binding," I smirked back at him.

"Abs, Noah, you ready?" Charlotte called, "The taxi's here."

"Coming," I called back, before turning to face Noah again.

"We'll continue this conversation later," I smirked, before placing a quick peck on his lips and heading over to jump back in the taxi with Nora and Kris, while Alex and Charlotte got into the back of Noah's car.

After the most delicious dinner in a private room at a fancy restaurant in the city centre, we all made our way back to the hotel. Noah hadn't been drinking due to having his car, and I had only had one glass due to my already-fragile state, so I rode back with him. It was lovely to be on our own again, particularly after I'd had to share his gentlemanly ways with Kris and Nora all day.

As we arrived back at the hotel, a different receptionist from the day before was sat at the desk. Petite, with big, wide eyes, her blonde shoulder-length hair had a faint tinge of pink running through it. Almost as though it had been dyed brightly, yet left to fade out. With each step closer, the recognition of who it was flooded into my mind.

There was no denying it. The last time I'd seen those big eyes up close they had been filled with hatred and blame for me ruining her life. She'd lost a lot of weight and her face looked gaunt, but as her eyes flicked up from her computer to greet us, the smile froze on her face.

"Good evening," she said quietly, her voice stiff.

"Holly?" Charlotte squealed, "I haven't seen you for so long, how are you? How's life? We got married today, can you believe it?"

Charlotte had definitely not limited herself to just a couple of drinks at dinner. Throwing her arms over the counter to grab Holly into a big hug, she pulled back to look at her with a concerned expression on her face.

"How are things with you since... since you left uni?" she blurted out. "I didn't know you'd come home."

Oh shit, how could I have forgotten? Charlotte and Holly had attended the same sixth form here in Cambridge. That was half the reason I'd even got to know her in the first place, through Charlotte introducing us.

"Yeah, I moved back to my mum and dad's," she answered, keeping her eyes firmly focused on Noah and me, hovering just behind Charlotte and Alex. "It's been... hard. But I'm feeling a tiny bit better every day, thanks."

After a few more awkward exchanges between the two of them and Kris, we headed into the bar where Noah bought the first round. I couldn't shake Holly from my mind, and it didn't help that she kept loitering by the door, staring blankly at us all. I felt guilty for having a good time as the drinks continued to flow, but it was my best friend's wedding day and I wasn't going to let her make me feel like the devil incarnate.

Eventually, at around eleven o'clock, Alex and Charlotte headed off to bed, signalling that the rest of us could finally turn in, too.

I was a little tipsy but far from drunk, and Noah had taken it easy too. Maybe he was also holding out for the same thing I was hoping would happen when we got back to our room.

As I waited for him to settle the bar bill, a voice from behind me caused me to jump.

"So, you two must have got together after the crash I presume?"

Turning around to face Holly, I pressed my lips into a tight smile. "Yeah," I answered. "Noah's been a rock for me since that night."

"How nice," she smirked, her eyes narrowing. "It must be lovely to have a boyfriend that's still alive."

"Holly, I'm so sorry for what happened," I began, "But please, you can't blame me. It was a terrible accident."

Her fists balled down by her sides as she stepped closer. "If you hadn't been running out on your man whore then it wouldn't have happened," she spat.

Hearing her talk about Noah that way made something snap inside me.

"Look, I'm sorry Ben filled your head with nasty ideas about Noah," I hissed, dropping my kind attitude towards her. "But you can't go flinging names around and accusing people of causing car accidents. It's not fair."

She kept her eyes on me, but didn't respond.

"Noah has a history, I get that," I continued, "But Ben's stupid nickname doesn't quite work for a guy that's been going out with the same girl for, like, two months now. Anyway, I couldn't give a shit about your made-up opinions. I've accepted the fact that he's been with a lot of girls before me, because he's with me now and I love him."

"You what?" Noah's voice said quietly from behind me.

Turning to face him, I could feel my face burning with a mix of rage and embarrassment.

"Come on, we're going to bed," I snapped, grabbing his hand and heading off to our room without looking back at Holly.

After flinging open the door and stomping into the room, I flung myself onto the four-poster bed and screamed into the pillow. Noah's weight caused the bed to shift as he sat down next to me and gently ran his hand over my hair.

"Don't let her get to you," he soothed, "She's been through a lot. Whatever she says, it's just a way for her to place blame. She's still grieving, Abi."

"But I didn't cause the accident," I whined, feeling the tears trying to force their way out of my eyes again. "If I could rewind that whole night and make it so none of it had ever happened, I would. In a heartbeat."

"I know you would," he said quietly, pulling me up by the shoulders and bringing my head into his chest. "You're a good person, you'd never hurt anyone deliberately."

"She thinks she can get to me by attacking you, though," I sighed.

"Ben never liked me," Noah whispered, "He assumed I had, like, a conveyor belt of women coming through my door. It didn't sit right with his morals. You know they'd only ever been with each other, right, Ben and Holly? Guess his opinions rubbed off on her, too."

"I can't believe today's been ruined," I whispered, as one solitary tear finally broke free and ran down my cheek.

"Not at all," Noah smiled, gently wiping it away with his finger.

"I just wanted it all to be so special," I croaked, "And now everything just seems to have gone to shit."

"How can it have gone to shit?" Noah smiled. "We're here, together, in this beautiful place with the rest of our lives ahead of us. We should be thanking our lucky stars."

My chest heaved as I realised he was right. Compared to some people, including Holly, we were lucky.

"About what you might have overheard," I started, pushing my hair back from my face as I sat up straight. "I didn't mean for-"

"Abi," he interrupted, "Shut up."

"No," I continued, "I need to explain that what I said wasn't... it wasn't meant to come out like that."

"So you didn't mean it?" he said quietly, cocking his head to one side.

"Well, I... umm" I stuttered, looking towards the door as I fiddled to remove the small white flower clip still clasping my fringe.

I felt his rough hand touch my cheek and pull my face towards him, shifting his body closer until there was just centimetres between us. Moving his other hand up to hold my face gently, his green eyes seemed to dance in a whole new way.

"Say it, Abi," he whispered. "I want to hear it for myself."

Taking a deep breath, I bit my lip as I cast my eyes downwards, before looking back up to meet his gaze again.

It's now or never, Abigail Wilson, my subconscious practically screamed out loud.

My voice barely audible, I kept my focus firmly on Noah's eyes as I slowly opened my mouth to talk.

The words stuck in my throat before spilling quietly from my lips.

"I love you."

Letting out a breath through his nostrils, Noah's face instantly softened into a smile as he kept my head in his hands.

"I love you, Abi," he replied softly.

His lips pressed gently against mine while my body trembled all over and my stomach flooded with butterflies. I had said it out loud, at last. To his face. And, thank god, he had said it back.

I was in love with Noah Hartnett. And he was in love with me.