*****

"I thought I was happy, fulfilled, and life was on track. Then we locked eyes, and I know there WAS something missing – You."

*****

Devlin sipped his beer slowly letting it warm his mouth down to his stomach. He had been at the bar for quite some minutes now. The loud music and the smell of  cigarette started making him a little uncomfortable and he glanced at his watch wondering why the hell his friend hasn't arrived yet.

7:15pm. Shit. Maybe Kevin never got the message, or maybe is workcoholic ass is still at the office.

His mind drifted automatically to the events of the day. Specifically what happened after he entered the flower shop in town.

Devlin had seen his share of beautiful ladies but the beauty he saw upon entering the flower shop made his heart skip a beat.

The lady had worn a simple black dress and didn't apply any makeup. She was young, not older that twenty four he guessed, but her feminine parts were full and ripe with maturity. Hell, he even got a boner when she stood fully letting him scan her figure!

How can a person be that beautiful without even trying? He asked himself

Her voice alone, when she spoke to him, was like a soothing song that went through his ears and down to his soul. He could listen to her voice the whole day and never be bored.

Her lips... Oh how he longed to kiss those delicious lips till they become red. Maybe biting them teasingly in the process.

He noticed that she had a habit of running her tongue along her lips whenever she was thinking of something. She did it absentmindedly but the act alone made his throat dry and mind running with crazy thoughts.

Never had he felt these things with any of his lady friends let alone a stranger. Why her? He asked himself. And why now?

He did not have the answers to those questions but one thing was clear. This beautiful lady was giving him feelings that were alien to him but he was more than ready to explore.

Was he falling in love?

No. He didn't think so. Love grows in a person slowly and steadily. That's what his mother told him.

This was not slow and steady. It was growing very fast and what was worrying was that he wasn't in control.

If it wasn't love then what was it? Infatuation? Crush? No! How old am i? Twelve? He scoffed.

It then dawned on him that he did not even get her name. What if she wasn't working there and was helping for the time being? What if he would never see her again? Those questions made him uncomfortable.

He decided he would visit again next day at the flower shop. If he finds her then he would ask for her number and maybe take her out for a walk. That's what people do right? Or was he going too fast?

He then remembered that she told him to go to her if he wanted someone to talk to about his dad. He smiled at her innocence and kindness. She wanted to help him even though they were strangers. Who couldn't feel attracted to such a pure soul?

Wait... He could use that. He could use the excuse of talking to her about his father to know her more. He had already recovered from the sorrow of his father's death so he could share with her the happy memories he had with his dad and in return she would tell him about herself.

That was a solid plan. Taking advantage of her kindness. After all everything is fair in love and war. He smiled.

"Dude are you drunk already? Smiling at a beer bottle, really?" Kevin asked, sitting opposite him and startling him from his day dream.

"What the fuck man! You were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago, and stop appearing from behind me, it's creepy." Devlin exclaimed looking at his friend in the eye, showing him how angry he was at the lateness.

"Sorry man, i didn't check my phone the whole day, that's how busy i was, and when i was ready to go home fifteen minutes ago i saw your message and well here i am." Kevin explained apologizing.

"Why am i not surprised? I even suspect you sleep with your files as pillow." Devlin teased, smiling at his friend.

"You should know i have a life too, am not a robot!" Kevin exclaimed rolling his eyes. "Tell me how how has life been for the five years you've been away." Kevin inquired.

"Life has been normal i guess, missions here and there and that's just it." Devlin shrugged drowning his almost empty beer with one gulp.

"Well that's boring. No one special in your life?" Kevin asked again while ordering two beers, one for himself and another for his friend.

Devlin debated whether to tell his friend about the mysterious lady but decided against it. He did not know much about her and he wanted to know her first before telling his friend. "Apart from my mum, no, there is no one special that i know of." He replied.

"Well lucky for you, you will be my best man next week and you know what that means, you will have the attention of many beautiful women." Kevin informed happily patting his friend's hand.

Kevin knew he had to do matchmaking soon or his best friend would die a bachelor. He had never seen Devlin in a serious relationship and sometimes he was worried for him.

"No man, i don't think so. I'll be at the wedding to support you and that's it. Not finding some desperate woman to fall in love with." Devlin deadpanned.

"You never know what fate has in store for you buddy. Love finds you when you least expect it." Kevin informed him while sipping his beer.

Devlin's mind automatically pictured the mysterious lady's face. He wondered if she was coming to the wedding too. He would ask her the next time they met. Maybe ask her to be his date, he grinned internally.

"Are you even listening to me? I need to be a godfather soon but with this trend of yours i think it will remain just a dream." Kevin complained to his friend.

"You will soon have kids of your own Kevin, you will be a parent, that's more than a godfather." Devlin smiled at him.

"Yeah, well, that's only if we have them sooner, i think." Kevin mumbled making a face that Devlin could not understand.

"What do you mean sooner? You know she is your wife, right? You will be together 'till death do you part."He said quoting the vows using his hands.

"I don't know buddy. I think i am sick." Kevin said with a low and sad tone while playing with the top of his beer bottle.

There was a brief silence between them as Devlin took in the news. Sick? The last time his friend was sick was seven years ago when he battled with cancer. His case was a rare situation but the doctors said the disease was genetic since his father was also diagnosed with the same disease in his forties. After several months of medication, Kevin was declared cancer free and he had been a healthy man ever since.

"What are you talking about? What do you mean you are sick?" Devlin asked his friend in a more serious tone.

"I think the cancer is coming back." Kevin replied, his tone now sounding worried.

"Did you go for checkups in the hospital? What did the doctors say?"Devlin continued his questions with a soft tone.

"That's the thing Dev, the doctors found nothing. No sign of cancer coming back." Kevin said.

"That's a good thing man. If the doctors said you are not sick then you are not. This is just you being worried. It will be fine." Devlin tried assuring his friend.

"You don't understand man, i feel EXACTLY how i felt those years back." Kevin tried making his friend understand.

"Well how about we do this, you go for regular checkups, lets say at least once a week so as to be sure and then we could start from there." Devlin suggested. "Worrying about something that may not be there is not good to your health and you know it."He continued.

"Okay, I guess that's a good plan. But i have this feeling, man, that i can't shake off." Kevin opened up to his friend.

"All will be good buddy and you can count on me in case of anything." Devlin assured him.

"Thanks man. Who thought you were this sentimental? Who are you and what did you do to my grumpy, stone faced friend?" Kevin teased him with a small smile.

"Yeah well, suck it up, you fool. Am also human." Devlin replied. "So, what was the relation between being sick and you getting kids sooner?" He asked after a small silence.

"The doctors said i was lucky when i was cured last time and if it happened again then chances of infertility will be high." Kevin revealed.

"That's why you are rushing to get married." Devlin tried connecting the dots.

"That's one of the reason, another reason is i like her man. She makes me feel alive and happy."

"Have you told her yet? I mean about your assumptions?" Devlin asked his friend.

"No, i don't want her to be worried. Like you said, i will first of all go for checkups and inform her if the disease is back. I cant tell her and maybe this is me being stupidly worried and paranoid." Kevin answered.

"That's a good idea. When will i meet her?" Devlin asked suddenly curious.

"Don't worry buddy, you will meet her on the wedding day. We agreed to take sometime away from each other until the wedding day." Kevin answered him finishing his beer.

"Okay that makes sense i guess. As long as she is not one of those fake, gold digging bitches then you have my blessings." Devlin said looking at him and then glanced at his watch.

"No, she's not, am sure you will like her once you get to know her." Kevin informed him proudly making Devlin smile.

"Okay, see you later man. I promised mum i would be home for dinner and i don't want her to wait up for me." Devlin told his friend while standing up.

"Pass my greetings to her will you, tell her I'll come visit soon when i get some time." Kevin said also standing up and paying the bill.

"I'll tell her that. She surely misses you, it has been a while since you've been there." Devlin informed him.

"Okay. We should meet again soon, you know, the wedding preparations. As the groom and best man." Kevin grinned.

"Sure, just massage me earlier and I'll be there." Devlin answered after a long sigh.

They left the bar together and Kevin went straight to his car, not before offering his friend a ride which Devlin politely declined. Devlin trekked the other direction to his parents house while enjoying the night breeze, his mind occupied with thoughts about the wedding.

He did not like parties and crowded places. Lord knows how he will survive being in a wedding and making matters worse, as the best man.

*****