April 2020

It was finally the end of the week, keeping Hayden's surprise party from him was starting to eat away at me, all the secret conversations and phone calls would look suspicious to anyone; but thankfully my actions weren't questioned once making my life that little bit easier, the last thing I wanted was another argument when everything was just so right.

Hayden and I had never been happier, living in our own loved up bubble. After working through all the tension that'd been building between us, things had finally settled, and we were blissfully happy. We were finally a couple making things official the day after my mother burst back into my life, but the word 'boyfriend' wasn't even close to what I would class Hayden as, he was so much more than that; he was my entire soul.

It was only the middle of the day and the venue wasn't booked until 5pm, I still had so much to do but thankfully Ricky and the girls were setting everything up for me, and I couldn't be more grateful. The last thing I wanted was for Hayden to get suspicious mere hours before his party and all of the planning going to waste.

I'd chosen a beautiful venue, one of the higher end restaurants in town had allowed us to book a few tables and decorate the surrounding area, it may not have seemed much to some, but it was only our immediate friendship group and a few of the friends Hayden had kept or made over the years. The girls, Ricky and I all decided that a more intimate gathering for the party as it'd always been the five of us so having more people there than we needed seemed pointless, plus it's not as if I could invite my doting parents to join in with the celebrations.

"I'm just going to pop out for a bit, sweetheart" Hayden said as he walks into the living room, he looked positively drool worthy in his white t-shirt and black skinny jeans. He really was that get you a man that can do both, he was able to pull off whatever he wore. However, that made it increasingly difficult for me to keep my hands from constantly itching to touch him.

"Anywhere fancy?" I replied, turning my attention to him fully.

"Only into work they want me to sign a few more things and go through the briefing for next week, I shouldn't be more than a few hours"

Hayden placed a kiss on my forehead, and I was once again alone in the living room. I let myself relax slightly, there was only a few more hours I whispered to myself and I wouldn't have to keep tonight a secret anymore. I decided to kill some time by running myself a bath and having a soak, it'd been a long time since I'd had a day dedicated to self-care and today seemed as good as any to catch up on some much-needed personal TLC.

Making my way to the bathroom I started to run the hot water, grabbing myself a towel from the shelf and chucking it on the bathroom floor I made my way to the cupboard to collect some supplies. Bubble bath, Epsom salts, a hair mask and a bottle of my favourite moisturiser were my chosen arsenal for today's pampering. I balanced everything in my arms and made my way back into the bathroom.

The hot water melted away any traces of stress and anxiety I might have had about tonight. I was a firm believer that most things could be fixed by a bubble bath and a warm beverage. An hour or so had passed and I felt like a new woman after a few hours soak in the bath. Wrapping the large bath towel around me I padded into the bedroom to start getting ready for tonight.

I glanced at the clock on my bedside table and it read 1:30pm, I had four and a half hours until the table was booked, and we were due to arrive at the restaurant. Thankfully by the time Hayden returned from his meeting I'd have enough time to tell him that we were going for a 'romantic meal' that I'd planned for us both. A warm feeling spread through my body, if anyone deserved a somewhat happy ending it was the two of us and finally it seemed as if we had that.

Turning on the TV I placed on a murder mystery documentary I'd been binge watching on Netflix and started to get ready. After lightly towel drying my hair I'd decided that I'd lightly curl my hair, I'd always preferred it curled I'd never quite liked the way my hair sat when it'd been straightened. I'd let my hair grow far too long, it was fast approaching the middle of my back and I made a mental note to get myself booked in to get my hair trimmed slightly.

Not bothering to change out of my towel I sat myself down in front of the dressing table and Grabbed the hair dryer to start the process. About halfway through I heard the front door open and then close again, footsteps on the steps followed moments later and then so did the man that they belonged to.

"Oh, I didn't know you were going out tonight" Hayden said with a slightly confused look on his face. "I'm not, we're going out to dinner. I wanted to celebrate you getting your new job, we've not been out together in what feels like forever. I thought it'd be nice." I don't know why I felt so shy telling him that I'd booked us a table at a restaurant, maybe it was more wanting to make sure he was happy and comfortable especially when he was having his bad days, that thankfully were few and far between.

"You're a beautiful soul, Lucia." Hayden replied as he made his way over to where I was sitting. Lightly grabbing my chin, he placed a kiss on my lips. Turning the hair dryer off and throwing it on the floor I stood up and wrapped my arms around his neck.

The kiss deepened as I moaned slightly allowing Hayden's tongue entry to my mouth. I knew where this was going to go, as much as I wanted it to continue, we had places to go and people to see and I knew if we ended up in bed, we wouldn't be leaving it till tomorrow morning.

"Behave." I laughed quietly as I pulled away, "we can't miss our reservation. As much as I'd love to not show up."

"Delayed gratification." Hayden smirked as he placed a final kiss on the tip of my nose. I rolled my eyes in faux annoyance and made my way back to the dressing table.

"Where are we off to then? You didn't mention where we were going."

"Onyx." I replied, "that fancy restaurant that opened up in town a year or so ago it looks amazing I was lucky to get a table." Well, that wasn't entirely true. The Man that Ricky had been speaking to for a few weeks was the general manager and after pulling a few strings he managed to help organise the venue for us. I'd already written a thank you card out for Jeremy and placed it in my clutch. luckily, he'd be working tonight so I'd give it to him when Ricky introduced us.

"You're too good to me." Hayden replied, "I'll be back in a few I'm just going to shower. It's a shame really you should've waited you could've come with me."

"SHOWER.NOW." I laughed pointing in the direction of the bathroom. I swatted his arm playfully as he passed me, and I couldn't help but let the smile I had on my face grow as I started up the hair dryer again.

Five o'clock quickly rolled around and I was just applying the finishing touches to my face as my phone pinged to alert me that the taxi I'd ordered was pulling up. Putting the last swipe of lipstick on my lips and checking one last time how my dress looked, I'd picked a low-cut black slip dress that was like a second skin. I was worried it'd look slightly trashy, but I loved how it clung to my curves. Just as I was slipping my heels on and placing my phone and debit card in my clutch Hayden's voice travelled up the stairs.

"Luce, the taxi's here sweetheart. You ready?"

"I'll be down now; sorry I was just grabbing my bag." I shouted back as I rounded the corner to walk down the stairs, Hayden was at the bottom waiting for me and he looked breath taking. Black suit trousers and a white shirt and he'd even suggested he wore his blazer all I could do was stare at this beautiful man for what felt like hours until a horn from outside broke me out of my daydream.

Hayden and I climbed into the back of the taxi and I pulled out my phone to let everyone know that we were on our way. As we got closer to the restaurant my anxiety started to heighten, I knew whatever I did Hayden would like it, but things had a habit of never going to plan I just hoped tonight would be the start of a new era where shit doesn't constantly hit the fan.

As the taxi pulled up to the front of the restaurant and Hayden quickly exited and rounded the back of the car to open up my door. Taking his hand and shutting the door behind me we walked hand in hand towards the front of the building.

"Table for two, it's under Lucia Smith." I said to the man sat at the front of house, I noticed the ghost of a smile pass his lips as he picked up two menus and gestured for us to follow him. Thankfully the part of the restaurant that'd been reserved for us was round a slight corner so the surprise wouldn't be revealed until the last second.

As we rounded the corner it took a few seconds for Hayden to register what was going on. Ricky and the girls had done an amazing job of decorating. There were fairy lights strung up around the area where our tables were situated. Transparent balloons with gold confetti lined the ceiling and a 'Congratulations' banner was hung across the back wall. Candles were placed strategically on and around the table, it was all perfect they'd really gone above and beyond of what I'd asked of them.

"Surprise." I whispered as I looked up at Hayden, trying to gauge his reaction.

"What's all this?" he asked turning to face me.

"I wanted to throw you a little surprise party, I'm sorry if it's a bit over the top. I just wanted to show you how proud I am of you for getting your new job, we're all so proud of you and we wanted a night to celebrate how amazing you really are."

Suddenly I was pulled into Hayden's chest and a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist. "You're an angel, Luce." He whispered, "I don't know how I got so lucky to have you." He turned to face the table of people watching us, their faces adorned with smiles. It'd taken a while, but we'd finally made it, surrounded by our nearest and dearest just as it always had been.

"Go and mingle." I said gesturing to where our friends were seated, "I need to go and speak to Rick, he needs to tell me where Jeremy is so I can thank him. Don't worry I'll explain later." I smiled and made my way over to where Rick was sat with Kiara and Poppy.

"The three of you are angels, how did you managed to pull this off? You're really the most amazing friends, I love you all so much." I said and sat myself down on Rick's knee, something I'd always done since we were younger even when there were plenty of seats available.

If someone had told me a few years ago that I'd be sat here with the three people around me celebrating Hayden getting his dream job I'd have thought you were insane but here we were.

"We're glad you like it, Luce." Poppy smiled, "it's nice to see the both of you finally happy." She came over to where I was sat on Ricky's knee and gave me a big squeeze. Poppy had always been the most sensitive out of the four of us, and the nicest it still baffles me why she chose to stick around and come to all those parties with us, she deserved better than that.

"How's loves young dream doing, are the both of you still sickeningly in love with each other?" Kiara laughed as she passed me a champagne flute from the table behind her.

"We are." I laughed, "it's like we've always been together." I smiled at the thought. "Rick, where's Jeremy I'd love to meet him, I got him a thank you card as well for helping to organise all of this."

"You're a sweetheart." Rick replied, "He'll be over soon, he finishes at six so I said he could join us, if that's okay with you?"

"Of course, it is!" I replied, "now tell me, how did the two of you meet?"

For the next forty-five minutes or so we listened to how Rick and Jeremy met, it was a comically funny story and by the end we all had tears running down our face. Trust Rick to be on a date with another man and have more in common with the waiter that served them than the man he was sat in front of. Regardless I was happy for him, he'd never had the best luck with relationships I just hoped for the same happiness Hayden and I had would appear in Rick's life.

We all started to gravitate towards the large table in the middle of the room, I was starving and couldn't wait to see what they had on the menu. "You have a nice catch up?" Hayden asked as he sat down in the chair beside me. "I did, what about you?" I replied, even though I was sat with my friends I couldn't help but let my eyes wander over to where Hayden had been stood talking with a few other men, I thought I recognised a few of them from when we were younger as some of Hayden's less rebellious friends, but I couldn't be so sure.

Hayden nodded in reply, "I'm starving. Have you decided what you're having?" I shook my head and began scanning through the menu, everything looked amazing and I'm sure I had to stop myself from drooling once or twice while I was looking at all the options. Around ten minutes later a waiter came to the table and began taking down our orders. I'd decided on a starter and a main course as I'd never been one for deserts. Calamari with a garlic aioli dipping sauce, followed by a 10oz filet mingnon with fries and a beef dripping sauce with a side of truffle mac and cheese, I was so glad I'd skipped lunch today.

The whole table fell into comfortable conversation, chatting about everything and anything while we waited for our food to arrive. I was content with sitting back and listening to the flow of conversation around the table, Hayden was absentmindedly drawing patterns on my thigh as he spoke to one of his friends, who I found out was called George about the garage he'd opened up on the other side of town.

When food eventually came the table fell into a comfortable silence, with only the occasional praise for the dish they were eating being expressed. The food was exquisite, I'd never had a meal quite like it before.

Once the plates had been cleared Ricky got up from his space at the table and motioned for me to follow him. Motioning to Hayden that I'd be back in a moment I left my spot and followed him to where he was stood with another man, who I assumed must be Jeremy.

"Luce, I'd like you to meet Jeremy." Rick said as I came to a stop by his side. I had zero chance to reply before the man in front of me pulled me into him. "I've heard so much about you!" he exclaimed, "it's so nice to finally meet you in person, I know how much you mean to each other." I blushed at his words, if it was possible to love someone before you even knew them, it just happened, and I could see why Rick was so besotted with the man.

"It's lovely to meet you too." I replied, "I'd just like to say that I'm extremely grateful for the help with pulling all of this off, thank you so much." I began fishing around in my clutch for the card I had in there. "Don't be silly!" Jeremy replied taking the card from me, "I should be the one congratulating you on ..." What ever Jeremy was about to say was cut off by a loud cough and a glare from my best friend. Something registered in Jeremys eyes, followed by a fleeting look of panic.

"Sorry, Luce." He began again, "what I was meant to say is that congratulations on Hayden getting that job he wanted, I'm sure you're extremely proud of him."

"We all are." I smiled, "are you coming to join us? I'm sure the girls would love to meet you."

"I'd love too, just let me grab my things and I'll be with you."

Jeremy placed a kiss on Ricks cheek, and I had to suppress a squeal. It was so nice seeing Rick happy, I had a feeling that they'd be making things official pretty soon. "Oh, Rick. He's so lovely you two look adorable together. He gave me a shy smile in return.

Grabbing two champagne flutes he passed one to me as we made our way back to where the girls were sitting, who were now accompanied by Hayden and George, who might I add was looking at Kiara as if she were some type of mythical creature, Rick must've noticed it too as he chuckled and motioned to where the two of them were sat. The two of us sat down and joined in with the conversation, well it was more like a debate that Poppy and George were having about whether Jaffa Cakes were in fact a biscuit or a cake.

It wasn't until Poppy pulled out her phone and began searching whether the food item was in fact a cake or biscuit that I noticed Hayden was missing. I looked around the room and couldn't find him anywhere, I put it down to him slipping away to use the bathroom or to answer a call and turned my attention back to the group.

"Luce, sweetheart would you be able to grab me a drink pretty please?" Ricky asked

"You're closer to the table though." I laughed but got up to get him one anyway. I got halfway to the table before the lights in the part of the room we were set up in faded, leaving us with only the fairy lights and candles to provide light. Thinking nothing of it I grabbed two glasses and made my way back to where everyone was sat.

"What's all this about?" I began, "how come were the only..." the words that were about to come out came to a crashing halt by the site that was in front of me. Hayden had come back but not only that the small circle of chairs had been pushed back slightly and he was stood directly in the middle. My hands began to shake, our eyes met those beautiful eyes that'd captivated me for years bore right into my very soul and I had to will every bone in my body to continue to move or risk stumbling.

"W-what's all this?" I whispered when I finally got to where he was standing. The two champagne flutes were quickly removed by someone, I had no idea who as I could only see the man stood in front of me.

"Luce, sweetheart." Hayden began as he lightly grabbed my hands, "Life wasn't easy for us, it never has been. I've made mistakes that'll haunt me for the rest of my life, but somehow that doesn't matter anymore having you in my life makes the pain all the more bearable, you always have. When you disappeared, you took the better half with me, the half that was worth fighting for and there were days I thought that I'd never have that part of me back again. When you came back into my life, I was a shell, but through sheer will and determination you've helped me put myself back together again, I can now be someone who I'm proud to be. We're twin flames you and I; we always have been, and I was an idiot to deny it for so long. I have loved you for years, Lucia. I always have, and I always will. You're the other half of my soul."

Tears were streaming down my face, I was overwhelmed. So many emotions were flashing through my mind but the most prominent one was love, it always was when it came to Hayden.

"Lucia smith, will you do me the honour of making me the happiest man in the world, will you marry me?" Hayden dropped to one knee and pulled out a small black felt box. The ring could've been one from a packet of Haribo's and I'd have still said yes but I found myself speechless as he knelt there waiting for an answer.

"Yes." I whispered, "I'll marry you." Hayden pulled the ring gently from the box and slipped it onto my ring finger. It was beautiful, a stunning white gold band covered in small diamonds with a larger one set in the middle, that was also surrounded by the same small diamonds that surrounded the band. It was truly the most beautiful ring I'd ever seen.

Pulling me into him, Hayden wrapped his arms around my waist and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. My arms automatically wrapped around his neck and I suddenly registered the cheering and clapping that was coming from around us. I pulled away slightly and saw all of our friends stood their looking as equally teary eyed as I was clapping away and taking photos.

"This was meant to be your surprise party." I giggled, as I placed another kiss on Hayden's lips. "This party was never for me sweetheart; it was always for you. Everyone knew they were coming here for this, we just needed you to think that it was because you'd thrown a party." His words warmed me to my very core, this breathtakingly handsome man had gone to all this trouble just for me. "There's one last surprise, close your eyes and turn around. Don't open them until I tell you."

I did as he said, letting him guide me to where he wanted me. "You can open your eyes now." He whispered. It took a second for me to register what or rather who I was looking at, but when it did my knees almost buckled. If it wasn't for Hayden standing behind me, I'd have hit the floor.

"D-dad?" I stammered, "what are you doing here?" I hadn't seen him since I left, nor had I spoken to him out of fear that he'd of rejected my new life. Deep down I knew he wouldn't have, he was nothing like my mother but I'd let my anger towards her get in the way and I wasn't sure If he even wanted to see me.

"The young man behind you invited me." He replied, "your mother may have an issue with this, but I don't. I'm sorry I haven't been able to come and see you sooner, luce. Things have just been difficult at home to say the least."

I nodded in agreement, I found myself half running half stumbling to where my dad was stood and threw my arms around his neck. "Dad I'm so sorry." I began but he cut me off. "You did what you needed to, darling. Don't worry about your mother she'll come around eventually."

I wasn't so sure about that, but I didn't dare argue, I had my dad back in my life and I was grateful for that. "I'll leave you two to catch up, come and find me when you're ready." Hayden said, giving my hand a squeeze before heading to where our friends were sat.

"He's a changed man, that boy of yours." My father began, "he contacted me on Facebook of all places wanting to apologise for everything, we met up about a week ago and that's when he asked if he had permission to marry you, not that my answer would've stopped him if it had been a no, but I appreciated the gesture of asking, even though it was slightly old fashioned."

I couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Hayden asking my father permission to marry me, I would've imagined it to be a comical sight for sure. My dad led us over to a table and we spend the next forty minutes or so catching up, there was no way to fit in the entirety of what'd gone on since I left home, but I thought it better to leave some of the not favourable parts out. After receiving at least eleven missed calls, from who I assumed to be from my mother, dad got up to leave. I assured him it was fine and for him to text me and we'd go and get coffee when we were both free, he placed a kiss on my forehead, and I stood and watched as he left the restaurant.

"Nice surprise?" Hayden asked as he came up behind me.

"The best." I replied, "thank you so much, I hadn't seen him in such a long time." A look of guilt passed across his face, I knew he blamed himself for that, but it wasn't true, I was an adult and could make my own decisions.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, "I love you so much, Hayden Williams. My heart and soul belong to you, it always has and always will."

"I love you too, Lucia." He replied and with that he closed the distance between us with a heart stopping kiss.