“So, that’s the terrific trio you always told me about,” Will said, after Ava, Jamie and Chance had left to their motel room across the hall for the night to sleep off their jetlag.

            I tugged down my satin blue nightgown and continued pulling back the covers of the bed. Outside, the English skyline was dark, with silver clouds and snowflakes gently pattering down. “Yeah,” I said. “That’s them.”

            “They’re nice,” Will said, nodding and throwing on a pair of plaid pajama bottoms. “I can see why you like them so much.”

            I sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, staring up at him as he shuffled through his drawers for a t-shirt to wear to bed. “I’m so sorry about all this,” I said, gesturing around at the apartment that would soon not be his. “I swear things would be different if I’d known they were coming.”

            He sat down next to me and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. I rested my head on his shoulder and shut my eyes. “It’s fine,” he promised me. “Really. I’m glad they’re back in your life. I know you’ve missed them.”

            I sighed, but nodded my consent. The truth was, the longing for them had died down over the eighteen months as life and work and classes caught up with me, but, now that they were back in my life, I realized how much I’d missed Ava’s confidence and Jamie’s dorky jokes and Chance’s careful gaze. They’d always been a big part of my life, and I hated leaving them behind.

            “I have,” I answered. “I mean, I love England and my life here now, but…”

            He kissed me on the top of the head, gently nuzzling my hair and making me smile. “I know, Candi. You don’t have to explain it to me. They’ve always been a major part of your life, and nobody here could ever take their place. Though it was surprising meeting Chance.”

            I bit my lip and stood up, hopping into the bed and sliding in between the smooth sheets. “He was definitely not who I was expecting to waltz up to my doorstep, that’s for sure.”

            Of course, I’d told Will all about Chance and my previous dating history with him. When you’re engaged to someone, the awkward exes conversation eventually arises, and so I’d told Will about my relationship with Chance. Will outnumbered me in his number of exes, and had been the rich player in his teenage years. I was glad he’d settled down and become the slightly reckless, totally loveable boy with the adorable dimples. He was my safety.

            “He’s not like you described him,” Will told me, pulling off his shirt and replacing it with a gray tee that advertised some sports team. “I don’t remember you telling me about those dreamy eyes,” he said in a swoony voice. He rolled his eyes with a snort, and I giggled.

            “I didn’t exactly say he was covered in warts and zits, either,” I responded, flipping over onto my side so that I could face him.

            He grinned devilishly. “Well, it would have been a nice consolation if he was.”

            “Chance and I were a long time ago,” I assured him, and that wasn’t a word of a lie. A lot of things can change in eighteen months, and that included personalities and tastes. Since then, I’d moved on from him, and though there would always be that lingering feeling of affection towards the first boy I had ever loved, my adoration for Will had grown and almost squashed that.

            I reached over and flipped off the lamp, drenching us in darkness. I could hear cars passing outside the window, but other than that, it was all silent, save for the low, constant hum of the refrigerator.

            “Candice?” Will asked, his voice slicing through the silence.

            “Yeah?” I whispered, and I felt his hand wrap around mine under the covers.

            “I don’t wanna be that clichéd boyfriend who doesn’t trust his girlfriend, but I’ve gotta ask…. Is Chance being here going to change anything between us?”

            “What do you mean?” I asked, frowning even though he couldn’t see me.

            He cleared his throat, and his thumb stroked reassuring circles on the back of my hand. “It’s one thing to say you’re over a guy when he’s a million miles away and untouchable. But seeing him again…. Does that bring up any memories or feelings? Do I have to worry about you?”

            “Will, who am I engaged to?” I asked. Part of me was still flattered that he cared enough to ask, though. I think most girls love a protective man who gets jealous every now and then. I was no exception.

            “Me,” he said, and I could hear the slow smile in his voice.

            “And what does that mean?”

            He was silent for a moment as he thought it over. “I don’t know, Candi. What does that mean?”

            I inched closer and pressed a soft kiss to his clean-shaven cheek, before whispering, “It means I chose you. I won’t deny that I loved Chance, and that there’s still a part of me that wonders what might have been. But none of that matters when I’m with you. Because you love me and trust me and accept me beyond everything else. Chance was my first love. But you mean everything to me. And I wouldn’t take back the move or America or my relationship with Chance or anything. Because everything that happened brought me here to you. And I’m not ever going to be ready to lose that.”

            He turned around and softly brushed his lips against mine, and I felt my stomach erupt in butterflies at his gentle touch. “I love you, Candice,” he whispered. Even though we’d said that to each other hundreds of times before, it always brought a rush of adrenalin zinging through my veins whenever he said it.

            I brushed my nose against his. “I love you, too, Will.”

            He pressed his lips to mine, and I was caught up in the slow, dizzying moment as his lips eagerly melted against mine. My hands found the soft curls in his hair, and I savored the feeling of having him there, with me, in that moment, before he moved out temporarily to allow Ava, Jamie and Chance to move in.

            Will pulled back breathlessly, and I saw his teeth flash in the darkness. “You know, we should probably make the most of our last night together before I move out.”

            I smiled against his lips. “I thought you’d never ask,” I whispered, before grabbing his shirtfront and pulling his lips down to mine once more.

            ~          *          ~

            The next morning at ten-thirty, I opened the door to find Ava standing there, looking a lot more fresh and composed than she had the day before.

            Ava threw her arms around me and hugged me tightly again. “Sorry,” she whispered into my hair. “But it’s been so long and I feel like if I don’t keep hugging you, you’ll disappear.”

            I looked out into the sparse corridor, spotting a potted fern and nothing else. “Where are Jamie and Chance?”

            “Showering,” Ava replied. “And eating breakfast. They’ll be over soon, though.”

            I stepped back to allow her entrance. “Come in,” I said. “Will’s just moving the first boxes into the new apartment, and then you guys are free to move in today.”

            Ava clapped her hands together and looked around at the apartment. I gave it a cursory glance to make sure everything was in its place. When it came to decorating, we’d chosen to decorate everything in shades of white, black and chrome, with hints of red everywhere to spice things up. A silver clock ticked on the kitchen wall, and a red bowl of apples sat on the black marble bench top.

            “I love this place,” Ava said, taking in the white splash back behind the stove and the beige walls and the wall ornaments and picture frames depicting snowy days and chaste kisses at ice-skating rinks and pictures of us hand-in-hand sipping lattes; courtesy of Will’s best friend, Shae Parker, an aspiring photographer. I wasn’t much of a photo girl, but the few framed pictures of us in London square that we had made me smile constantly.

            “Me, too,” I said. “You know, once you get past the vermin infestation and the apartment’s inability to pump out hot water.”

            Her plump lips dropped open, and her green eyes flashed in horror as she looked around the floor; as if afraid a rat would crawl out. “Really?”

            “Sure,” I said. “But I promise there’s only three rats. Their names are Tibbles, Minnie and Joseph, and they only come out at night. And the cold water is actually a good thing. It definitely saves money on showering times.”

            By now she looked ready to burst into tears, and I let out a loud laugh. “Ave, I’m kidding,” I said, bending over as chuckles escaped me. “You should see your face.”

            Her jaw dropped, and she slapped my upper arm. “Oh, my God, Candice! So not funny!” But even now she was barely restraining giggles.

            I giggled and grabbed a bottle of water, before taking a sip. “No, I swear it’s a great place. I’ve been here eighteen months and never had a problem.”

            “How long has Will lived here?” Ava asked, sitting down on a black barstool by the island bench.

            “Just over a year,” I told her. “We’d been living together for four months before he proposed.”

            “Are you sure you want us moving in?” Ava asked. “I mean, it must be hard, being separated from your fiancé.”

            “It’s fine,” I told her. “It’s only a few months. We’ll still see each other.”

            “Do you know when the wedding day is?”

            I shook my head. “Not yet. The date is still pending.”

            “I still can’t believe you’re getting married,” Ava said in wonderment, shaking her head softly. “I mean, I knew eventually it would happen—despite your stubborn efforts I knew you’d fall in love—but not this soon. Not after…” she trailed off, but I knew the direction she was heading.

            “Chance?” I asked, cocking an eyebrow. “It’s okay, Ave. You can say it. I won’t kill you.”

            “I know, but I guess every time I imagined you walking down the aisle it was with Chance. After Zoëy and everything…”

            I blew out a breath. “Chance was a long time ago, Ave. I’ve changed since then. He was my first love, but Will and I are for real. I can’t even explain what it’s like with him. He’s smart and kind and funny, and it’s like, no matter what, he gets me. I don’t feel like I have to explain myself to him; like every little thing I do is questioned. Finally I feel like I can be myself and he won’t care. Because he loves me.”

            “Chance was like that, too,” Ava reminded me gently, not in the tone of someone trying to sell one of their friends off to another, but in the tone of someone who needs to point it out.

            “True,” I mused. “But what I felt for Chance was different. I was a naïve girl when I met him. I didn’t know a thing about dating, and I was always worried I was gonna screw it up. With Will, I know what I’m doing. And what I don’t, he helps me with. He’s like my other half.”

            “I really am happy for you,” Ava told me with a smile.

            “Thanks. Now, what about you, huh? Any new girls in your life? What happened to Rose?”

            Ava cleared her throat. “I met up with Rose last year about a month after everything happened. We met for coffee. I guess I just needed closure on it all.”

            “What happened?” I asked gently, Ava’s wounds from Rose still fresh on my mind. Ava had met Rose’s parents, two hardcore Christians, and, as you can imagine, things took a downward turn very quickly, leaving Ava heartbroken.

            Ava shrugged. “We talked. Rose’s parents have put her into a program designed to change sexual orientation. They think if they work long enough, they can finally change who Rose really is. I guess it’s really over.”

            “I’m sorry,” I told her, and I meant it. I only ever wanted happiness for my best friend, and seeing her so torn up over someone who was the love of her life left me feeling cold and angry at people’s prejudiced views. Sweet girls like Ava didn’t deserve the criticism she endured on a daily basis. Especially not from her girlfriend or her girlfriend’s parents.

            She shrugged. “I’m over it. I met someone else, though. Her name is Kara. We’re not together, but…” The smile she tried to hide was in clear view. “I really like her.”

            “Aw,” I said, punching her lightly in the shoulder. “Looks like someone’s in love.”

            “Who’s in love?” Jamie asked, breezing through the front door without a second thought and instantly making himself at home in the way that only Jamie can. Chance was seconds behind him, looking more lively than he had yesterday.

            “Your sister,” I replied, trading a knowing smirk with Jamie.

            He grinned. “Is this about Kara? You should see them together. I almost can’t stand the tension.”

            Ava rolled her eyes. “There is no tension. We’re just friends, James.”

            “Yeah, yeah,” Jamie replied, rolling his eyes. “Kara’s totally in love with her, though. So cute.”

            “She is not!” Ava argued.

            “She brought you a teddy-bear that sprouts sweet, meaningless crap when you press its stomach,” Jamie reminded her, and I giggled.

            “So, Candice, what’s the plan for today?” Ava asked, clapping her hands together, obviously eager to change the subject.

            “Unfortunately, Will and I have to work from twelve until nine o’clock tonight,” I said, grimacing.

            “Why?” Ava whined.

            I shrugged. “Because my boss is a total slave-drive.”

            Will walked in through the front door just then then, and began folding up the sleeves of his dress shirt. “Hey, I am your boss,” he reminded me, leaning down and pressing a chaste kiss to my lips. He looked back up at everybody and smiled. “Good morning.”

            “You’re her boss?” Jamie asked, leaning against the bench with his arms crossed.

            Will shrugged. “Yeah, a few months ago when our head chef retired to Saudi Arabia. I was already sous chef, and so he just promoted me.”

            “Aren’t you a little young?” Chance questioned dubiously.

            Will nodded. “Youngest in the history of Rive La Belle. But I’ve been working there for eight years. First as a busboy, then as a cook, then as a sous chef, and, now, the boss.”

            “And how old are you?” Chance continued.

            “Twenty-four,” Will responded with a diligent shrug. It was only eighteen months older than me, and around the same age as Jamie and Chance.

            “I think that’s really cool,” Ava said, breaking the obvious tension in the room. “You know, that you guys work together.”

            He smiled and pecked me lightly on the top of the head. “Now I get to boss her around. So it’s great.”

            “I can still kick your ass at making a Danish apple pie, anyway,” I reminded him, sticking my tongue out childishly.

            “Yeah, but who makes the legendary filet mignon?” he said with a grin. “And if we don’t leave now, we’re going to be late.”

            I looked at the clock and realized how late it was. “Oh, my God,” I said, blanching. “We gotta go.”

            “If you don’t get a move on, your boss might just fire you,” Will said with a conspiratorial grin, and I giggled and grabbed our aprons from the hook by the door, as well as our chef hats and nametags.

            As I began making my way out the door behind Will, I stopped and turned back to them. “Feel free to eat anything from the fridge. And move your boxes in at any time. If you need me, call the restaurant—business card is on the fridge—and ask for me or Will. Don’t get drunk or do anything crazy without me. Ciao!”

            I heard Ava call a faint goodbye, but was already grabbing Will’s hand and tugging him down the stairs towards the front lobby.

            “Think they’ll be okay alone?” he asked, and I pulled my beanie tighter around my face.

            “Hopefully. At least if they burn the apartment down we have the insurance to cover it!”

            “Maybe it might come right out of my parents paycheck,” Will replied, obviously enjoying the thought of it.

            “Your parents probably wish I was in there when it burned,” I responded lightly, but I saw Will’s face fall as he caught my hand.

            “Hey, you know that’s not true.”

            I smiled. “I know. Now come on.”

            I tugged him onwards, and, as we entered the snow-covered roads and dreary English weather, our problems were forgotten as we melded into the crowds and became just another English couple that found love amongst the falling snowflakes.

~      *      ~

I'm officially back on line, and I'm stoked by the response I received about this book. Thanks so much, and I hope you guys enjoy it! Don't worry, Team Chandice will have its time in the sun. You do not have to worry about that ;)

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