Page 58 of Everything After (Everything Trilogy)

LILY

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COHORT REUNION

“I’m excited to see how everyone is, what they’re doing and how they have fared in life,” I said with a flutter of excitement in my belly.

“Yeah, pity there’s no surprises or secrets about us, what with us being in the public eye all the time,” Alfie mused in the back seat of our Mercedes SUV, being driven by Oscar.

“We do still have one little secret, but I don’t want our baby to be common knowledge just yet,” I admitted.

“Agreed. It’s been stressful enough with the people you know not responding in the best possible way for you.

” Alfie leaned over, pressed a lingering kiss to my lips, then sat back and squeezed my hand.

“You look beautiful tonight… but then you always do,” he said, chuckling.

He lifted my hand and brushed his lips on my knuckles.

“I’m happy we told all the important people in our lives, but I’d prefer to enjoy the news by ourselves for a while longer,” I confessed.

“Yeah, and fuck anyone who isn’t happy for us.

This isn’t the time for that selfish ‘what about me’ mentality.

I can’t get over Lennie’s take on our news.

I know that devastated you because he’s always fought in your corner on things.

But, in a way I’m glad because now perhaps you’ll follow your gut instead of trying to please everyone. ”

“I know, and in a way, it also makes me feel worse that I sometimes shared the little time we had together by showing up for the band.”

Alfie pulled me against him in our seat and let out a sigh of relief. “Forget it, we’re in a better place now for my middle age crisis because we put everything out on the table. Let’s be thankful that we’re so passionate about what we have and just go and have fun tonight.”

We hadn’t decided to be fashionably late, but the road off the island appeared to be slower than usual, and because of where it entered the mainland, it was at the opposite end of town from where we were headed. This meant we didn’t arrive until a good half an hour after the event had started.

The sun was just setting by the time Oscar pulled into the parking lot of the college setting that held so many memories for us.

Memories from our distant past—some fond and some more painful to recall.

Now, those memories seemed like a coloring book of our lives, with some of the pages fully fleshed out in vibrant colors, some half crayoned but not finished, and other pages yet to be marked.

“Is that Mandy?” Alfie asked, breaking into my reverie, and pointing out of the window. Following his direction, I glanced over my shoulder, but the girl had gone out of sight.

“Oh, I missed her,” I confessed.

Alfie flashed me an affectionate, lopsided smile, moved a stray strand of my hair off my face, and shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. We’ll find out soon enough, we’re almost there.”

“We won’t be needing you here. Go grab yourself something to eat and I’ll text you when we’re ready to leave,” Alfie told Oscar as we prepared to go inside. As we turned, there were already people milling about outside with their cell phones already taking snaps of us.

Alfie and I were well-versed at ignoring spectators when we wanted some private time, but we would never actually ignore a fan that asked for an autograph or selfie either.

When we went out in public together, it was a normal occurrence that we were treated like public property during our private time and pictures of us would be taken.

We just went about our business as if there was no one there.

Someone had put in a lot of effort on the entranceway, which had been decorated in a canopy of FSU school colors of garnet and gold balloons. Beyond a camera was set up with a tripod in front of a banner that said, “Survivors of FSU”, then underneath in smaller font, our alumni class year.

“Hey, Lily.” A handsome, surfer-type guy waved at me, then nodded at Alfie.

“Hi,” I replied.

“Neil, right,” Alfie asked quickly.

“You remember me? And I thought I looked nothing like I did back in the day. Yep, Neil,” he confirmed, fist bumping Alfie’s fist.

“Wow, Alfie, I didn’t know you knew Neil that well.”

“I always remember the good students. Neil’s guitar playing was awesome. Still play?”

Neil held out his hand, spread his fingers and wavered like he wasn’t sure. “Bits and pieces, here and there, where the day job allows.”

“I do remember you too. But you’ll forgive me for not recognizing you straight away. Damn, man you went and got yourself some muscles since then,” I replied, admiring his physique more closely.

“I’d say you look different too, but you appear to have matured on the TV in my sitting room. I’ve followed your career,” he told me. “And yours, Alfie, because one or the other of your bands crop up in the news almost daily.”

Alfie shook hands with Neil but shook his head. “You won’t hear anything from my band in the coming months, we’re taking some time off.”

“I’m not surprised. You guys have been like machines these past few years.”

“Who else is here? Alfie thought he saw Mandy as we arrived,” I probed.

“Nope, she’s not here yet… that is… if she’s coming,” Neil advised.

“You’re still in touch? Are you together again?” I’d hoped they’d found their way back to each other because they’d been cute together. But as far as I knew they’d broken up as a couple shortly after our graduation.

“Together, nope. In touch, I guess we have no choice in that matter. We’ve got an almost eight-year-old daughter together.”

“Seriously? I had no idea,” I said.

“I wouldn’t imagine you did since you were off touring the world with this one a few months after our graduation,” he replied, hitching a thumb toward Alfie.

I noticed that I placed my hand over my heart and realized how lax I had been about my American friendships.

I’d been told before I had a one-track mind when it came to my music, and as much as I’d tried to keep in touch with Mandy, my schedule and the pace XrAid had moved at hadn’t allowed for anything that wasn’t work or Alfie related.

“Do you know if she’s still singing?” Alfie asked, and the moment he posed the question, I remembered he’d showcased her talent, inviting her to be a guest artist during one of his gigs.

“Pubs and clubs mainly, two… maybe three nights a week. I’m sure she’ll be here, and you can have a proper catch up. If she’s a no-show, you could always ask Will to fill you in.”

“Will’s here? I thought he’d gotten a gig with some swing band in New Orleans or somewhere.” My heart skipped a beat and not in a good way. Will had been a drunken one-night stand I would have far rather have forgotten.

“Oh, he did. Mandy even went to visit him.” Neil checked the settings on the camera again and reset it. He glanced up at me and sighed. “Look, Lily. It’s a long story, but Will’s the reason my relationship ended with Mandy.”

“Will is? Weren’t you guys the best of friends?”

“Don’t tell me, he tapped your woman,” Alfie said dryly.

“Bingo,” Neil replied. I didn’t miss the note of irony in his tone.

“To be honest, I’d rather forget about it.

I need to keep my relationship with Mandy cordial for the sake of our daughter.

So, if you don’t mind, I’d rather not discuss it anymore.

” Alfie and I nodded in an awkward silence.

I was about to make our excuses when Neil said, “Talk of the devil.” He nodded toward a long-haired blonde at the entrance, and for a few seconds my eyes narrowed in confusion until she turned around and I saw that it was Mandy.

I wouldn’t have recognized her from the petite, short, dark-haired girl that I’d always admired for her edgy look in college.

These days Mandy was heavily made-up and had had too many face fillers.

The thick black eyelashes contrasted with the long, box-dyed blonde hair.

If Neil hadn’t pointed her out, I might not have recognized her.

Mandy acknowledged Neil with a curt, straight-faced nod, then squealed when her gaze switched to me, then Alfie. “Oh. My. God. It’s you. Y’all came,” Mandy said, stalking toward me with her arms held wide.

After a quick hug, she linked arms with both Alfie and I, completely ignored Neil, and began to steer us both in the direction of the gym.

Alfie stopped walking before we’d gotten too far and turned to look at Neil.

“Nice seeing you, man. Catch me before we leave, and I’ll give you my number.

I’m going to have a lot of downtime this year and I’d love to catch up with you. ”

Neil’s eyes went as wide as saucers and nodded. “I’d love that. I’ll be sure to catch up with you later.” Alfie stole a glance toward me, and although I’d made no comment, I’d still thought it strange that he wanted to connect with Neil.

The moment we stepped into the gym, both Alfie and I were mobbed by the hundred plus ex-students and their partners. As was usual with us, most of the men instantly gravitated toward me, the women toward Alfie.

I politely answered questions which were mainly regarding our first and latest albums but was aware that Alfie had one cautious eye out for my safety. Although he was naturally possessive, he was more so now that I was pregnant.

Fortunately, the throng of people crowding us didn’t last long when Mandy pulled me away. Alfie excused himself and followed. “Look who I found,” Mandy gushed to Will, who casually stood at the bar with a few other students from our music class.

My heart stopped the moment I saw Will, not for the same reasons as his likely had, but because I’d foolishly had an alcohol-fueled one-night stand with him. It was a decision I had regretted ever since.

I took a few seconds to regard him, and was shocked at how he’d let himself go. Gone was the thick hair, athletic build and ripped body, and in its place was a balding man with a middle-aged beer belly.