Page 99 of Everything After

“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.