Living with Love (Lessons in Love)
Page 17
“Yes! I love you!” she declared as Mark got up on his feet and then leant in and kissed her as the gathered crowd around them erupted in euphoric applause and whoops of joy. It was the most brilliant, most magical moment of Alex’s life.
****
“We’re a package deal, you see,” Ashley told Mark as she handed him yet another box to be carried up to her apartment floor.
“Alex and I, we come as a pair.” She smiled.
“She’s not joking,” Ricardo declared in his European accent, weighed down beneath his own stack of boxes.
“We’re going to be one big happy family, just you wait and see.” Ashley beamed.
“Are you sure you’ve got enough stuff?” Alex asked as the guys headed back into the apartment building, laden down with boxes.
“Darling, you can never have enough stuff!” Ashley declared, wrapping an arm around her best friend’s shoulders.
“I hope New York is ready for us,” she mused. “This city isn’t going to know what hit it.”
“I don’t know, I’m sure it can handle two more couples having cocktails and games nights,” Alex quipped.
“Hey, don’t knock it. You loved our last games night.” Ashley smiled fondly. “You got pretty competitive playing charades.”
“I like to win.” Alex shrugged casually, though she was flashing her friend a devilish grin.
“Well, no one deserves a victory more than you,” Ashley said, suddenly becoming sincere. “When I met you, you were this shy girl from a small town who had suffered a devastating loss. I always admired your strength. You held your family together even when your world was falling apart.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Alex said shyly, looking down at the ground.
“But you did,” Ashley confirmed, hugging her friend close to her. “All of this.” She gestured up at the luxurious apartment building she was in the process of moving in to. “You made all this happen, Alex. No one else. You fought hard to make your dreams come true, which means it is my privileged job, as your best friend, to make sure that you enjoy the life you worked so hard for to the fullest.”
“Is this just a ruse for another games night?”
“Am I that transparent?” Ashley laughed.
“We should go help the guys,” Alex suggested, noticing that the trunk of the car was finally empty of luggage.
“He’s a good one, you know, Mark.”
“I know.” Alex smiled contentedly.
“Aren’t your mom and brother coming down next weekend?” Ashley asked as they headed into the building and the vast open foyer that housed the reception desk for the apartments.
“And Andy’s girlfriend.”
“Ooh, great!” Ashley cooed.
“Why do you sound so excited?” Alex asked suspiciously.
“Nothing, it’s just more people for games night!” Ashley giggled. “I may have to break my game of Twister out!”
“You never change, do you?” Alex smiled fondly.
“You’d be disappointed if I did,” Ashley quipped. “Come on, let’s go see what those fiancés of ours are up to.”
As they rode up the elevator, Alex glanced at Ashley and gave her best friend a sincere smile. She finally felt true contentment. Knowing that despite all that happened in her life, she was happy and was exactly where she wanted to be.
The End
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