Three Thousand Miles - Forever, (book #3 of Three Thousand Miles, Series)

by Deila Longford

  “I know you do and I am grateful for everything that you have done for me. I really care about you Michael, and feel as if you are my best friend. The past few months have been torture for me and I have missed having you as my friend. I know that you are with Emma and I can tell that she loves you. I am going to marry Adrian and you are going to be happy with Emma. But I still hope that you and I can have our friendship along with our relationships?” Michael gently laughs and I know that I have my friend back.

  Michael and I talk for what seems like forever. We have decided to grab some lunch, so we make our way through the park until we find a quiet café. My security wait by the door as Michael escorts me to a small table at the back of the café. I take my seat as the server ushers over to us.

  “May I get you some drinks?” I hear the tall, blonde server say. I smile up at him and his blue eyes pierce through me. I quickly clear my throat as I ask him for my drink.

  “I will have a still water, please.” He smiles at me as he jots down my drink on his notepad. He then turns to Michael, who I notice is grinning from ear to ear. “Coke,” Michael says in firm tone. I slightly frown at him and then I begin to scan through the menu as I try to decide what I would like to eat. “Alanna what are you getting?” Michael says looking up at me from his menu. I smile at him and then I look down again. I am finding it difficult to choose as everything sounds amazing.

  “I don’t know. I can’t choose between the pasta or the salad!” Michael looks at me and I have a feeling I know what he is going to say.

  “Order the pasta you are skin bone these days, Alanna.” I laugh at him and pasta it is.

  By the time our food is brought to us, I am starving. I begin to nibble on my chicken pasta as Michael begins to talk.

  “So are you looking forward to your wedding?” “What kind of question is that? Of course I am.” I snap at Michael. He smiles again at me and I am reminded of his sarcastic side.

  “S-o-r-r-y, I just meant are you getting excited about becoming Mrs Black?” I cannot hold back my smile at the sound of those words.

  “Yes, I can’t wait.” I gush as I take another bite of my pasta. Michael raises his eyebrows and then he fills his mouth with steak. We eat in silence for a while until I break it by asking about Emma.

  “So how are things with you and Emma?” Michael smiles at the sound of her name and that confirms it for me - Michael loves her. I am glad that he is found someone who is kind, sweet, and generous and is a total beauty. Michael deserves to happy and he deserves to have someone who loves him. Emma is perfect in every way for him. She gets him and theyhave an amazing connection. Michael and Emma seem to like the same things, from movies to music and I feel as if Michael has finally met his match with Emma.

  “Things are great with Emma and I ,” Michael gushes. “You seem happy?” I ask quietly. Michael smiles at me as he sets his fork down onto his plate. He reaches over and grabs my hand. I flinch a little from his touch and then I melt into him.

  “Alanna, you really do care about me, don’t you?” I blush from his words and I can feel my hand begin to sweat in his. My eyelids rapidly blink as I think of my response.

  “Yes I do,” the heat is now burning down my back and I begin to feel uncomfortable, so I loosen my hand from Michael. He senses that I am uneasy therefore he backs off from me. He leans into the chair as he takes another bite of his steak. I maintain my gaze as he looks up from his plate. His eyes are gorgeous and I am lost in their sea. He flashes mehis pearly white smile and my anxiety soon fades.

  “To answer your question, yes darling, I am happy.”

  “I am glad.” I say as I look down at the table. Michael notices my actions and he soon asks if everything is okay. “Alanna, is there something wrong?” I consider his words and I don’t really know how to answer. I am scared of how Michael willreact if I tell him about the note and I don’t want to anger him or cause anybad blood between the bothers. Therefore, I decide to keep the news of the note secret, instead I inform him about Alice.

  “Adrian and I are having dinner tonight with… Alice.” Michael looks shocked at my confession. “I didn’t see that one coming. However did you get Adrian to agree to that?” Michael asks in a firm tone. I shake my head at himas I fill him on the entire story.

  “So you see it was his idea.” Michael is still taking in my words and I feel that he is very surprised by news. I stare at him more, as I wait for him to respond and I cannot help but think that he feels hurt by Adrian wanting to see his mom. I really hope that this doesn’t cause any problems between Adrian and his family.

  “I don’t know what to say. I never expected that Adrian would want to see her after all these years. He must be changing and it must be down to being with you.” Michael stuns me a little and I am not sure if he is giving me a compliment or if he is being rude. Sometimes I find it difficult to understand Michael’s ways and that is the problem right now. I don’t know if it is his British sense of humour or if it’s just how he is, but sometimes there is a communication barrier between us. I move around my seat a little, as I think of my response.

  “Adrian is changing for the better, can’t you see that?”

  “I see it, but is it really for the better?” “Michael, are you upset that he wants to see Alice?” Michael rolls his eyes and I begin to feel a little annoyed with him and I am wishing that I never said anything to him about Adrian meeting with Alice. Idon’t know why he is acting this way.

  “If I am honest, yes I am upset by it!” I am stunned.

  “Why?” “Because my family changed their whole lives for him and this is how he repays us?” Oh my, is this really happening? I am shockedand annoyed at the way Michael is acting and I really wish that I could take back the fact that I squealed.

  “I am not sure that I understand what you’re saying. Are you really upset by this?” “Yes, how could I not be? I don’t understand why he would want to see her again after everything that she did to him. If hischildhood was so terrible, then why would he want to relive it by meeting with her?” I start to heat up as I feel my anger building. I search my head for words, but I find nothing. My mind is blank and all I want to do is get away from here and away from Michael. With that thought, I jump from my seat and I grab my bag from the floor.

  “Alanna, where are you going?” Michael says as he seems surprised by my sudden actions. I turn to walk away from him, but I stop. “I need to leave before I say something that I will regret!” With my words ringing in my ears, I march out of the restaurant. Not looking back at Michael as I hear him shout after me. I rush out into the park once again and I make my way to car – followed by my security. When I reach the car, I throw myself into the back seat and I inform my driver to speed away. I don’t want to stay here another minute and I couldn’t bare it if Michael were to follow me. As the car drives and I think back on my eventful day with Michael, I hear my phone buzz from inside my bag. My heart races as I hope it is not Michael who is calling me. I sigh with relief as it’s just my mom.

  “Hey Mom,” I say in my most upbeat voice.

  “Alanna where are you?” She replies in a quick, firm tone.

  “I am heading back to the condo, why?”

  “Have you forgotten what you have to do today?” I rack my brain but nothing is surfacing.“Alanna!” My mom shouts at my silence.

  “I can’t think of anything,” I confess. “Seriously Alanna you would forget your head if it weren’t attached to your body. You and Adrian need to go register for your wedding gifts, today.” Oh crap I forgot to tell my mom about our new plans concerning the wedding gifts. I take deep breath as I know that my mom won’t be happy about our decision.

  “Mom, Adrian and I aren’t going to register.” Before I have the chance to explain my mom jumps in.

  “Alanna, what on earth are you talking about? Don’t be stupid, you need to register!”

  “No, we have decided that we want charity donations instead of gifts. Besides we d
on’t need anything anyway.”

  “Alanna, this is crazy.”

  “No its not, it is the right thing to do.”I can hear my mom sigh as she takes in my words. “ Well I guess there is no need for me to argue with you over this. If that’s what you have chosen then I cannot stand in your way. But Alanna, you need to let your father and I give you guys a gift, is that understood?” I roll my eyes as I now that I can’t argue with her on this.

  “Okay, as long as you don’t go overboard then you can get us a gift.” My mom chuckles down the phone at me and I cannot hold back my angry smile. I still feel annoyed with Michael and I am literally inches from tears as I think of him. However hearing my mom’s happy voice is somewhat comforting.

  “Alanna, have you talked to Adrian about his mom yet?” I feel a rush of fear as I remember about tonight’s dinner with Alice. My mind is rushing as I think of all the things that could wrong. Adrian has been doing so well with his anger and I am scared that when he sees her again, that he will flip and all of his hard work would have been for nothing. I am also scared of how Alice will react around him. I still cannot escape the thoughts of how she treated him when he was a child and I wonder if she has really changedher ways.

  “Yes I have and we are having dinner with her tonight.” “Oh,” is all that my mom manages to say. The phone is silent and my heart is racing. What is my mom going to say? “Alanna, I don’t know what to say. How did you manage to get him to agree to that?”I tut, as why does everyone think that I am forcing him into this? I am staring to show my anger on my face and I notice body guard no:1 staring at me. I quickly flash him an awkward smile as I return to my phone call.

  “Mom, it was his idea.”

  “ Have you thought of how you are going to approach this situation?” “Not really, I just need to be there for him, right?” “Sweetie, Adrian is a complicated boy and his relationship with his mother sounds even more complicated. Do you really think that things between them are going to be blissful just like that? You need to prepare yourself for what might happen next. What if he doesn’t respond well to her and what if he falls into depression? You hear about things like this all the time on the TV and I think that you need to get your head straight.”

  “The last time that Adrian saw his mother, was just before graduation. Mom, I never told you this but, Adrian flipped out when he saw her. He turned into someone I have never known before and if I am honest, he scared me.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me this?”

  “Does that really matter?”

  “Yes it matters, if you were scared of him. Alanna, are you sure that you can trust him?” “Of course I can trust him and I just need to be there for him. If things go badly then I will pick up the pieces. I love him and if I am going to be his wife then I need to stand by him.”

  Later that night I get dressed for dinner as I waitfor Adrian to come out of the shower. I have chosen a nice, simple dress for tonight. It’s black and long sleeved and I have paired it with my black Jimmy Choos and of course my AB necklace. I sit on my dressing table as I gently curl my hair. Adrian is not long back from work and I can tell that he is nervous about tonight - although he would never admit it. He always has a steel exterior that cannot be broken, but underneath I know that he is pure silk. He came home and went straight into the shower. His eyes were heavy and he was worriedabout the note. I was impressed when he held back his anger as he read the threating words. I hate to see him like this and I can tell that everything is starting to take its toll on him.

  “Hey doll,” I greet him as he makes his way from the bathroom –in nothing but a towel. I smile as he glides past me flashing me his pearly smile as he does. I cannot catch my breath at the sight of him. He is perfect in every way. He has the most perfect body, face and hair. His smile iscaptivating and his eyes are positively sinful. He is an angel and I cannot believe how lucky I am to have him.

  “Alanna, could you please come here a minute.” I hear him say from inside his closet. I place the hot curling iron down onto the glass surface and then I make my way over to him. I reach the doorway and I smile as I see him. He has chosen to wear a dark blue, pin stripped, Armani suit and he looks amazing. His hair is still wet as he pushes it gently back from his forehead. I sigh as I look at him.

  “Baby I need to ask you something.” He says in his cool British voice. “Okay,” I quietly reply. “How would you feel about me asking Michael to be my best man?” My smile fades and I don’t know how I feel about what he is asking me. Michael and I have had a difficult relationship and to be honest I feel that it would be weird to have him as his best man, considering he claimed that he loved me. I gently roll my eyes as my mind is buzzing with thoughts of Michael and of how wrong it would be to have him as best man. Adrian is staring at me as he becomes impatient. I need to reply and fast.

  “Who you have as your best man is completely your choice.” “Alanna don’t get smart with me. I know it is my choice but I want your opinion.” I start to feel uncomfortable as Adrian gives me my orders. I hate that he has this side to him. His anger has slowlyfaded but his need to control everything has only worsened. He has more orders than before and more rules for me to follow. I hate it but I usually go along with whatever he says because I know that’s how he is and that he will never change. If I am honest, I wouldn’t want him to change. I feel that when he controls things that it is only because he cares and most of all he does it because he loves me and he wants to keep me safe. He makes me feel special and wanted every time he calls and worries about me. I know it’s stupid and that I should try to get my independence from him but I don’t want it - at least not yet.

  “I am sorry. What I meant was if you want Michael to be your best man then I won’t stand in your way. It might be a little weird, but like I said it’s your choice.” He shakes his head at my words as he presses a cute smile from his lips. He makes a signal with his hand and I glide over to him. He grabs me and pulls me closer. He catches my face in his hands as he places kiss after kiss onto my lips. He slides one of his hands onto my back and it glides down my waist until it grazes my hip. I gently laugh at his touch as he backs away a little from me, he smiles at me and then he kisses me again.

  “Alanna, you drive me crazy,” he says as he moves his lips away from mine and places them gently onto my neck. His kisses are tender and they feel amazing. My head is spinning from his affection and I feel that I cannot stand straight. Adrian pushes me against the wall as he slides up my dress. He kisses me again this time firmer and with more passion. I lightly squeal as our bodies connect. My face flushes hot as I am not the most confident person when it comes to sex. However Adrian is amazing and he certainly knows what he is doing. I usually just let him do his thing, as I am not skilled in anyway. I love Adrian and I am glad that he accepts me for who I am. I could think of nothing worse than to be with someone who doesn’t understand about my emotions and feelings. Adrian gets me and I am surprised at how well. There are times when I don’t even have to talk and he knows exactly how I am feeling. He completes me and I love him, I love my Adrian Black.

  Adrian clutches my hand as he escorts me from the car and into the grand entrance of the Oak Room. We enter and I am reminded of how beautiful it really is here. The walls are dark wood and the lighting is soft. Small square tables take up the floor space and each one has a soft light candle on the surface. As we make our way further into the restaurant, a waiter kindly greets us.

  “Welcome to the Oak Room, may I take your name?” She says in her soft, New York accent. Adrian smiles at the woman and then heinforms her who he is. “I have a reservation under the name of, Black.” The woman smiles at him as she searches her computer screen for our table number. She looks up from the screen and she smiles at him –again. I gently chuckle as I watch the woman’s face light up the longer she stares at Adrian. She is becoming slightly flustered as she watches Adrian running his fingers through his messy hair. She begins to blush, but somehow she manag
es to remain professional.

  “Okay Mr Black, table for three?” Adrian smiles and then nods at her and she almost faints from his actions. I laugh again as she collects some menus from behind her desk. She looks up at Adrian again as she makes her way out from behind the desk.

  “Your guest is already here. Please follow me.” Adrian firmly grips my hand as we follow the server. She shows us to our table atthe back of the restaurant. As we get closer Alice comes into vision and I immediately look at Adrian as we reach the table. His eyes are fixed on mine and he doesn’t look at Alice. I flash him a reassuring smile, as I break my eye contact with him. I lock my eyes on Alice who is now standing from her seat. She is dressed in a black pencil skirt and black roll neck sweater. Her hair is tied in a lose bun and she is make- up free. Alice has lost a lot weight since I last time that I saw her and her eyes seem darker than usual. Alice reminds me of Adrian in so many ways and it is startling to see her here, next to him.

  “Hello,” Alice says as she locks eyes with her son. Adrian glances at me and then back to Alice. He doesn’t smile at her but he does give her a welcoming nod. We sit and the server quickly takes our drinks order. Adrian orders water as usual and I have lemonade. I wait anxiously to see what Alice will order and I am relieved when she orders an ice tea. The server leaves our table and now we are alone for the first time. The silence is awkward and I feel that Adrian and Alice are uncomfortable. I remember my mom’s words and I quickly try to break the silence and make this easier on Adrian.

  “Alice, how have you been and how is your husband?” Alice smiles at me and she reaches over for my hand. Adrian doesn’t like Alice’s affection towards me therefore; he grabs my hand in his before Alice has the chance. I shoot him a disapproving look and he reluctantly lets go of me. I smile at him and then I turn back to Alice. I reach my hand out halfway across the table and Alice meets me in the middle. He fingers are slightly rough as she clasps her hand onto mine.