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Alex welcomed his challenge, losing herself in the moment and erasing all thoughts of Naomi and cheesy love songs from her mind.
Mark broke free first, quick breaths leaving his lips. His eyes, full of need and want and impatience, didn’t stray. With an impish grin, his hand swept over her bottom as he pushed his hips into hers.
Woah.Mark was ready—now. “You don’t waste any time, Mr. Keegan.” Alex’s eyes danced around the pub. “Okay.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, but you haven’t answered my question.”
“The answer’s always yes.” He blinked slowly, his eyelids heavy with anticipation.
Alex laughed. “No, Mark, I meant…what do you think about all this?”
“Lovely ceremony. Smashing party. Bit too much ABBA.” His mouth returned to her neck. “Can we go now?”
“That’s not what I was asking…”
He tilted his head to the side, searching her face for clues.
Alex chewed the corner of her bottom lip. “What do you think about us…getting married one day?”
His eyes popped open, twice their size. “Ah, okay. That’s not what I expected. Where’s this coming from? The first of your friends gets hitched and you’re overcome with fuzzy feels?”
“No.” She scrunched up her nose. “It’s been on my mind for a while now…”
“Really? You’ve never mentioned it, although I did overhear you and Lucy, ages ago, something about marriage after thirty? So, what’s that—six more years of dirty, unwed sex in our future?” He gently nibbled her earlobe as he pressed hard against her again. “I say, bring it…starting now.”
“Mark!”
“What?” He laughed. “Don’t play all innocent with me, Sinclair. I know better.”
She tugged on his shoulders. “Be serious for a minute. We love each other, right?”
“Right.”
“Well, don’t you want to be committed—officially? It’s the obvious next step.”
“Yeah, but it’s a step that people rush into for the wrong reasons. I think a lot of couples do it because things ‘get stale’, but that’s not us, is it? We’re happy. We keep each other on our toes, and the sex is amazing.” He nuzzled her neck, breathing her in and delivering soft kisses towards her décolletage. “If it ain’t broke…”
Her eyebrows squished together. “If it ain’t broke, then…why wait?”
Mark lifted his head, his eyes scanning the small dance floor. “Well, for one thing, we’re both crazy busy. Can you imagine? Organizing a wedding while working your attachment?”
“My attachment ends next week.”
“Already? Christ, this year’s been a blur. Who’s to say the National won’t pick up that play? Wouldn’t it make more sense to establish our careers first, while we’re young and everything’s happening, and then get married?”
While everything’s happening? For you, maybe.Alex stifled a frown as Tom and Naomi danced slowly past. “We can do both. If it’s important, you find a way.”
“Lex, does this have anything to do with our argument earlier?”
“No…” Alex pulled back with a squint.
“Because me being away for long stretches won’t magically be fixed by a wedding ring.”
“It’s just…we’re so busy looking after our professional lives, our private lives could use some TLC, too. You said it yourself on the bus—we need to find a balance between the two.”
“That’s true…” Mark sighed heavily. “But to be honest, Mouse, I’m not ready to get hitched. I mean, I will be, one day. Marriage is great, and my parents had such a happy one.” He smirked, and drew her closer. “In the meantime, Vespa rules, right? Hop on, hold tight, and remember to enjoy the ride.”
The ride, the never-ending ride towards…what? Where were they headed? One day was a destination impossible to navigate, off the edge of the map, and how could she plan for one day when this past year she never knew if he was coming or going…or staying? Panic rose in her throat as tears threatened her makeup. She lowered her head to Mark’s chest, glancing sideways at Harry and Lucy nearby, engaged in friendly conversation while locked in a dance floor embrace.
Mark lifted her chin with his hand and looked into her eyes. Alex blinked several times, unable to erase the weepy evidence. “Mouse, I know my news today threw you for a loop, and it seems like we’re never together, but things will get better.” His hand tightened around her waist. “Don’t worry. I’ll sort out flights for Newfoundland, and you can come visit, okay?”
Those large brown eyes beckoned, so hopeful, so persuasive—impossible to resist.
The twinge in Alex’s chest didn’t budge. As she nodded, a grin nudging her freckles betrayed the unwavering quiver in her stomach.
“That’s my girl.” He smiled.
The DJ picked up the pace with “Happy” by Pharrell Williams and Mark squeezed Alex’s arm. “Yes! My request—finally.” Freddie and Simon showed up out of nowhere, bouncing beside Mark in a display of giddy solidarity. Alex stepped away, raising an imaginary glass to her lips. Mark nodded and dove into the abyss of sweaty revellers, the music engaging his body fully. Squeezing through the crowd alone and skirting the grabby hands of Tom’s drunken uncle, the smile fell from Alex’s face.
