“Freddie, go and pack a suitcase,” Nina snapped before making herself comfortable on the sofa. “Have you any coffee in?”
“Top cupboard to the left. Luke moved it all. He said…”
“It made it feel like home,” Nina finished as James went to the kitchen and I heard the sound of the tap turn on. “Freddie,” she called after me.
“Yep!” I shouted from my room as I found the suitcase at the bottom of my wardrobe.
“Pack lots of layers and warm clothes.”
“Why? Where are we going?” I asked as I walked out of the bedroom and back into the living room with my case in hand. “Nina?”
“London. Fred, we’re going to get your guy back.” I felt my mouth go dry as I swallowed harshly and felt the panic begin to set in as Nina and James shared a knowing look between them. I had no idea what they were saying between their silent communication, but it was obviously poignant between them as Nina walked toward me and grabbed my hand, dragging me to the sofa to sit down with her. I placed my suitcase down on the floor by our feet and looked at her. “Fred, humor me, okay? There’s no judgment here.”
“Okay,” I sighed as James placed the coffees on the table in front of us and took a seat on the opposite side of Nina.
“Luke knows all your friends…” Nina began. “The people you call your family.”
“He does,” I replied. “He even went shopping with Isobel.” I chuckled at the memory as Nina and James looked on in shock.
“I’ll definitely be having words with him.” She looked at James, and he brushed his mouth against the inner corner of her mouth. “Sacrilege. He left me out.”
“I’m sure he’ll make it up to you,” I uttered.
“Do you love Luke?” she started.
“Absolutely,” I replied instantly as Nina and James shared a smile and gripped each other’s hands together, their fingers toying with their wedding bands.
“So, should we go and grab your passport?” Nina asked, standing up with an outstretched hand as she grabbed my suitcase for me. “I think you may need to fill this up, unless you’re planning to go as you are?”
“Passport is in the second drawer,” I quickly recalled, realizing that Nina was right. I wasn’t about to let Luke go without a fight and if an ocean currently stood between us, then so be it.
My heart squeezed tightly in my chest as I went to my bedroom and began opening the drawers. I began flinging clothes inside the case, including my peppermint shower gel and a few more essentials that I knew I couldn’t be without. I halted and froze, eavesdropping at the voice of Nina speaking with such meaning, knowing I should’ve made my presence known.
“I knew he was the one for our guy,” she uttered, loud enough for me as she walked past the door and caught my gaze from the corridor briefly. I don’t think she knew how much I needed that.
* * *
Ihated flying, but I’d do anything to get to Luke, even if that meant traveling the next eight hours in a cramped seat with no additional leg space. James had to pull a miracle off getting these seats at all, as it seemed holiday season was upon us. But he did it and we made our flight with just minutes to spare.
I’d expected to be chucked on the flight by Nina and James and be left to my own devices but the moment the firecracker showed her own ticket to security, I knew things had just got more interesting as I tried to hide my shock to no avail.
“Freddie, Luke’s complicated at times and family is his everything. Did you really think you’d be doing this alone?” Nina asked the moment the three of us settled onto the plane after catching our breath.
“She’s right, man,” James replied as he fastened his seatbelt as the sign above our heads illuminated red.
“You’re our family, too.” Nina grabbed James’s hand as I gripped the armrests tightly and shut my eyes, hiding both the unshed tears at her admission and my fears now we had started to move. “Fred?”
“Yep,” I said, forcing the words out.
“Are you okay?” Nina asked in concern. I allowed my eyes to open and fought back the tears. “Oh, Fred.”
“I hate flying.”
“Well, it’s true love,” Nina replied as I felt her hand grasp mine as the plane began to take off. “We’ve got you, Fred, until we get you to your guy.”
“Thank you,” I exhaled.
* * *