Fuck, I’m in so much shit. I just swooned and got hot over Christopher in front of Freddie. Damn. He’s never going to let this go.
“Be two seconds,” Luke’s voice shouted as he entered the room with a drink for each of them.
“I think, though, it’s not just us she calls for,” Freddie announced as he looked up at Luke. As he grabbed his drink, I wanted the room to swallow me whole. Maybe I could make an excuse and say my connection is playing up and avoid the confrontation? I knew Freddie, though. He wouldn’t let it lie. He’d only challenge me and find a way to get the answers to his questions, whether I wanted to answer them or not.
“Oooh, she’s obsessed with that tiny bundle and wants to see Lucie,” Luke exclaimed as he came and sat next to Freddie, wrapping an arm around his waist. “She’s getting broody.”
“I don’t disagree. She’s a perfect obsession, but I wonder if Isobel would care to enlighten us.” Fred leaned in and cocked his brow as Luke raised a brow in question. “Something you want to share? I mean, redisa beautiful color on you.”
“I come to talk to you, Fred. Who else would it be?” I exclaimed as Freddie and Luke looked at one another and pointed at the door behind them. “You too, of course, Luke.”
“Of course.” Luke looked at Fred smirking and then back at the screen. “But you do protest.”
“I do not…” I began before I’m interrupted.
“Christopher,” they said together before I noticed the man himself walk out of the room and look at us in confusion.
“Did I miss something?” he asked as I shrugged my shoulders.
“Nothing at all. Didhe,you two?”
“Not at all.” Fred chuckled, grasping Luke’s hand and bringing it to his lips. “Would I do anything to help guide a friend to happiness?”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” I replied.
* * *
Everleigh and Dawson had fallen straight back into the life of the Big Apple. It was as if they had never been away from the place. Even though it was creeping closer to the two-year mark of the date they first left for London, they soon found their stride. It just meant that their lives had been busy and unpredictable in finding a new normality.
Chrissie, on the other hand, seemed to be spending more time with Robert and it made me question if I had been blind-sighted and there was more than a blossoming friendship between the two of them. If there was, then where would that leave me? The lonely third wheel that no one wanted around?
That’s why I needed Freddie back. I needed the confidence boost. The shopping and respite. The man to make me feel like the real bubbly me. Not the scared, contrived woman that I could be. I couldn’t believe it had been three months without the chuckle and laughter of the one guy who understood me so well, but had driven me to insanity at times. Today was a good day, however.
Today was the best.
Freddie was coming home.
With Luke by his side. Together as one unit, united, and I couldn’t wait. I needed that hug. That tight squeeze of affection knowing that whatever happened next, it would be okay.
I checked my phone and noticed a message from Nina and smiled. Since I’d helped her and her husband James get to Freddie and help reconcile his relationship with Luke, we had spoken on Skype and had become firm friends.
Flight is due to land at two pm. Take care of them both for me. x
I got to JFK airport and waited, pacing the Arrivals terminal in anticipation of the guys’ flight landing. I hadn’t told Freddie I was going to be waiting for them, but I couldn’t wait to see his reaction. It had been too long without them.
The swarm of passengers began to travel through the terminal as my eyes caught sight of Freddie. I placed my thumb and forefinger in my mouth and whistled loudly, grabbing the attention of half of the other people waiting to bring loved ones home.
“Freddie!” I shouted, pushing myself to the front of the queue, waving my hands around in the air like a madwoman. “Luke.”
“Isobel! What are you doing here?” Freddie choked up as he pushed his way straight into my arms as Luke turned behind him, looking around.
“Hey you. Get yourself in on this too.” I chuckled, holding my hand out for Luke to come and join in our cuddle-fest as my tears began to fall.
I watched Luke and Freddie pull back with a concerned expression on their faces.
“Are you okay, Isobel?” Fred asked.
“Better, now you’re here,” I replied as Fred tucked me under his arm and kissed the top of my forehead. I glanced up and began to wipe my eyes when the sound of a suitcase suddenly stopped by my feet.