Why, indeed. I get rid of my clothes as fast as humanly possible. Or maybe I do it faster than that, approaching superhero speed. The chance to make love to Siobhan pumps enough adrenaline through my bloodstream that I'm fairly sure I could carry a double-decker bus on my shoulders.
Yes, we have sex. Three times. And that includes extensive foreplay because Siobhan loves that. We try not to make too much noise since there are two minors on board, including an infant.
I hardly notice when the jet lands.
Siobhan and I emerge from the bedroom just as the pilot is lowering the stairs for our exit. It's the middle of the night here in the UK. We follow our friends down onto the tarmac where my family is waiting. Mum and Dad rush over to greet us, hugging me and then Siobhan—before I've even introduced her.
"Take it easy, Mum," I say. "Let me tell you her name before you maul my girlfriend."
Is this the first time I've called her that out loud? I think it is.
Clasping my girlfriend's hand, I say, "This is Siobhan Griffin. She's a professor at the university where I've been studying."
"Oh, Siobhan," my mother coos, "what a beautiful name for such a beautiful girl. We're so happy Nick you brought you along. I'm Pippa Hunter, and this is my husband, Edward."
My father smiles and nods. "Siobhan, welcome to England. We're chuffed you're here, and I know Rick feels the same way."
Dad flaps his arm until Rick and Maddie approach us.
My brother slaps my arm. "Good to have you home, mate."
"Ah, thank you," I say, then I tell Siobhan, "This is my brother, Richard, and his fiancée, Maddie Solberg."
"Thanks for telling me that's your brother," Siobhan says. "I wouldn't have known otherwise."
Am I a bloody stupid arse or what? Richard is my twin, so of course she knew who he was the second she saw him.
Maddie laughs. "It's so cute that Nick's nervous about introducing you. The twin thing can be weird at first, but you'll get used to it."
"Can we get going?" I ask. "Siobhan doesn't want to stand on the tarmac chatting to you. We're knackered from the long flight."
Once we arrive at my parents' house, Richard and Maddie say good night and leave, and my mother leads us to my old bedroom.
"I assumed you two would share," Mum says. "But if Siobhan prefers her own bed, she could have Rick's old room."
"No, I'm with Nick," my girlfriend announces.
My mother hugs Siobhan again and kisses her cheek, then smiles at both of us. "Good night, loveys."
I lead Siobhan into the bedroom and shut the door. "Sorry. This was my room when I was a boy."
My girlfriend turns in a circle, her lips curving up more and more as she takes in the decorations on the walls. "Gee, what a surprise. Football posters. Football memorabilia. Oh, and a football itself." She picks up the ball, rolling between her palms, and gives me a teasing smile. "Of course, Americans know it's a soccer ball."
When I open my mouth to say something sarcastic, I end up yawning instead. "Sorry. I really am knackered. Aren't you?"
"I think I'm so excited to be here that I don't feel tired yet." She drops the football and walks up to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. "But you do look wiped out. Let's cuddle up together in your childhood bed."
"Please don't call it that. Makes me feel like I'm a little boy who's not toilet trained yet."
"Okay. I'll call it Nick's love nest instead." She glances at the bed over her shoulder. "I slept in a twin bed until I went away to college. You had queen size. Hmm, was that to accommodate all your girlfriends? Two or three at a time?"
I slap her arse. "Cheeky woman."
When I yawn, loudly, Siobhan insists we crawl into bed and go to sleep.
Late in the morning, UK time, I wake up with the sweetest and most beautiful woman in the world snuggled against me. I tickle her belly until she opens her eyes, then we have a quick shag before breakfast. Quietly. This is my parents' house, after all.
That afternoon, the wedding festivities begin. Most of my friends are here, including the Dixons and Alex Thorne, plus the MacTaggarts. We all gather in the garden for an informal get-together.