Dear Joey,
I never thought I'd have to write a letter saying goodbye to the one person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, but here I am, doing so. I always thought when I met the right person that I'd be happy, and yes, there'd be obstacles but we'd overcome them together but typically, nothing's ever simple for me and I fell for you, my cousin. About as complicated as it can get. One thing you need to know is that I love you, Joey, so much it consumes me. You're the first person I think about in the morning and the last person I think about when I go to sleep at night, even when we're apart you are. You're in my head and you're in my heart, you're under my skin and you're able to push my buttons, but you know all this, because I do exactly the same to you.
I wanted to say goodbye to you in person, I really did, but I knew if I did, after what happened last night, I wouldn't be able to.
I love you, Joey. Love, Lauren xxx
"What's that, darling?" Mum asked as I followed Dad down the stairs, him carrying my suitcase
I waited until he was out the door loading the car before I answered… "It's a letter for Joey. And please, you need to promise me you'll give it to him, but not till I'm on the plane. Please, Mum, promise me"
"I promise, darling" she replied, smiling at me as I handed her the letter
"Thank you" I sighed, hugging her tightly "I'm gonna miss you"
"I'm gonna miss you too, baby girl" she mirrored, hugging me once more before letting go
"We better be off, Lauren" Dad announced as he walked back into the house
"Are Abi and Poppy all ready?" I questioned
"Yep, we're just waiting on you, babe" he informed me
Flashing Mum one last smile I followed Dad out of the house, climbing into the front of the car…
JOEY'S POV:
"Tanya, what can I do for you?" I asked as I opened my front door to her that afternoon
"Lauren asked me to give you this" she informed me "but not until she was on the plane"
I swallowed, taking the envelope from her… "Thank you. I know you don't agree about us"
"You did the right thing ending it, Joey" she replied
"Did I? Then how come it kills me every time I see her?" I asked, raising an eyebrow
"That's what love does to you, Joey. But being cousins, it would've never worked" she sighed
"Yeah, you're right" I stated "thanks for this, Tanya"
Nodding her head, she made her way back to the car and I shut the door behind me, making my way into the living room. As I opened the envelope and saw her writing, I noticed my hands were shaking…
How did this girl have such an effect on me?
"Joe, are you okay?" Mum's voice asked, breaking me from my trance
Only then did I realise I was crying…
"I love her, Mum" I sighed, furiously wiping the tears away with the back of my hand
"Oh, Joe, I know you do, darling" she proclaimed, hurrying to the sofa to hug me
LAUREN'S POV:
We touched down in America 12 hours later, making our way off the plane and through to baggage claim. I was lagging behind, thinking about Joey, knowing he would've read my letter by now…
"Lauren, your suitcase has just gone past" Abi proclaimed, snapping me from my trance
"Huh? Has it?" I questioned
"What's up?" she asked, pulling me to one side
"I wrote Joey a letter before we came, and I think he'll have read it by now" I admitted
"What did it say? If you don't mind me asking?" she inquired, raising an eyebrow
"Just that I love him so much, because I do, Abs, I really, really do" I sighed
"I know you're cousins but when you two were together, you were happy" she stated "you need that back"
"How can I? We know how people will react" I replied
"Who cares how other people react? The only people that matter are you and Joey" she proclaimed
"You mean that?" I questioned "you'd be happy for me?"
"Of course I would. You're my sister. All I want is for you to be happy" she informed me
Hugging her tightly, we made our way back to the turnstile…
JOEY'S POV:
I laid on my bed looking at the ceiling, Lauren's letter resting on my chest above my heart. That's where she'd stay whilst she was away, in my heart. These 3 months were going to be torture…