London Calling
Real Love (Regina Spektor)
Annie
“Seriously? Who cares what I wore last night? There is an entire article analyzing my choice of clothing for a debut. That was not a debut. That was your birthday party and I was a hungover mess. I think I looked pretty damn good for being as big of a mess as I was.”
“I think you looked beautiful. Why are you obsessing over this?” Harry asked as he came out of the bathroom in just his towel. We had both taken showers to get ready for brunch before a busy day. Kim and Nate were house hunting. Niki and I were shopping. Lots of food, friends, and football were ahead for us. He laid down next to me in bed where I’d ended up in just my bra and panties on my laptop for the 5,000th time today.
“I’m not obsessing over it. I just sort of like looking to see how you smile at me.” I tilted my head back kissing him.
“Can’t help but smile at you baby. It’s a natural reaction.” He kissed me again sliding my laptop away from me. “Now step away from the computer. You looked beautiful last night. You look beautiful right now. Do we have to go spend time with everyone? We should just stay in bed all day.”
“We can’t. We need to be at brunch soon. We are both already at risk of making us very, very late. Lizzy will have my head if I don’t make the food she’s been asking for all week.” I leaned up to kiss him, smiling against his lips. “Get off of me.”
“Don’t want to.”
“Need to.” At that moment my phone started ringing. Harry reached for it seeing that it was Kim. “Hey,” I answered.
“Hey, what time are we meeting for brunch?” I looked at the clock. It was 9:15.
“We all agreed on 10. We are moving a bit slowly over here,” I said laughing. “I evidently am the most read story on some gossip blog.”
“It’s because you keep clicking that link and looking at yourself,” Harry mumbled before resting his head on my chest. I ran my fingers through his wet hair.
“Seriously?” she asked.
“Yeah, some article posted this morning saying that Harry got a new girlfriend for his birthday. Pictures from the last week. Even some of all of us out at World’s End last weekend.” I wasn’t sure how Kim would react to that. She was with Nate now and incredibly happy. I don’t want some picture of her weekend with Niall to come back and haunt her. Or Niall for that matter, he left the house with Niki’s hand in his and I got no text letting me know either of them made it home okay.
“Seriously? How are you handling that?”
“I’m okay with it. He looked cute last night and for as hungover as I was I didn’t look completely terrible. But some people aren’t saying the nicest things. I’m evidently ancient and some American gold digger.”
“Well he knows you aren’t. You know you aren’t. His family and friends know you aren’t. Don’t worry about it. Though I’m sure that’s easier said than done,” Kim said.
“It is. Except that he’s only in his towel right now. They can call me whatever they want. I’m the one in his bed. Not them. And some of them are nice. I’ve evidently got great hair and make him look happy.”
“You do,” Kim and Harry both said simultaneously.
“Okay. I’m making him get ready. 10:00 brunch. Are you taking a taxi over here?” We’d decided on brunch in Hampstead since that’s where Kim and Nate were starting with houses.”
“Actually Lizzy sent us home with her car last night so we had it for today. We are going to leave here in a little bit. Nate is going to go car shopping this week and get something for us to have in the city so that his car can stay at his flat in Cambridge.”
“Is he keeping the flat?” I asked finally standing up from bed and getting dressed.
“Yeah, long story. I’ll tell you at brunch. Have you heard from Niki and Niall yet? They looked cozy leaving last night.”
“They did look cozy. I haven’t heard from them since they left last night. I’m interested to see if they have anything to tell me.” Kim started to laugh.
“We are too. Nate said he thought they looked like they were gonna shag when they left.”
“Harry knows he owes me big time because I win. I’ve been quite the matchmaker. Fixing things between you and Nate. Getting those two off the ground. I told Harry next was Gemma and Cameron and he threatened to break up with me. So I’m not hooking the sister and the ex up I guess.” Kim laughed loudly.
“He did say she was fit when we had dinner this week.”
“She is fit.”
“She also is my sister and he is your ex-boyfriend. No,” Harry said glaring at me.
“He’s giving me a death glare. I’m gonna get off the phone and deal with him and we’ll talk about who to set Cam up with later,” I said laughing.
“See you in a bit.” I went in to the closet and started to flip through what I had with me and went with comfy. A day of shopping, cooking and eating meant comfort. I found black leggings, black boots and a tank top. I dug through one of Harry’s drawers pulling on a grey t-shirt.
“Did you just put my shirt on?” he asked from the other side of the closet.
“I did. Got a problem with that?” I asked laughing.
“No, it’s actually rather cute.” He pulled me in to him and kissed me. “I snuck a peak at your blog. You are amazing. I may have also snuck a peak at the comments.”
“They hate me?” I asked laughing.
“No, opposite. Love you. Like how happy you make me. And that you aren’t going to immediately lock down all of your social media accounts to hide.”
“Seriously?”
“Yup, you’re awesome they know it,” he said kissing me again. We finished getting ready and were out the door quickly. I pulled my phone from my purse to call Niki and see if she was going to be making brunch.
“Hello,” she answered. I heard a bit of her Irish accent come out in her voice, maybe a night around Niall and Frankie was going to bring it back for her.
“Good to know you are alive. You didn’t let me know you made it home ok. Neither did Niall. I was a bit worried.”
“We are fine.” We? Did I hear her correctly. “He helped me get everything for today set up.”
“Did you let him carry heavy stuff?” I asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“The idiot didn’t bring his crutches with him again last night. Likes to think he’s invincible. Just had knee surgery. He’s supposed to be on crutches still.”
“Crutches?” Niki said concerned.
“Dammit,” I heard a voice in the background.
“Wait…is he still with you?” I asked getting giddy and jumping up and down in my seat.
“Yeah, we had a few drinks once we got back here. I was worried about him driving because he stumbled a bit. Turns out it was maybe more about the crutches than the Jameson.”
“Well unless it was about Niki Jameson,” I said giggling at my joke.
“You’re funny but weird.”
“Okay well hurry up. I need to know what happened last night.”
“Okay see you in a bit.”
Message with Kim
Oh. My. God.
What?
He stayed with her.
What? Seriously? What happened? You really are in matchmaker mode.
I currently know nothing except he didn’t use his crutches and helped her move stuff around to get set up for cooking today.
Am we going to have to surgically attach his crutches to him?
Potentially. Now I’m super excited about brunch. We are just pulling in now.
Sweet we aren’t far behind.
See you in a bit.
“So what are you texting so furiously about on your phone there Sugar?”
“Niall is still at Niki’s. He stayed over. Kim and I are trying to figure out how to grill one of the two of them to get some info.”
“He stayed there?” Harry asked shocked.
“Yes, were you not listening to me while I was on the phone with Niki?” I asked. “I mean I’m the only other person in the car with you. How did you miss that?”
“Umm…”
“You weren’t paying attention to me?” I started to laugh. “Harry I’m so hurt. Heart breaking over here.”
“Shut up. You got in your talk super fast girly mode and I couldn’t keep up.” He laughed. “So he stayed?”
“Yeah, he did. She said that he was swaying when he walked because they had a few more drinks back there. In reality it was probably his lack of crutches.”
“You are gonna murder him.”
“Kim threatened to surgically attach the crutches to him.”
“Kim? Is she doing better with this?” Harry asked.
“I don’t know. I can’t figure out what is going on. I think maybe she’s just confused about life. I mean think of how much has changed for all of us. I haven’t slept without you in a week. She went from last weekend with Niall to house shopping with Nate. I understand why she’d be a little off. I know I’ve been a little thrown at the changes going on in my life.”
“Really?” He looked concerned as he reached to grab my hand.
“Yeah, life is changing quickly. We moved here together with this whole plan to travel and work and live and just be friends having fun. There are times that between our work schedules that we barely see each other. Add that you are part of my life and Nate is moving back. It’s scary. I mean a really great scary. Please don’t think this means I’m not happy. I’m very happy. Like happiest I’ve been since I moved here. But she spent a week alone in our flat because I wanted to stay with you every night. And I’m potentially going to be homeless if she and Nate decide to move in together right away and not just him get a house here. Though he did promise me this week he’d get a house big enough I could live there. Or potentially that there would be a carriage house for me.”
“You wouldn’t stay in it anyway,” Harry said laughing. “You love my bed too much.”
“I do love your bed too much.” I giggled and leaned over resting my head on his shoulder. “But I will need to look for where the road takes me next as I can’t afford the flat myself. And I can’t be homeless.” I felt his lips connect with the top of my head. We pulled up to the restaurant we were all meeting in and walked in to find Lizzy and Frankie already at a table. We walked over hugging them both before I sat down next to Lizzy.
“So shopping with Niki today?” Lizzy asked.
“Yeah, I’m excited. We are gonna go and get her some stuff for the flat first and then meet everyone at the pub for cooking. What are you two doing today?”
“Just getting ready for tonight. I’m glad you guys got here before everyone else. I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something.” She paused for a moment. “My doctor’s appointment Friday.”
“You’re okay right?” I asked slightly nervous. She’d not told me what was going on but I’d noticed she hadn’t been feeling the greatest lately and tried to help out when I could. I’d been worried but knew she’d tell me if it was something major.
“I’m great actually. We are pregnant,” Lizzy said and I saw Frankie’s face break in to a giant smile.
“What? Seriously! Oh. My. God. I can’t believe it.” I pulled Lizzy in to a hug. I felt tears sting my eyes. “I am so excited. Anything you need…I’m your girl. I will work all day every day if I have to.”
“Well it’s a possibility at some point,” she said laughing. “But I want you to have a life. Lyla is gonna be learning a lot more about the shop once she is done with school. That way you aren’t the only one. And when the time gets closer we will just see where you are in life and what we need to do.” She glanced over my shoulder at Harry and smiled.
“Congratulations,” he said standing up and coming to Lizzy to hug her and kiss her cheek. He gave Frankie a handshake and ‘man hug’.
“The girls have to be so excited. They’ve been asking for a little brother for as long as I’ve known them,” I said laughing.
“Well we are thinking it might be a boy. I’ve not had the same sort of first trimester I did with the girls. So fingers are crossed since they both desperately want a baby brother. Although another girl would also be wonderful. I love having two sisters,” Lizzy said.
“I think it’s a boy,” Frankie declared. “I need someone to help raise the testosterone level around here. Thankfully you’ve found yourself someone to help me out a bit.” I laughed as Harry sat back down next to me and I grabbed his hand.
“I’m try to do my best to always make you happy Frankie.”
“I know. That’s why I love ya kid.”
“So when are you due?” I asked.
“Early in September,” Lizzy said. “We are still pretty early in this whole thing. But I couldn’t wait to tell you. You’ve become one of my best friends since you moved here. I wanted to tell you the day I found out and Frankie made me swear not to. I’ve been trying to drop hints because he said if you guessed it I could tell you.”
“What hints did I miss?” I asked.
“I haven’t been drinking. I’ve been drinking tea, no coffee. I’ve eaten about 10,000 cookies and cupcakes. And I’ve been trying to look at different pregnancy related books in the store. Dressing differently. He made me promise to be subtle. All I wanted to do was scream to you that I was pregnant.”
“When did you tell Lyla?” I asked.
“Friday, when she came to take care of the girls. I was going to tell you Friday but there were so many people out I couldn’t get you alone and you’ve had his birthday weekend to worry about.”
“So is it like tell everyone at brunch thing?” I asked.
“Not necessarily. I just wanted to tell you before I told everyone else. I’m sure by the end of the night everyone will know. Frankie was making my drinks on Friday and I drank virgin drinks so that no one knew I wasn’t drinking. Tonight will be difficult. You’ve gotten me in the habit of drinking beer when I watch football with you.”
“Yeah, Cam will realize you’re pregnant. He’s super observant when it comes to drinking. Shit I can’t tell you the number of times he asked me if I was pregnant if I didn’t drink when we were cleaning after close,” I said laughing. “I mean you think he would’ve known.” I heard Harry laugh next to me and squeeze my hand. “Sorry. That’s probably awkward, right?”
“You’re fine,” he reassured me. “He’s part of your life. I don’t care.” He leaned forward and kissed me quickly.
“It’s like watching us at the beginning if there was a massive age difference, isn’t it?” Frankie asked Lizzy.
“It is,” Lizzy said smiling at her husband before kissing him.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Harry said.
“You should,” I added. “It is.” Within five minutes the table was full of the two missing couples that were to be meeting us today. Kim was sitting across from me smiling as she looked over at Nate. “You’re making googley eyes at him.”
“So are you,” she shot back sticking her tongue out at me. “So we have quite the list of houses to look at today. A few are right near Harry’s house. Including the house directly behind him.”
“I’m so excited. Though now I’m gonna have to start looking for a new place. Which could be fun.”
“I told you I’d make sure there was a room for you, Belle,” Nate said. “There are maids quarters in some of them. We will have room for you.”
“Good to know. But if you two wanted to start life without me I can look for somewhere too.” I smiled at Nate. “You two just need to decide what you want. I’m sure I can find something. There are those studio flats not far from the bookshop. Put me in walking distance of this once since I have no car.”
“Well if we get the house behind his we will be closer. And I will charge you next to nothing,” Nate said winking at me. Our food was delivered and everyone kept chatting while they were eating. Niall and Niki were talking to each other quietly every once in a while. He made her blush a few times. Once brunch was done we all still sat finishing our drinks.
“Babe, go sit next to Nate. I want to talk to Kimmi,” I said kissing Harry’s cheek. He stood up and walked over to switch chairs with her so that he was sitting next to Nate and Niall. It had been interesting watching Niall and Kim sit next to each other. They’d spoken a bit but nothing major. Niki was in between Frankie and Niall and her accent could be heard getting thicker with time. Kim sat down next to me. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good. Your boyfriend asked the same thing last night.”
“Well we are both worried. You seem more like yourself this morning. But you seemed a bit tense last night.”
“I know. I’m sorry. It’s just so much has happened in such a short amount of time. None of this is what I imagined happening when we met in Chicago at the airport. I didn’t think I’d meet someone like Nate and feel like I do. And I didn’t think you’d find Harry. I just feel like this week has been this flash to the future of what life will be like when we don’t live together.”
“Not completely though. You’ll have Nate. And who knows. It could be ages before we live apart. I’m gonna have to find somewhere to live.”
“I’m pretty sure you won’t have a problem finding anywhere.” Kim glanced across the table at Harry smiling. “That boy isn’t gonna let you out of his sight.”
“It’s weird but nice. Though it’s too early to talk about living together. Right?”
“Well it depends. And this point Patty had been asking Catherine not to go back to Dublin and Frankie was on a plane flying to London. Nate and I have been a mess the entire time we’ve known each other but a weekend in to being serious and we are buying a house together. You’re happy. Like happiest I’ve ever seen you in the almost ten years I’ve known you.”
“Same goes for you. And Nate is so happy. Last week was hard. He was a mess.”
“I know. Thank you. I don’t know what I would’ve done without your help there.”
“You two would’ve figured shit out at some point. You both love each other. Always have. You were both just crazy and didn’t say anything about it.”
“I know. What would we do without you?” Kim asked smiling.
“Be alone and bitter because you wanted each other.” She laughed. “So you have to promise to take pictures of the houses so I can see. Specifically of whatever room will be mine since Nate has decided I’m moving in.”
“Yeah, he’ll still be gone some so it will be fine if that’s what you want to do. Though I have a sneaking suspicion you will have another offer.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Yeah, I think he’ll ask you. And I think if he does you should say yes. Jump at happiness. Go for it.”
“It’s not gonna happen so I’m not gonna worry about it.”
“Uh huh. Keep telling yourself that.” Kim laughed at me. The remainder of brunch was nice and we finally all got ourselves ready to leave. Kim and Nate hurried off to meet their realtor and go tour some homes. Lizzy and Frankie were headed to O’Brien’s to start getting set up for tonight. Harry and I walked hand-in-hand out to the car with Niall and Niki.
“Okay so what are you two going to do while we shop?” I asked the guys.
“Head home and hang out for a bit,” Harry said as he handed me the car keys. “Just call when you’re on your way. Okay?”
“Alright,” I said leaning forward and kissing him. “Don’t have too much fun without me.”
“Never,” he said smiling and kissing me again. I opened the driver’s side door and climbed in as Niki climbed in to the passenger side.
“So he stayed over last night,” I said as soon as I pulled on to the road. Thank god Harry’s car had navigation. I knew my way around London pretty well at this point, but pretty much only from riding the train. I needed some guidance when it came to driving, which I was still a bit nervous about but mainly only because I didn’t want to wreck a car I couldn’t afford.
“He stayed over. He was a bit tipsy and evidently not walking well without the necessary crutches. So he stayed. Slept on the couch.”
“Anything happen?” I asked.
“Umm we kissed. I mean it was pretty innocent. But very sweet. We were sitting on the floor by the fireplace talking on some pillows and he just leaned over and kissed me. He’s really cute. I like him a lot.”
“He is a sweet guy. I don’t really know a lot of Harry’s friends but I really like Niall. He’s a great person. We got to know each other pretty quickly,” I said laughing a bit to myself.
“Yeah, he said that he was snowed in with Harry at your flat last weekend.”
“Yeah, he was. We all went out for drinks Friday and they got snowed in with us.” I wasn’t sure how to proceed with this. Did she know what all had happened last weekend?
“Yeah, he told me about it.” I froze. “I know about he and Kim. Is that why she was being weird last night?”
“I don’t know if it had anything to do with it. But I do know that she’s just got a lot she’s going through. So many changes all at once. We moved here together with the plan of doing this together. But we’ve both met someone that is incredibly important to us. And she is in love, like head over heels in love with Nate.”
“They are pretty cute together. What are you gonna do when they move in together?” Niki asked.
“No idea yet,” I said. “Nate says he won’t find a house that doesn’t have space for me. Kim said that she thinks Harry will ask me to move in. I’m not 100% sure on that or that I’d say yes.”
“Why wouldn’t you?” she asked.
“We’ve only been dating a week. That’s just weird.”
“Yeah, but you two have been friends for six months. You don’t act like you’ve just been dating for a week.”
“I guess we don’t really. Casual dating a friend is tough. He knows more about me than any man has at a week in. Part of the benefit and I guess also the scary part of dating a friend. I mean he can read me really well. Knows if something is bothering me. Or if I’m so excited I can’t hold in the desire to dance like a fool.”
“That’s all good things though,” Niki said. “It must be nice to feel that comfortable with the person that you’re dating.”
“It is actually. I don’t have to worry about a whole lot. I mean I threw up most of his birthday. He didn’t care. That’s unusual. Cameron used to get pissed off at a lot of pretty stupid things. Like if I was tired and told him not to stay at my flat he’d get pissed. Especially if we were working. He lived a lot farther from the pub than me. It’s just different to be with Harry. It’s comfortable and makes me really happy.”
“That’s good. I’d love that some day. My parents are like that. They met when they were just out of uni. They were doing an internship in Paris and worked together.”
“Oh my god. Paris? Seriously? I haven’t been.”
“You’ve been in London for six months and haven’t taken a trip to Paris yet?” she asked sounding shocked. I shook my head. “You need to go. We go as a family every year at least once. My Mum and Dad were married there. All of us kids were the weird ones in school in Dublin until we moved. Irish kids with French names. My name is Nikolette. They liked the different spelling. My brothers are Jack and Mike or Jacque and Michel.”
“So you have two older brothers?” Niki nodded. “Cool. I have one. We are really close. Moving was hard.”
“My brothers and I are close. They still live back home. Both married.”
“Mine too,” I said pulling in to a parking spot. As we walked around the store Niki and I got to know about each other. More about our families. Our favorite things to do for fun. We had a lot in common and enjoyed a lot of the same things.
“This furniture is really cool,” she said sinking in to an oversized chair. “And so comfortable?”
“Getting rid of Nate’s couch?”
“Niall said a spring poked him in the back all night. Figure it’s time to retire that. The bed is entirely uncomfortable too. Like sleeping on pavement.”
“I passed out there once. Nate was staying at my flat. And I had closed late one night, opened the next day for football matches and then had a split so I could work at night too. Worst bed I’ve ever slept in. Besides feeling dirty that I was sleeping in Nate’s bed,” I said laughing.
“Yeah, my Dad said that I could get whatever I needed. They knew about all the shit that happened with my boss and were upset that I’d been thrown out. Offered to pay for a hotel until I was settled. Want me to find a place and make it my own. I lived in the dormitory for a while when I first moved here until I got the job. This will be the first time I’ve had my own place.”
“Well then we need to make it special,” I said sitting in the chair next to her. I held my phone out taking a picture of us snuggled together and sent it to Harry.
Message with Harry
Furniture shopping is fun. What are you doing?
Listening to Niall ramble on about her. He’s such a girl sometimes.
From what he’s told me you did the same. Payback’s a bitch, right babe?
I guess so. When are you coming home?
We haven’t even picked anything important out yet. It may be awhile. You’re fine. I promise.
I may be fine but it doesn’t mean I don’t miss you.
You’re cute.
So are you. Come home. We can be cuter together.
In a while. And then tomorrow maybe we can be lazy. Nothing but each other.
I like that plan. Have fun with Niki and see you in a bit.
“So I think this is it,” Niki declared when we finally looked at what felt like the 15th living room set. She was being very careful that what she picked was something she would want for a while since she was getting her first place. We made our way to look at beds and laid on what felt like million.
“Okay Goldilocks which one is it?” I asked as I watched her lay on yet another mattress.
“Oh my god. This one,” she almost moaned. “Lay down. You have to test this one out.” I laid down next to her and sank in to the pillow top mattress.
“Oh. My. God.” I did moan. “This is the greatest thing ever. I don’t ever want to move.” My phone started to ring. “Hello.”
“Well hi there,” Harry said. “I know the sound in your voice. What are you doing?”
“Laying on the mattress that Niki better being buying. Fuck it’s comfortable.”
“Better than mine?”
“Yours has you in it. So no.” I heard Harry start to laugh on the other end of the line.
“So how much longer?” he asked. It was like a kid on a road trip singing ‘are we there yet’ over and over again.
“We are just going to pay for everything. We’ve picked bedding and ordered living room stuff. We just need to order the mattress and we will be leaving. Are you and Niall meeting us at O’Brien’s or do we have to come by the house?”
“We will meet you there. 30 minutes?” he asked.
“Perfect. See you there. Muah!”
“Bye Sugar.”
“Bye Dimples.” I hung up the phone. “Okay are we gonna be able to move off thebed?”
“I don’t know. I may never want to get out of bed.”
“We need to. Food awaits. And the boys. Which I’m guessing you’re excited about seeing.”
“I am. I really like Niall. He’s a very sweet guy. We talked a lot last night. He seems almost too good to be true.” I laughed.
“What do you mean by that?” I asked.
“Well eventually I’d like to have a house back in Ireland. My grandparents still live where my Dad grew up, which is in the country not far from Niall’s family. I mean I don’t know that I’d want to move back permanently but having a home in Ireland to go to would be a dream. I just like that in London I’ve got such an opportunity to find great work. So many restaurants. He said that he’s had this area back home that is open land that he wants to buy and build a house on. He said eventually when he’s old and retired and doesn’t do any of this for a living any more he’d like to have a place in Ireland he can spend time at.”
“That seems like him. I know missing out on Theo’s life is a bummer for him. We talked kids last weekend. My niece, his nephew. The main reason we both hate that we don’t live at home.” We collected all of the things we’d bought, paid for the furniture and delivery fee and loaded Harry’s car up to head to the pub. We carried everything else upstairs and loaded it in to her flat. I left her to change and get herself ready as I headed down to the pub.
The fire in the fireplace had been lit. The smell of food filled the pub. I saw Niall and Harry sitting in front of the fire with Patrick, Frankie and Cate. I put my purse and coat behind the bar, grabbed a beer and headed over to the chair Harry was in. I bent down to kiss him as he pulled me in to his lap. I draped my legs over the arm of the chair.
“Have fun shopping?” he whispered in my ear.
“I did. Her flat will look super cute when it’s all done. Her furniture is getting delivered later this week. She has class when they are delivering it so I’m gonna come and sign for it and be here.”
“You’re a good friend.”
“Did you bring my Chiefs jacket?” I asked as I rested my head on his shoulder.
“I forgot it. Shit.”
“You’re gonna be in trouble,” Frankie said laughing. Cate giggled knowing the look that had appeared on my face well. She and her Dad often played jokes on me, resulting in a similar look on my face.
“Seriously? I left it on the bed so that when you ran home you could get it.”
“I know. I’m sorry. If you get cold you can have my sweater.” I looked to see the Packers hoodie I bought him for Christmas laying on the arm of the chair behind me.
“You think I’m gonna wear that?” I asked raising my eyebrows.
“You are if you’re cold. It’s the only thing we have here other than your jacket. And don’t lie. I saw you wearing it Thursday morning.” He leaned in to whisper in my ear. “If I remember correctly you had it on with nothing else under it.”
“I might’ve been,” I said blushing. He captured my lips with his kissing me. I couldn’t help but smile against his lips.
“Oi! Stop making out,” Cam yelled as I heard the back door slam. I leaned back and looked at him flipping him off.
“Shove it.”
“Seriously Belle?” Nate asked following him in. “You couldn’t find an empty seat in the whole place?”
“This was comfortable,” I said snuggling in to Harry a bit. Nate sat in the chair next to Harry and pulled Kim on to his lap. “Pot meet kettle, asshole.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“So how was house hunting?” Harry asked.
“It went really well. We found a couple of places that are great. One that has this incredible garden and looks really cute from the outside. Needs a bit of TLC on the inside and updating. But I think it’s the winner,” Kim said. Nate handed me his phone and I started to flip through the pictures. The house was very cute. Very traditional with a gorgeous garden. I could imagine twinkle lights over the patio that was at the far back of the property and way too many drinks and a lot of food.
“So is this the one?” I asked. Kim nodded happily.
“She loves it. So I’m in. Told her if we have a big family we will just have to upgrade at some point. But until then when we only have you as our kid we are good,” Nate said laughing.
“Always looking out for me. I appreciate that you don’t intend on making me homeless, Natey. Where is it?”
“Just on the other side of the Hampstead Heath Extension. So not too far from Harry,” Kim said. “The house behind him was nice but needed a bit more work than we wanted to put in to it. And more money.”
“Understandable,” I said. “Still same neighborhood. I won’t have too far to walk to get to his place.”
“You can just take a car. No need to walk when it gets cold,” Harry said. He smiled at me. “We can talk about it when we get home tonight.” I kissed his cheek.
“Okay are we ready to cook?” Niki asked walking in to the pub from upstairs. I turned to see her in a Derby County Football Club hoodie.
“This is the Super Bowl, Nik! American football,” I said laughing.
“This is all I own. I don’t follow American football. So I cheer for the home team.”
“You’re a Derby County fan?” Niall asked almost shocked.
“Yeah, when we moved to England it was because of Dad’s work. He’s the Finance Director for the football club. Never missed a match until I moved to London.”
“Is this a dream?” Niall asked. Everyone in the room started laughing.
“Someone hit him,” I said. Patrick moved from where he sat next to Niall, reaching behind him and smacking him in the back of the head.
“Ouch!” Niall yelled.
“Not a dream,” Patrick said laughing.
“Why?” Niki asked.
“Niall is a giant Derby fan,” Harry said laughing. “Did you hire her to act this part?” I shook my head to him after he’d whispered his question. “I’m gonna owe you pretty big. You are gonna end up right.”
“I am because I’m awesome.” I kissed him. “Now I need to find Lizzy and cook.” I stood up with Kim and Niki on my heels. We found Lizzy and Lyla in the kitchen of the pub. Maddy was sitting on the counter with a cookie in her hand and chocolate milk in a cup next to her. “Hey Maddy girl.” I kissed the top of her head.
“What do we have in here? The Salisbury Sisters trying to cook,” I said laughing.
“Yes, please help. I’m useless and she’s forgetful today,” Lyla said. Niki, Kim and I immediately jumped in helping. We had quite the list of stuff we wanted to make. I heard the TV floating in from the main area of the pub and the conversation of the guys. Kim talked at length about the houses that they saw. Lizzy was excited to have Nate back. They had been close growing up and he had immediately bonded with Frankie making him part of their family. The girls called him Uncle Nate because that was basically what he was. Niki talked about how excited she was to decorate the flat with everything we’d bought. She was going to pick out paint and next weekend paint the place so that it felt more like her own.
I loved watching all of my friends interacting. I’d moved here not knowing way lay ahead. And seeing how my life had fallen in to place made me smile. I had my camera with me and was taking pictures of everyone in the kitchen. Maddy with frosting on her nose. Kim and Niki with beers toasting the success of their appetizer they’d made together. Lyla singing along with the radio in to a spoon she’d used. And my favorite, a shot I caught of Lizzy with her hand, absentmindedly resting on her belly, watching all of us laugh about some moment Kim was retelling of Nate looking through closets in houses today and finding some interesting things. I loved having moment like this caught on film so I could remember them later. The little things in my life and being with these people were what made living in London the greatest decision I’d ever made in my life.
“So Niall stayed over?” Kim asked Niki. She was now sitting next to Maddy on the counter licking the frosting off of a beater I’d used making my red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and blue sprinkles to celebrate.
“He did. He was a bit tipsy. Didn’t want him driving,” Niki said.
“Did you shag?” Lizzy asked.
“No,” Niki said quickly.
“Please tell me you kissed him,” Lyla added.
“We kissed. But nothing happened.”
“I think it’s great that they didn’t shag,” I defended. “Harry and I didn’t do that the first night we met.”
“No, you just drug the poor bloke along for months in the friend zone until you finally let him pay for drinks,” Lyla said.
“And then didn’t even kiss him that first night after drinks,” Lizzy said.
“She made up for it,” Kim said taking a drink of her beer and laughing.
“Maddy, go sit with Daddy and Uncle Nate,” Lizzy said helping her youngest off of the counter. “What do you know Kim?”
“She woke him up with a blow job last weekend.” I threw a roll at her head.
“What?” Lyla asked. Lizzy started to laugh and Niki just stood there with her mouth open.
“Well we sort of fooled around the night before but he’d gotten me drunk first and well…I fell asleep.”
“Seriously?” Lizzy asked. “You’ve been in love with that boy for months. You fell asleep the first time you were intimate with each other?”
“Yeah, I was pissed. You know how I get when you give me a lot of wine and pasta. I’ve fallen asleep at yours so many times after spaghetti night.”
“True,” Lizzy said still laughing.
“So you woke him up with a blow job?” Niki asked. I nodded. “Had you had sex?” I shook my head.
“We did very soon after. Like REALLY soon after.”
“Are you finally gonna talk about this?” Lizzy asked pulling a stool over and sitting down on it. Kim and Lyla jumped on the table that been cleared off in the middle of the kitchen and Niki next to me. We had things baking in the over and needed to stay in here for a while.
“I don’t want to divulge details. But I will say he was amazing. He’s sweet. Attentive. Caring. Funny. But information pertaining to how he is in bed…well that’s for me and me only.”
“That’s it?” Niki asked.
“Do you want me to ask you if Niall is a good kisser?” I asked raising an eyebrow.
“He is. I’m okay admitting that. I’m not the only one in the room who knows that too,” she said giggling. We’d all had quite a few beers in here, except Lizzy. I’d even snuck the pitcher of Irish Kool-Aid that I had made for the night in here and we were doing shots. Niki was getting a bit tipsy, admitting that Niall was a good kisser was funny, especially admitting that she wasn’t the only one that knew.
“She’s right, he is a good kisser,” Kim said. “But he’s nothing like Nate.”
“That’s because you’re in love with Nate,” I said laughing.
“I am. I’m really sorry to be abandoning you. We are serious though. You can move in until you find somewhere. Though I’m putting money on Harry asking you to move in.” Kim was now laughing.
“I doubt it.”
“He will,” came the opinion of Lizzy, Lyla and Niki.
“Seriously, the way he looks at you. Always touches you. I’ve known you all of 48 hours and I know you’re in love with him,” Niki said.
“I…I’m not in love with him. No way.”
“Yes, you are,” Lizzy said.
“Uh no.”
“Uh yes,” Kim replied. “Totally in love. You tend to forget we are in the room with you if you are with him. You’ve never acted like this.”
“She definitely wasn’t with Cameron but who would want to be like that with Cam?” Lyla asked laughing.
“No one,” I said. “Beard gets in the way.” I laughed pretty hard.
“What is all the laughter in here?” Harry asked as the door opened. “You five are sitting on the job back here.”
“Also drinking on the job,” I said holding up my nearly empty pint glass. He eyed the shot glasses and started laughing. “Even Lyla is drinking with us tonight.”
“Well let’s hope the food isn’t going to burn,” he said laughing. He came over to me and kissed me quickly before resting in between my legs, his back to my chest facing the rest of the room. “Gemma is on her way here. She’s bringing a friend.”
“Sweet.”
“So what are you girls talking about in here?” he asked.
“Evidently Niall is a good kisser,” Lyla said.
“Okay that’s awkward. Why did I walk in at this moment?”
“Because you’ve got great timing,” Lizzy said. We finished and got everything out of the kitchen on to the tables in the pub. The crowd ended up being some of the employees, their significant others, roommates, friends and anyone who felt like watching the Super Bowl when it aired in the middle of the night. Gemma and I spent a good amount of time talking. But it was as if anywhere I went in the room if I glanced at Harry he was watching me. Our eyes would meet and he’d smile at me. I could feel my stomach somersault each time.
I looked around the room at one point during the commercial break before half time and smiled seeing everyone. Kim and Nate were smooshed in to one chair flipping through the pictures of the house they’d seen. Nate had been on the phone with the realtor to put in an offer shortly after they arrived. On a loveseat sat Frankie and Lizzy, his hand occasionally grazing her belly. Gemma and her friend Ellie were sitting with Cam and Teddy, another of the bartenders at a table talking and playing cards. Niall had his arm around Niki’s shoulder and she was leaning in to him a bit. Patrick was chasing Margaret, his lady friend, around. I snuggled in to Harry a bit and yawned.
“You tired?” I nodded.
“You know we can watch this at home right?” he said.
“I know but this party is because I wanted to watch the Super Bowl.”
“I know baby. But I also know you’ve been throwing parties all weekend. Why don’t we go home? Crawl in bed. Watch the end of the game. Hopefully let you get some sleep tonight since you’ve been running on empty the last few nights.”
“Is it bad to leave my Super Bowl party before everyone else?” I asked.
“No,” he said kissing me. “Hey, I’m taking this one. She’s about to fall asleep on me.”
“Bruno Mars hasn’t even come on yet,” Kim said as she yawned.
“She needs to go to bed. I’ve caught her try to fall asleep on my lap for an hour,” Harry said standing and pulling me in to him.
“I intend on sleeping all day tomorrow because I don’t have to work.” Harry had gone to get my bag and jacket. I slipped it on over the Packers sweatshirt I’d ended up in early.
“Good plan. You need the rest. See you Wednesday,” Lizzy said.
“Thanks. I’ve never been so happy that you were making me take time off because I had worked extra when you went out of town. I’m gonna love sleeping in tomorrow.”
“Enjoy it,” Frankie said. He stood to kiss my cheek.
“Call me tomorrow,” Kim said hugging me. “I’m off. Maybe Nate and I can come by. Do lazy dinner at Harry’s.”
“Perfect.” I said my goodbyes to everyone and told Niall to let me know he got home okay tonight because he should maybe not get drunk enough to sleep on Niki’s couch again. We made it to the car and I buried my head against the door as Harry drove through the city to get us home. We were quiet most of the way.
“Nate and Kim’s top choice looks cool. Not far from my place,” he said.
“No…very close,” I yawned. “Won’t be a terrible walk to get to your place. Bit longer of a walk to the bookshop but no tube in the mornings.”
“You shouldn’t be walking from my place to theirs.” He pulled in drive and parked the car.
“Well I’m going to have walk or you’re picking me up a lot.” We both made it to the bedroom stripping clothes off. I was down to his t-shirt and my panties.
“Well what if…you just moved in here.” I laughed.
“Wait. That’s not the reaction I meant to have,” I said immediately realizing that his face showed he was hurt. “It’s that the girls were all telling me you’d ask me to move in and I didn’t believe them.”
“Why wouldn’t you believe them?” he asked as he crawled in bed and I soon followed.
“I don’t know. Just didn’t think a week of dating was enough to be like ‘hey let’s live together’. It seems fast.”
“I know but it also seems right. You’ve been here for a week. I like you being here. It’s like you belong.”
“I…I don’t know.”
“What’s wrong?” he pulled me in to his arms tightly.
“I just don’t know.”
“Annie, I love you. I want you here. I don’t want you anywhere but here. I want this to be our house.”
“I….” Did he just say he loved me and want me to live with him? Holy. Shit. How does one react to this? I took a deep breath. I should react to this with how I feel. “I…I love you too.”
“You aren’t just saying that because I said it?”
“No, I love you. I think I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you. I just fought myself.”
“I loved you in that moment too,” he said kissing me. “Please live with me. Make this house ours. Don’t worry about finding someone where to be. Just be here with me.”
“You aren’t terrified that this is fast.”
“Frankie told me something today that made me realize what was going on in my head. Love isn’t a choice. Love just happens. Your heart just decides to love the person and you do everything you can to fight for them and a life together. That’s what he did. That’s what his Dad did. And I love you. I want a life with you. I want you here in our house. This to be our bed. I want to share every single aspect of my life with you.”
“I love you too. And…I think moving in is scary but isn’t life about having adventures?” He pulled me closer to him hugging me. “The girls were telling me today that I shouldn’t be scared of loving you. Because we skipped this whole part of a normal relationship. We didn’t have dates to get to know about the other person. We didn’t have awkward chats over glasses of wine and bread baskets. We had those over tea, coffee and books while we spent six months getting to know each other. And I honestly wouldn’t change any of that. I love that’s how I fell in love with you.” I loved him. I did love him. And he wanted to share his life and home and heart with me. How did I get so lucky?
“That’s how I fell in love with you. Well that and the crazy pictures you’d send me while I was on the road. I knew anyone who found something funny or staged some hilarious picture with the toys in the children’s section was a woman I would grow old loving.” We kissed sweetly, our lips never parting as we fell asleep.
“Seriously? Who cares what I wore last night? There is an entire article analyzing my choice of clothing for a debut. That was not a debut. That was your birthday party and I was a hungover mess. I think I looked pretty damn good for being as big of a mess as I was.”
“I think you looked beautiful. Why are you obsessing over this?” Harry asked as he came out of the bathroom in just his towel. We had both taken showers to get ready for brunch before a busy day. Kim and Nate were house hunting. Niki and I were shopping. Lots of food, friends, and football were ahead for us. He laid down next to me in bed where I’d ended up in just my bra and panties on my laptop for the 5,000th time today.
“I’m not obsessing over it. I just sort of like looking to see how you smile at me.” I tilted my head back kissing him.
“Can’t help but smile at you baby. It’s a natural reaction.” He kissed me again sliding my laptop away from me. “Now step away from the computer. You looked beautiful last night. You look beautiful right now. Do we have to go spend time with everyone? We should just stay in bed all day.”
“We can’t. We need to be at brunch soon. We are both already at risk of making us very, very late. Lizzy will have my head if I don’t make the food she’s been asking for all week.” I leaned up to kiss him, smiling against his lips. “Get off of me.”
“Don’t want to.”
“Need to.” At that moment my phone started ringing. Harry reached for it seeing that it was Kim. “Hey,” I answered.
“Hey, what time are we meeting for brunch?” I looked at the clock. It was 9:15.
“We all agreed on 10. We are moving a bit slowly over here,” I said laughing. “I evidently am the most read story on some gossip blog.”
“It’s because you keep clicking that link and looking at yourself,” Harry mumbled before resting his head on my chest. I ran my fingers through his wet hair.
“Seriously?” she asked.
“Yeah, some article posted this morning saying that Harry got a new girlfriend for his birthday. Pictures from the last week. Even some of all of us out at World’s End last weekend.” I wasn’t sure how Kim would react to that. She was with Nate now and incredibly happy. I don’t want some picture of her weekend with Niall to come back and haunt her. Or Niall for that matter, he left the house with Niki’s hand in his and I got no text letting me know either of them made it home okay.
“Seriously? How are you handling that?”
“I’m okay with it. He looked cute last night and for as hungover as I was I didn’t look completely terrible. But some people aren’t saying the nicest things. I’m evidently ancient and some American gold digger.”
“Well he knows you aren’t. You know you aren’t. His family and friends know you aren’t. Don’t worry about it. Though I’m sure that’s easier said than done,” Kim said.
“It is. Except that he’s only in his towel right now. They can call me whatever they want. I’m the one in his bed. Not them. And some of them are nice. I’ve evidently got great hair and make him look happy.”
“You do,” Kim and Harry both said simultaneously.
“Okay. I’m making him get ready. 10:00 brunch. Are you taking a taxi over here?” We’d decided on brunch in Hampstead since that’s where Kim and Nate were starting with houses.”
“Actually Lizzy sent us home with her car last night so we had it for today. We are going to leave here in a little bit. Nate is going to go car shopping this week and get something for us to have in the city so that his car can stay at his flat in Cambridge.”
“Is he keeping the flat?” I asked finally standing up from bed and getting dressed.
“Yeah, long story. I’ll tell you at brunch. Have you heard from Niki and Niall yet? They looked cozy leaving last night.”
“They did look cozy. I haven’t heard from them since they left last night. I’m interested to see if they have anything to tell me.” Kim started to laugh.
“We are too. Nate said he thought they looked like they were gonna shag when they left.”
“Harry knows he owes me big time because I win. I’ve been quite the matchmaker. Fixing things between you and Nate. Getting those two off the ground. I told Harry next was Gemma and Cameron and he threatened to break up with me. So I’m not hooking the sister and the ex up I guess.” Kim laughed loudly.
“He did say she was fit when we had dinner this week.”
“She is fit.”
“She also is my sister and he is your ex-boyfriend. No,” Harry said glaring at me.
“He’s giving me a death glare. I’m gonna get off the phone and deal with him and we’ll talk about who to set Cam up with later,” I said laughing.
“See you in a bit.” I went in to the closet and started to flip through what I had with me and went with comfy. A day of shopping, cooking and eating meant comfort. I found black leggings, black boots and a tank top. I dug through one of Harry’s drawers pulling on a grey t-shirt.
“Did you just put my shirt on?” he asked from the other side of the closet.
“I did. Got a problem with that?” I asked laughing.
“No, it’s actually rather cute.” He pulled me in to him and kissed me. “I snuck a peak at your blog. You are amazing. I may have also snuck a peak at the comments.”
“They hate me?” I asked laughing.
“No, opposite. Love you. Like how happy you make me. And that you aren’t going to immediately lock down all of your social media accounts to hide.”
“Seriously?”
“Yup, you’re awesome they know it,” he said kissing me again. We finished getting ready and were out the door quickly. I pulled my phone from my purse to call Niki and see if she was going to be making brunch.
“Hello,” she answered. I heard a bit of her Irish accent come out in her voice, maybe a night around Niall and Frankie was going to bring it back for her.
“Good to know you are alive. You didn’t let me know you made it home ok. Neither did Niall. I was a bit worried.”
“We are fine.” We? Did I hear her correctly. “He helped me get everything for today set up.”
“Did you let him carry heavy stuff?” I asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“The idiot didn’t bring his crutches with him again last night. Likes to think he’s invincible. Just had knee surgery. He’s supposed to be on crutches still.”
“Crutches?” Niki said concerned.
“Dammit,” I heard a voice in the background.
“Wait…is he still with you?” I asked getting giddy and jumping up and down in my seat.
“Yeah, we had a few drinks once we got back here. I was worried about him driving because he stumbled a bit. Turns out it was maybe more about the crutches than the Jameson.”
“Well unless it was about Niki Jameson,” I said giggling at my joke.
“You’re funny but weird.”
“Okay well hurry up. I need to know what happened last night.”
“Okay see you in a bit.”
Message with Kim
Oh. My. God.
What?
He stayed with her.
What? Seriously? What happened? You really are in matchmaker mode.
I currently know nothing except he didn’t use his crutches and helped her move stuff around to get set up for cooking today.
Am we going to have to surgically attach his crutches to him?
Potentially. Now I’m super excited about brunch. We are just pulling in now.
Sweet we aren’t far behind.
See you in a bit.
“So what are you texting so furiously about on your phone there Sugar?”
“Niall is still at Niki’s. He stayed over. Kim and I are trying to figure out how to grill one of the two of them to get some info.”
“He stayed there?” Harry asked shocked.
“Yes, were you not listening to me while I was on the phone with Niki?” I asked. “I mean I’m the only other person in the car with you. How did you miss that?”
“Umm…”
“You weren’t paying attention to me?” I started to laugh. “Harry I’m so hurt. Heart breaking over here.”
“Shut up. You got in your talk super fast girly mode and I couldn’t keep up.” He laughed. “So he stayed?”
“Yeah, he did. She said that he was swaying when he walked because they had a few more drinks back there. In reality it was probably his lack of crutches.”
“You are gonna murder him.”
“Kim threatened to surgically attach the crutches to him.”
“Kim? Is she doing better with this?” Harry asked.
“I don’t know. I can’t figure out what is going on. I think maybe she’s just confused about life. I mean think of how much has changed for all of us. I haven’t slept without you in a week. She went from last weekend with Niall to house shopping with Nate. I understand why she’d be a little off. I know I’ve been a little thrown at the changes going on in my life.”
“Really?” He looked concerned as he reached to grab my hand.
“Yeah, life is changing quickly. We moved here together with this whole plan to travel and work and live and just be friends having fun. There are times that between our work schedules that we barely see each other. Add that you are part of my life and Nate is moving back. It’s scary. I mean a really great scary. Please don’t think this means I’m not happy. I’m very happy. Like happiest I’ve been since I moved here. But she spent a week alone in our flat because I wanted to stay with you every night. And I’m potentially going to be homeless if she and Nate decide to move in together right away and not just him get a house here. Though he did promise me this week he’d get a house big enough I could live there. Or potentially that there would be a carriage house for me.”
“You wouldn’t stay in it anyway,” Harry said laughing. “You love my bed too much.”
“I do love your bed too much.” I giggled and leaned over resting my head on his shoulder. “But I will need to look for where the road takes me next as I can’t afford the flat myself. And I can’t be homeless.” I felt his lips connect with the top of my head. We pulled up to the restaurant we were all meeting in and walked in to find Lizzy and Frankie already at a table. We walked over hugging them both before I sat down next to Lizzy.
“So shopping with Niki today?” Lizzy asked.
“Yeah, I’m excited. We are gonna go and get her some stuff for the flat first and then meet everyone at the pub for cooking. What are you two doing today?”
“Just getting ready for tonight. I’m glad you guys got here before everyone else. I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something.” She paused for a moment. “My doctor’s appointment Friday.”
“You’re okay right?” I asked slightly nervous. She’d not told me what was going on but I’d noticed she hadn’t been feeling the greatest lately and tried to help out when I could. I’d been worried but knew she’d tell me if it was something major.
“I’m great actually. We are pregnant,” Lizzy said and I saw Frankie’s face break in to a giant smile.
“What? Seriously! Oh. My. God. I can’t believe it.” I pulled Lizzy in to a hug. I felt tears sting my eyes. “I am so excited. Anything you need…I’m your girl. I will work all day every day if I have to.”
“Well it’s a possibility at some point,” she said laughing. “But I want you to have a life. Lyla is gonna be learning a lot more about the shop once she is done with school. That way you aren’t the only one. And when the time gets closer we will just see where you are in life and what we need to do.” She glanced over my shoulder at Harry and smiled.
“Congratulations,” he said standing up and coming to Lizzy to hug her and kiss her cheek. He gave Frankie a handshake and ‘man hug’.
“The girls have to be so excited. They’ve been asking for a little brother for as long as I’ve known them,” I said laughing.
“Well we are thinking it might be a boy. I’ve not had the same sort of first trimester I did with the girls. So fingers are crossed since they both desperately want a baby brother. Although another girl would also be wonderful. I love having two sisters,” Lizzy said.
“I think it’s a boy,” Frankie declared. “I need someone to help raise the testosterone level around here. Thankfully you’ve found yourself someone to help me out a bit.” I laughed as Harry sat back down next to me and I grabbed his hand.
“I’m try to do my best to always make you happy Frankie.”
“I know. That’s why I love ya kid.”
“So when are you due?” I asked.
“Early in September,” Lizzy said. “We are still pretty early in this whole thing. But I couldn’t wait to tell you. You’ve become one of my best friends since you moved here. I wanted to tell you the day I found out and Frankie made me swear not to. I’ve been trying to drop hints because he said if you guessed it I could tell you.”
“What hints did I miss?” I asked.
“I haven’t been drinking. I’ve been drinking tea, no coffee. I’ve eaten about 10,000 cookies and cupcakes. And I’ve been trying to look at different pregnancy related books in the store. Dressing differently. He made me promise to be subtle. All I wanted to do was scream to you that I was pregnant.”
“When did you tell Lyla?” I asked.
“Friday, when she came to take care of the girls. I was going to tell you Friday but there were so many people out I couldn’t get you alone and you’ve had his birthday weekend to worry about.”
“So is it like tell everyone at brunch thing?” I asked.
“Not necessarily. I just wanted to tell you before I told everyone else. I’m sure by the end of the night everyone will know. Frankie was making my drinks on Friday and I drank virgin drinks so that no one knew I wasn’t drinking. Tonight will be difficult. You’ve gotten me in the habit of drinking beer when I watch football with you.”
“Yeah, Cam will realize you’re pregnant. He’s super observant when it comes to drinking. Shit I can’t tell you the number of times he asked me if I was pregnant if I didn’t drink when we were cleaning after close,” I said laughing. “I mean you think he would’ve known.” I heard Harry laugh next to me and squeeze my hand. “Sorry. That’s probably awkward, right?”
“You’re fine,” he reassured me. “He’s part of your life. I don’t care.” He leaned forward and kissed me quickly.
“It’s like watching us at the beginning if there was a massive age difference, isn’t it?” Frankie asked Lizzy.
“It is,” Lizzy said smiling at her husband before kissing him.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Harry said.
“You should,” I added. “It is.” Within five minutes the table was full of the two missing couples that were to be meeting us today. Kim was sitting across from me smiling as she looked over at Nate. “You’re making googley eyes at him.”
“So are you,” she shot back sticking her tongue out at me. “So we have quite the list of houses to look at today. A few are right near Harry’s house. Including the house directly behind him.”
“I’m so excited. Though now I’m gonna have to start looking for a new place. Which could be fun.”
“I told you I’d make sure there was a room for you, Belle,” Nate said. “There are maids quarters in some of them. We will have room for you.”
“Good to know. But if you two wanted to start life without me I can look for somewhere too.” I smiled at Nate. “You two just need to decide what you want. I’m sure I can find something. There are those studio flats not far from the bookshop. Put me in walking distance of this once since I have no car.”
“Well if we get the house behind his we will be closer. And I will charge you next to nothing,” Nate said winking at me. Our food was delivered and everyone kept chatting while they were eating. Niall and Niki were talking to each other quietly every once in a while. He made her blush a few times. Once brunch was done we all still sat finishing our drinks.
“Babe, go sit next to Nate. I want to talk to Kimmi,” I said kissing Harry’s cheek. He stood up and walked over to switch chairs with her so that he was sitting next to Nate and Niall. It had been interesting watching Niall and Kim sit next to each other. They’d spoken a bit but nothing major. Niki was in between Frankie and Niall and her accent could be heard getting thicker with time. Kim sat down next to me. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good. Your boyfriend asked the same thing last night.”
“Well we are both worried. You seem more like yourself this morning. But you seemed a bit tense last night.”
“I know. I’m sorry. It’s just so much has happened in such a short amount of time. None of this is what I imagined happening when we met in Chicago at the airport. I didn’t think I’d meet someone like Nate and feel like I do. And I didn’t think you’d find Harry. I just feel like this week has been this flash to the future of what life will be like when we don’t live together.”
“Not completely though. You’ll have Nate. And who knows. It could be ages before we live apart. I’m gonna have to find somewhere to live.”
“I’m pretty sure you won’t have a problem finding anywhere.” Kim glanced across the table at Harry smiling. “That boy isn’t gonna let you out of his sight.”
“It’s weird but nice. Though it’s too early to talk about living together. Right?”
“Well it depends. And this point Patty had been asking Catherine not to go back to Dublin and Frankie was on a plane flying to London. Nate and I have been a mess the entire time we’ve known each other but a weekend in to being serious and we are buying a house together. You’re happy. Like happiest I’ve ever seen you in the almost ten years I’ve known you.”
“Same goes for you. And Nate is so happy. Last week was hard. He was a mess.”
“I know. Thank you. I don’t know what I would’ve done without your help there.”
“You two would’ve figured shit out at some point. You both love each other. Always have. You were both just crazy and didn’t say anything about it.”
“I know. What would we do without you?” Kim asked smiling.
“Be alone and bitter because you wanted each other.” She laughed. “So you have to promise to take pictures of the houses so I can see. Specifically of whatever room will be mine since Nate has decided I’m moving in.”
“Yeah, he’ll still be gone some so it will be fine if that’s what you want to do. Though I have a sneaking suspicion you will have another offer.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Yeah, I think he’ll ask you. And I think if he does you should say yes. Jump at happiness. Go for it.”
“It’s not gonna happen so I’m not gonna worry about it.”
“Uh huh. Keep telling yourself that.” Kim laughed at me. The remainder of brunch was nice and we finally all got ourselves ready to leave. Kim and Nate hurried off to meet their realtor and go tour some homes. Lizzy and Frankie were headed to O’Brien’s to start getting set up for tonight. Harry and I walked hand-in-hand out to the car with Niall and Niki.
“Okay so what are you two going to do while we shop?” I asked the guys.
“Head home and hang out for a bit,” Harry said as he handed me the car keys. “Just call when you’re on your way. Okay?”
“Alright,” I said leaning forward and kissing him. “Don’t have too much fun without me.”
“Never,” he said smiling and kissing me again. I opened the driver’s side door and climbed in as Niki climbed in to the passenger side.
“So he stayed over last night,” I said as soon as I pulled on to the road. Thank god Harry’s car had navigation. I knew my way around London pretty well at this point, but pretty much only from riding the train. I needed some guidance when it came to driving, which I was still a bit nervous about but mainly only because I didn’t want to wreck a car I couldn’t afford.
“He stayed over. He was a bit tipsy and evidently not walking well without the necessary crutches. So he stayed. Slept on the couch.”
“Anything happen?” I asked.
“Umm we kissed. I mean it was pretty innocent. But very sweet. We were sitting on the floor by the fireplace talking on some pillows and he just leaned over and kissed me. He’s really cute. I like him a lot.”
“He is a sweet guy. I don’t really know a lot of Harry’s friends but I really like Niall. He’s a great person. We got to know each other pretty quickly,” I said laughing a bit to myself.
“Yeah, he said that he was snowed in with Harry at your flat last weekend.”
“Yeah, he was. We all went out for drinks Friday and they got snowed in with us.” I wasn’t sure how to proceed with this. Did she know what all had happened last weekend?
“Yeah, he told me about it.” I froze. “I know about he and Kim. Is that why she was being weird last night?”
“I don’t know if it had anything to do with it. But I do know that she’s just got a lot she’s going through. So many changes all at once. We moved here together with the plan of doing this together. But we’ve both met someone that is incredibly important to us. And she is in love, like head over heels in love with Nate.”
“They are pretty cute together. What are you gonna do when they move in together?” Niki asked.
“No idea yet,” I said. “Nate says he won’t find a house that doesn’t have space for me. Kim said that she thinks Harry will ask me to move in. I’m not 100% sure on that or that I’d say yes.”
“Why wouldn’t you?” she asked.
“We’ve only been dating a week. That’s just weird.”
“Yeah, but you two have been friends for six months. You don’t act like you’ve just been dating for a week.”
“I guess we don’t really. Casual dating a friend is tough. He knows more about me than any man has at a week in. Part of the benefit and I guess also the scary part of dating a friend. I mean he can read me really well. Knows if something is bothering me. Or if I’m so excited I can’t hold in the desire to dance like a fool.”
“That’s all good things though,” Niki said. “It must be nice to feel that comfortable with the person that you’re dating.”
“It is actually. I don’t have to worry about a whole lot. I mean I threw up most of his birthday. He didn’t care. That’s unusual. Cameron used to get pissed off at a lot of pretty stupid things. Like if I was tired and told him not to stay at my flat he’d get pissed. Especially if we were working. He lived a lot farther from the pub than me. It’s just different to be with Harry. It’s comfortable and makes me really happy.”
“That’s good. I’d love that some day. My parents are like that. They met when they were just out of uni. They were doing an internship in Paris and worked together.”
“Oh my god. Paris? Seriously? I haven’t been.”
“You’ve been in London for six months and haven’t taken a trip to Paris yet?” she asked sounding shocked. I shook my head. “You need to go. We go as a family every year at least once. My Mum and Dad were married there. All of us kids were the weird ones in school in Dublin until we moved. Irish kids with French names. My name is Nikolette. They liked the different spelling. My brothers are Jack and Mike or Jacque and Michel.”
“So you have two older brothers?” Niki nodded. “Cool. I have one. We are really close. Moving was hard.”
“My brothers and I are close. They still live back home. Both married.”
“Mine too,” I said pulling in to a parking spot. As we walked around the store Niki and I got to know about each other. More about our families. Our favorite things to do for fun. We had a lot in common and enjoyed a lot of the same things.
“This furniture is really cool,” she said sinking in to an oversized chair. “And so comfortable?”
“Getting rid of Nate’s couch?”
“Niall said a spring poked him in the back all night. Figure it’s time to retire that. The bed is entirely uncomfortable too. Like sleeping on pavement.”
“I passed out there once. Nate was staying at my flat. And I had closed late one night, opened the next day for football matches and then had a split so I could work at night too. Worst bed I’ve ever slept in. Besides feeling dirty that I was sleeping in Nate’s bed,” I said laughing.
“Yeah, my Dad said that I could get whatever I needed. They knew about all the shit that happened with my boss and were upset that I’d been thrown out. Offered to pay for a hotel until I was settled. Want me to find a place and make it my own. I lived in the dormitory for a while when I first moved here until I got the job. This will be the first time I’ve had my own place.”
“Well then we need to make it special,” I said sitting in the chair next to her. I held my phone out taking a picture of us snuggled together and sent it to Harry.
Message with Harry
Furniture shopping is fun. What are you doing?
Listening to Niall ramble on about her. He’s such a girl sometimes.
From what he’s told me you did the same. Payback’s a bitch, right babe?
I guess so. When are you coming home?
We haven’t even picked anything important out yet. It may be awhile. You’re fine. I promise.
I may be fine but it doesn’t mean I don’t miss you.
You’re cute.
So are you. Come home. We can be cuter together.
In a while. And then tomorrow maybe we can be lazy. Nothing but each other.
I like that plan. Have fun with Niki and see you in a bit.
“So I think this is it,” Niki declared when we finally looked at what felt like the 15th living room set. She was being very careful that what she picked was something she would want for a while since she was getting her first place. We made our way to look at beds and laid on what felt like million.
“Okay Goldilocks which one is it?” I asked as I watched her lay on yet another mattress.
“Oh my god. This one,” she almost moaned. “Lay down. You have to test this one out.” I laid down next to her and sank in to the pillow top mattress.
“Oh. My. God.” I did moan. “This is the greatest thing ever. I don’t ever want to move.” My phone started to ring. “Hello.”
“Well hi there,” Harry said. “I know the sound in your voice. What are you doing?”
“Laying on the mattress that Niki better being buying. Fuck it’s comfortable.”
“Better than mine?”
“Yours has you in it. So no.” I heard Harry start to laugh on the other end of the line.
“So how much longer?” he asked. It was like a kid on a road trip singing ‘are we there yet’ over and over again.
“We are just going to pay for everything. We’ve picked bedding and ordered living room stuff. We just need to order the mattress and we will be leaving. Are you and Niall meeting us at O’Brien’s or do we have to come by the house?”
“We will meet you there. 30 minutes?” he asked.
“Perfect. See you there. Muah!”
“Bye Sugar.”
“Bye Dimples.” I hung up the phone. “Okay are we gonna be able to move off thebed?”
“I don’t know. I may never want to get out of bed.”
“We need to. Food awaits. And the boys. Which I’m guessing you’re excited about seeing.”
“I am. I really like Niall. He’s a very sweet guy. We talked a lot last night. He seems almost too good to be true.” I laughed.
“What do you mean by that?” I asked.
“Well eventually I’d like to have a house back in Ireland. My grandparents still live where my Dad grew up, which is in the country not far from Niall’s family. I mean I don’t know that I’d want to move back permanently but having a home in Ireland to go to would be a dream. I just like that in London I’ve got such an opportunity to find great work. So many restaurants. He said that he’s had this area back home that is open land that he wants to buy and build a house on. He said eventually when he’s old and retired and doesn’t do any of this for a living any more he’d like to have a place in Ireland he can spend time at.”
“That seems like him. I know missing out on Theo’s life is a bummer for him. We talked kids last weekend. My niece, his nephew. The main reason we both hate that we don’t live at home.” We collected all of the things we’d bought, paid for the furniture and delivery fee and loaded Harry’s car up to head to the pub. We carried everything else upstairs and loaded it in to her flat. I left her to change and get herself ready as I headed down to the pub.
The fire in the fireplace had been lit. The smell of food filled the pub. I saw Niall and Harry sitting in front of the fire with Patrick, Frankie and Cate. I put my purse and coat behind the bar, grabbed a beer and headed over to the chair Harry was in. I bent down to kiss him as he pulled me in to his lap. I draped my legs over the arm of the chair.
“Have fun shopping?” he whispered in my ear.
“I did. Her flat will look super cute when it’s all done. Her furniture is getting delivered later this week. She has class when they are delivering it so I’m gonna come and sign for it and be here.”
“You’re a good friend.”
“Did you bring my Chiefs jacket?” I asked as I rested my head on his shoulder.
“I forgot it. Shit.”
“You’re gonna be in trouble,” Frankie said laughing. Cate giggled knowing the look that had appeared on my face well. She and her Dad often played jokes on me, resulting in a similar look on my face.
“Seriously? I left it on the bed so that when you ran home you could get it.”
“I know. I’m sorry. If you get cold you can have my sweater.” I looked to see the Packers hoodie I bought him for Christmas laying on the arm of the chair behind me.
“You think I’m gonna wear that?” I asked raising my eyebrows.
“You are if you’re cold. It’s the only thing we have here other than your jacket. And don’t lie. I saw you wearing it Thursday morning.” He leaned in to whisper in my ear. “If I remember correctly you had it on with nothing else under it.”
“I might’ve been,” I said blushing. He captured my lips with his kissing me. I couldn’t help but smile against his lips.
“Oi! Stop making out,” Cam yelled as I heard the back door slam. I leaned back and looked at him flipping him off.
“Shove it.”
“Seriously Belle?” Nate asked following him in. “You couldn’t find an empty seat in the whole place?”
“This was comfortable,” I said snuggling in to Harry a bit. Nate sat in the chair next to Harry and pulled Kim on to his lap. “Pot meet kettle, asshole.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“So how was house hunting?” Harry asked.
“It went really well. We found a couple of places that are great. One that has this incredible garden and looks really cute from the outside. Needs a bit of TLC on the inside and updating. But I think it’s the winner,” Kim said. Nate handed me his phone and I started to flip through the pictures. The house was very cute. Very traditional with a gorgeous garden. I could imagine twinkle lights over the patio that was at the far back of the property and way too many drinks and a lot of food.
“So is this the one?” I asked. Kim nodded happily.
“She loves it. So I’m in. Told her if we have a big family we will just have to upgrade at some point. But until then when we only have you as our kid we are good,” Nate said laughing.
“Always looking out for me. I appreciate that you don’t intend on making me homeless, Natey. Where is it?”
“Just on the other side of the Hampstead Heath Extension. So not too far from Harry,” Kim said. “The house behind him was nice but needed a bit more work than we wanted to put in to it. And more money.”
“Understandable,” I said. “Still same neighborhood. I won’t have too far to walk to get to his place.”
“You can just take a car. No need to walk when it gets cold,” Harry said. He smiled at me. “We can talk about it when we get home tonight.” I kissed his cheek.
“Okay are we ready to cook?” Niki asked walking in to the pub from upstairs. I turned to see her in a Derby County Football Club hoodie.
“This is the Super Bowl, Nik! American football,” I said laughing.
“This is all I own. I don’t follow American football. So I cheer for the home team.”
“You’re a Derby County fan?” Niall asked almost shocked.
“Yeah, when we moved to England it was because of Dad’s work. He’s the Finance Director for the football club. Never missed a match until I moved to London.”
“Is this a dream?” Niall asked. Everyone in the room started laughing.
“Someone hit him,” I said. Patrick moved from where he sat next to Niall, reaching behind him and smacking him in the back of the head.
“Ouch!” Niall yelled.
“Not a dream,” Patrick said laughing.
“Why?” Niki asked.
“Niall is a giant Derby fan,” Harry said laughing. “Did you hire her to act this part?” I shook my head to him after he’d whispered his question. “I’m gonna owe you pretty big. You are gonna end up right.”
“I am because I’m awesome.” I kissed him. “Now I need to find Lizzy and cook.” I stood up with Kim and Niki on my heels. We found Lizzy and Lyla in the kitchen of the pub. Maddy was sitting on the counter with a cookie in her hand and chocolate milk in a cup next to her. “Hey Maddy girl.” I kissed the top of her head.
“What do we have in here? The Salisbury Sisters trying to cook,” I said laughing.
“Yes, please help. I’m useless and she’s forgetful today,” Lyla said. Niki, Kim and I immediately jumped in helping. We had quite the list of stuff we wanted to make. I heard the TV floating in from the main area of the pub and the conversation of the guys. Kim talked at length about the houses that they saw. Lizzy was excited to have Nate back. They had been close growing up and he had immediately bonded with Frankie making him part of their family. The girls called him Uncle Nate because that was basically what he was. Niki talked about how excited she was to decorate the flat with everything we’d bought. She was going to pick out paint and next weekend paint the place so that it felt more like her own.
I loved watching all of my friends interacting. I’d moved here not knowing way lay ahead. And seeing how my life had fallen in to place made me smile. I had my camera with me and was taking pictures of everyone in the kitchen. Maddy with frosting on her nose. Kim and Niki with beers toasting the success of their appetizer they’d made together. Lyla singing along with the radio in to a spoon she’d used. And my favorite, a shot I caught of Lizzy with her hand, absentmindedly resting on her belly, watching all of us laugh about some moment Kim was retelling of Nate looking through closets in houses today and finding some interesting things. I loved having moment like this caught on film so I could remember them later. The little things in my life and being with these people were what made living in London the greatest decision I’d ever made in my life.
“So Niall stayed over?” Kim asked Niki. She was now sitting next to Maddy on the counter licking the frosting off of a beater I’d used making my red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and blue sprinkles to celebrate.
“He did. He was a bit tipsy. Didn’t want him driving,” Niki said.
“Did you shag?” Lizzy asked.
“No,” Niki said quickly.
“Please tell me you kissed him,” Lyla added.
“We kissed. But nothing happened.”
“I think it’s great that they didn’t shag,” I defended. “Harry and I didn’t do that the first night we met.”
“No, you just drug the poor bloke along for months in the friend zone until you finally let him pay for drinks,” Lyla said.
“And then didn’t even kiss him that first night after drinks,” Lizzy said.
“She made up for it,” Kim said taking a drink of her beer and laughing.
“Maddy, go sit with Daddy and Uncle Nate,” Lizzy said helping her youngest off of the counter. “What do you know Kim?”
“She woke him up with a blow job last weekend.” I threw a roll at her head.
“What?” Lyla asked. Lizzy started to laugh and Niki just stood there with her mouth open.
“Well we sort of fooled around the night before but he’d gotten me drunk first and well…I fell asleep.”
“Seriously?” Lizzy asked. “You’ve been in love with that boy for months. You fell asleep the first time you were intimate with each other?”
“Yeah, I was pissed. You know how I get when you give me a lot of wine and pasta. I’ve fallen asleep at yours so many times after spaghetti night.”
“True,” Lizzy said still laughing.
“So you woke him up with a blow job?” Niki asked. I nodded. “Had you had sex?” I shook my head.
“We did very soon after. Like REALLY soon after.”
“Are you finally gonna talk about this?” Lizzy asked pulling a stool over and sitting down on it. Kim and Lyla jumped on the table that been cleared off in the middle of the kitchen and Niki next to me. We had things baking in the over and needed to stay in here for a while.
“I don’t want to divulge details. But I will say he was amazing. He’s sweet. Attentive. Caring. Funny. But information pertaining to how he is in bed…well that’s for me and me only.”
“That’s it?” Niki asked.
“Do you want me to ask you if Niall is a good kisser?” I asked raising an eyebrow.
“He is. I’m okay admitting that. I’m not the only one in the room who knows that too,” she said giggling. We’d all had quite a few beers in here, except Lizzy. I’d even snuck the pitcher of Irish Kool-Aid that I had made for the night in here and we were doing shots. Niki was getting a bit tipsy, admitting that Niall was a good kisser was funny, especially admitting that she wasn’t the only one that knew.
“She’s right, he is a good kisser,” Kim said. “But he’s nothing like Nate.”
“That’s because you’re in love with Nate,” I said laughing.
“I am. I’m really sorry to be abandoning you. We are serious though. You can move in until you find somewhere. Though I’m putting money on Harry asking you to move in.” Kim was now laughing.
“I doubt it.”
“He will,” came the opinion of Lizzy, Lyla and Niki.
“Seriously, the way he looks at you. Always touches you. I’ve known you all of 48 hours and I know you’re in love with him,” Niki said.
“I…I’m not in love with him. No way.”
“Yes, you are,” Lizzy said.
“Uh no.”
“Uh yes,” Kim replied. “Totally in love. You tend to forget we are in the room with you if you are with him. You’ve never acted like this.”
“She definitely wasn’t with Cameron but who would want to be like that with Cam?” Lyla asked laughing.
“No one,” I said. “Beard gets in the way.” I laughed pretty hard.
“What is all the laughter in here?” Harry asked as the door opened. “You five are sitting on the job back here.”
“Also drinking on the job,” I said holding up my nearly empty pint glass. He eyed the shot glasses and started laughing. “Even Lyla is drinking with us tonight.”
“Well let’s hope the food isn’t going to burn,” he said laughing. He came over to me and kissed me quickly before resting in between my legs, his back to my chest facing the rest of the room. “Gemma is on her way here. She’s bringing a friend.”
“Sweet.”
“So what are you girls talking about in here?” he asked.
“Evidently Niall is a good kisser,” Lyla said.
“Okay that’s awkward. Why did I walk in at this moment?”
“Because you’ve got great timing,” Lizzy said. We finished and got everything out of the kitchen on to the tables in the pub. The crowd ended up being some of the employees, their significant others, roommates, friends and anyone who felt like watching the Super Bowl when it aired in the middle of the night. Gemma and I spent a good amount of time talking. But it was as if anywhere I went in the room if I glanced at Harry he was watching me. Our eyes would meet and he’d smile at me. I could feel my stomach somersault each time.
I looked around the room at one point during the commercial break before half time and smiled seeing everyone. Kim and Nate were smooshed in to one chair flipping through the pictures of the house they’d seen. Nate had been on the phone with the realtor to put in an offer shortly after they arrived. On a loveseat sat Frankie and Lizzy, his hand occasionally grazing her belly. Gemma and her friend Ellie were sitting with Cam and Teddy, another of the bartenders at a table talking and playing cards. Niall had his arm around Niki’s shoulder and she was leaning in to him a bit. Patrick was chasing Margaret, his lady friend, around. I snuggled in to Harry a bit and yawned.
“You tired?” I nodded.
“You know we can watch this at home right?” he said.
“I know but this party is because I wanted to watch the Super Bowl.”
“I know baby. But I also know you’ve been throwing parties all weekend. Why don’t we go home? Crawl in bed. Watch the end of the game. Hopefully let you get some sleep tonight since you’ve been running on empty the last few nights.”
“Is it bad to leave my Super Bowl party before everyone else?” I asked.
“No,” he said kissing me. “Hey, I’m taking this one. She’s about to fall asleep on me.”
“Bruno Mars hasn’t even come on yet,” Kim said as she yawned.
“She needs to go to bed. I’ve caught her try to fall asleep on my lap for an hour,” Harry said standing and pulling me in to him.
“I intend on sleeping all day tomorrow because I don’t have to work.” Harry had gone to get my bag and jacket. I slipped it on over the Packers sweatshirt I’d ended up in early.
“Good plan. You need the rest. See you Wednesday,” Lizzy said.
“Thanks. I’ve never been so happy that you were making me take time off because I had worked extra when you went out of town. I’m gonna love sleeping in tomorrow.”
“Enjoy it,” Frankie said. He stood to kiss my cheek.
“Call me tomorrow,” Kim said hugging me. “I’m off. Maybe Nate and I can come by. Do lazy dinner at Harry’s.”
“Perfect.” I said my goodbyes to everyone and told Niall to let me know he got home okay tonight because he should maybe not get drunk enough to sleep on Niki’s couch again. We made it to the car and I buried my head against the door as Harry drove through the city to get us home. We were quiet most of the way.
“Nate and Kim’s top choice looks cool. Not far from my place,” he said.
“No…very close,” I yawned. “Won’t be a terrible walk to get to your place. Bit longer of a walk to the bookshop but no tube in the mornings.”
“You shouldn’t be walking from my place to theirs.” He pulled in drive and parked the car.
“Well I’m going to have walk or you’re picking me up a lot.” We both made it to the bedroom stripping clothes off. I was down to his t-shirt and my panties.
“Well what if…you just moved in here.” I laughed.
“Wait. That’s not the reaction I meant to have,” I said immediately realizing that his face showed he was hurt. “It’s that the girls were all telling me you’d ask me to move in and I didn’t believe them.”
“Why wouldn’t you believe them?” he asked as he crawled in bed and I soon followed.
“I don’t know. Just didn’t think a week of dating was enough to be like ‘hey let’s live together’. It seems fast.”
“I know but it also seems right. You’ve been here for a week. I like you being here. It’s like you belong.”
“I…I don’t know.”
“What’s wrong?” he pulled me in to his arms tightly.
“I just don’t know.”
“Annie, I love you. I want you here. I don’t want you anywhere but here. I want this to be our house.”
“I….” Did he just say he loved me and want me to live with him? Holy. Shit. How does one react to this? I took a deep breath. I should react to this with how I feel. “I…I love you too.”
“You aren’t just saying that because I said it?”
“No, I love you. I think I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you. I just fought myself.”
“I loved you in that moment too,” he said kissing me. “Please live with me. Make this house ours. Don’t worry about finding someone where to be. Just be here with me.”
“You aren’t terrified that this is fast.”
“Frankie told me something today that made me realize what was going on in my head. Love isn’t a choice. Love just happens. Your heart just decides to love the person and you do everything you can to fight for them and a life together. That’s what he did. That’s what his Dad did. And I love you. I want a life with you. I want you here in our house. This to be our bed. I want to share every single aspect of my life with you.”
“I love you too. And…I think moving in is scary but isn’t life about having adventures?” He pulled me closer to him hugging me. “The girls were telling me today that I shouldn’t be scared of loving you. Because we skipped this whole part of a normal relationship. We didn’t have dates to get to know about the other person. We didn’t have awkward chats over glasses of wine and bread baskets. We had those over tea, coffee and books while we spent six months getting to know each other. And I honestly wouldn’t change any of that. I love that’s how I fell in love with you.” I loved him. I did love him. And he wanted to share his life and home and heart with me. How did I get so lucky?
“That’s how I fell in love with you. Well that and the crazy pictures you’d send me while I was on the road. I knew anyone who found something funny or staged some hilarious picture with the toys in the children’s section was a woman I would grow old loving.” We kissed sweetly, our lips never parting as we fell asleep.
Notes
Awwww. I love you guys too, Annie and Harry. It seems so fast for them. But they genuinely seem in love. They seem like they've been fighting it long enough that they aren't willing to. Which is great. It's good to see them both running after happiness instead of hiding from it or avoiding it.
Nate and Kim have found a house! Niall and Niki kissed! And she really is created from Annie's magic wand....she's a Derby fan too!! And perhaps best of all....THERE'S GONNA BE A BABY!!! Cate and Maddy may be getting that baby brother they've been asking for all along.
What did you think of the new chapter? Do you think Annie and Harry are moving too fast? What about Kim and Nate? I mean they did just get back together. What do you think will happen between Niall and Niki?
I'm anxious to hear from everyone what they thought of this chapter. I apologize for the length of time that it's been since the last update. I also apologize if there's any typos...I will likely be fixing them later. But it's 3:30AM and I desperately want to post this for all of you. Thank you for your kindness, patience, encouragement and excitement. You have no idea what that does for a writer struggling through a bought of writer's block. Please let me know what you think. I am really anxious to know because this was a pivotal chapter for so many characters and something that took a lot of time to put together. I hope you love it and if you don't let me know. Send me a message, leave me a comment...ask anything. As always please comment, rate, subscribe, vote, all those wonderful things you do to let me know that you like the story.
Title Notes: Real Love appears on the Instant Karma album, which was a charity record of artists performing John Lennon songs. Regina Spektor has an incredible voice that was hard to pass up. Plus the lyrics seem so appropriate for Annie and Harry. "From this moment on I know exactly where my life will go. Seems that all I really was doing was waiting for love. No need to be afraid. No need to be afraid. It's real love. Yes it's real love." John Lennon's lyrics have always impacted my life. And I remember hearing this song for the first time when The Beatles Anthology was released. If you haven't heard the Regina Spektor version head over to the Spotify playlist...it's been updated to include this title. Also if you haven't checked out the Spotify playlist...DO IT! :)
@raybansncoffee
sorry I just saw this!!! I was rereading London Calling on my phone (LG Slide life) and I saw you responded but couldn't respond until I had a computer. I will go read your other story now but i can't promise the same insights- I'm happier now and might've lost my artistic edge
H
9/23/17