What A Feeling

Inside the pub, they choose the booth with the best view of the game playing on the TV.
Becca takes note of how close Niall moves in next to her. When she looks at him, he grins.
“Gotta be straight on to watch the game.” He points at the TV in front of them.
Becca smirks. Not quite believing his motives.
Before their meals arrive, they have a conversation about which athletes they’ve met. She’s surprised by how long Niall’s list is, still not quite as long as her’s though.
Their conversation is interrupted, as a couple of girls approach the booth.
“Niall, can we get a picture?”
He looks at Becca with apologetic eyes.
“Go ahead.” She says.
Becca watches these girls hanging all over him as they take pictures; an unfamiliar knot in her stomach.
Am I jealous? She wonders. No, you don’t want him, right? Right? Shit!

Of course a line forms for pictures with Niall.
Who knew so many chicks would be at a sports pub? How does he deal with this all the time?

She watches as Niall talks to the manager of the pub, then heads over to the booth. He reaches his hand out to her.
“Come on, we’re gonna leave.”
She takes his hand. “What’s going on?”
He takes the bag of food from the manager.
“Too many interruptions. How about we go to my house instead?”
Becca hesitates. “Yeah, sure.” Handing him her car keys. “Here, you drive.”
Crap. Why does the thought of going to his house make me so nervous?

Once at his house, she sits on his couch watching as he puts the game on, lights a couple candles, then disappears with the food.
My stomach is so full of butterflies, can I even eat? She wonders.
Niall returns with the food from the pub warmed up, on plates. He hands Becca hers, then sits about a foot away from her. The disappointment that makes her feel, surprises her.
As they watch the game, and eat, she feels herself relaxing.
“Are you seeing anyone, Becca?”
Ok, scratch that, definitely not relaxed.
“No, I’m not. I need to focus on my career right now.”
“You can’t have your career and a relationship?” Niall asks as he leaves the room with the dirty dishes. When he returns he sits much closer to her on the couch. Their legs touching.
Becca swallows hard. “No, I think they would each take away from the other.”
“I think if both people work at it hard enough, and are supportive of each other, it can work.” Niall says.
Becca stays silent, her mind racing.
Niall adds. “So you aren’t interested in dating right now?”
Becca hesitates, afraid to answer.
“No, I’m not.” Even as the words leave her mouth, she’s not sure she means them.
Niall smirks, leaning in close. In a low raspy voice, he says. “Sounds like a challenge to me. I like a challenge.”
Her breath catches as Niall moves in even closer; his intentions obvious to her.
Just then Niall’s cousin, Willie, yells. “I’m home.”
“Shit.” Niall says before pulling back.
Becca lets out a sigh of relief.
The three of them finish watching the game together. When it’s over, Becca says. “I should go, I still have an article to write.”
“I’ll walk you out.” Niall says.

At her car, Niall opens her door. She pauses. “Thank you for dinner tonight, Niall. Looks like I still owe you a meal, though.”
Niall grins. “I’m available tomorrow night.”
Becca laughs. “Alright, we can try again.”
Niall stares into her eyes.
“I better go.”
He grabs her arm, pausing her. “Hold on. I need to finish what I started earlier.”

Notes