The Champagne Lovers

Six

I quickly made my way back to my room in the hotel, just three floors below the room where I'd just woken up next to Niall. I placed the 10 peonies into the vase, joining the one that had started my journey last night, burying my face in the blooms one more time, a small smile creeping across my lips before placing them gently on the table.  It still astounded me that Niall had been able to find the rare black flower.

It was barely 7am and the light that had been creeping up from behind the buildings on the the horizon when i'd stepped out on to Niall's balcony, had now flooded the sky with pale watery light and was casting long shadows across the white sheets on my bed, sheets which were looking extremely inviting to my weary body right about now.

The last couple of days had taken there toll, the lack of sleep from my night in Pittsburg with Harry and my night with Niall meaning I'd only had a few hours sleep, my aching body made the involuntary decision and I found myself crawling under the duvet, my head sunk into the soft pillow, and I closed my eyes with a sigh.  There was a lot of things whirling round my head right now, but thankfully the exhaustion I felt took over and in matter of moments I'd drifted off to sleep.

***

By the time I woke, my hotel room was warm and bright, and given that I'd crawled under the heavy duvet in my jeans and Niall's shirt my skin was warm and covered in a light layer of sweat. I took me a few moments, carefully opening my eyes against the brightness surrounding me, I reached out for my phone, abandoned on the empty pillow next to me, I had no new messages.

I'd clearly needed the sleep as it was now a little after 2pm and seeing as I had to be at the venue for a meeting at 4pm, i needed to get ready. I crawled out of bed, padding across the bedroom into the bathroom where I turned on the shower, letting the water heat up while I checked my reflection in the mirror while I filled a glass with water from the sink, quenching my thirst. 

My hair was a tangle of knots, and still visible just below the collar of Niall's shirt I could just make out the hint of red marks on my neck.  I ran my fingers lightly over the blemishes, remembering the feeling of Niall's lips on my skin when he left them there, his fingertips grazing over my jaw as his tongue made its way across my collar bone the butterflies instantly fluttering deep in my torso at the memory.

I stepped under the shower letting the warm water cascade over my body, the sensation going some way to soothing my aching muscles like an anaesthetic, I closed my eyes into the water, I needed to reset my brain so that I could focus on the work I had to do this afternoon, the work that I adored and was a big part of the reason I'd set the rules I had three months ago.

We just needed to remember that his was not a relationship, there weren't feelings involved, it was just casual and light and I think we had started to lose sight of that over the last couple of days. 

Out of the shower, dressed and ready for my afternoon, the lift doors opened onto the glossy, bustling hotel lobby.  I stepped out making my way towards the doors when I glanced over to the reception desk and caught the eye of the receptionist who had checked me in last night. A wide knowing smile flooded across her face when she recognised me, she was the only other person that had any real idea about Niall's romantic gestures last night, and of what was happening between us at all.  I chuckled too myself, returning her smile as i pushed through the front door.

I stepped out onto the street and spotted a small coffee shop down the street the sweat aroma of caramel and espresso spilling through the the door as I approached.  I felt good, the sleep had revived me, the coffee the barista just handed me would continue to do so, and I was excited to make my way to the stadium to start getting ready

***

I loved being in Chicago, Soldier field was one of my favourite venues to work at, its iconic and the facilities are second to none, plus walking through the city after a show was one of my favourite things. This afternoons meeting had gone really well and I was excited to be focussing on the job in hand getting ready for tomorrow, it had given me an added spring in my step as I jogged down the concrete steps at the front of the stadium into the early evening sun. I stopped to take a deep breath feeling the slight coolness creeping into the air, the street was littered with people, making their way home, tourists strolling round taking in the sights of the city. I smiled, allowing my skin to soak in the last of any heat of the day that remained before making my way back to the hotel.