Again -n.h-

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

"Niall, what are you doing?"

A laugh escapes my mouth as he wraps his arms around my waist. In the reflection of the mirror, I watch as he places his head on my shoulder. We are looking at each other through the mirror, but I can't help and notice a different look on his face.

"Marry me, Jess," he says softly, his head turning to press a light kiss behind my ear.

My eyes widen at his question. Did he just ask me to marry him? What?

"What?" I ask, forcing myself to turn around in his arms. Niall is now looking down at me and lifts me up onto the bathroom counter.

His hands are placed on my lower waist and his blue eyes are focused on mine, "I said, marry me."

"Is this because I've been joking about getting engaged? I'm okay to wait -"

Niall presses his lips against mine to shut me up. My hands immediately grab his neck, pulling him even closer than he already was. As his lips move against mine, I can't help but smile.

He really just asked me if I wanted to marry him.

"Yes," I say softly, my lips brushing his at the same time my hands grip the back of his brown hair, "Only if you're seriously considering it."

"I wouldn't joke about this, Jess," he says against my lips. "I mean, I don't have a ring. We will go get you one, but I am serious. Marrying you, making you my wife and mother of my children would give me so much more happiness than singing in front of millions of fans."

I nod, pressing my lips against his once again.

"Let's skip this award show," Niall mutters against my lips, his hands gripping my hips a little tighter than they were.

Niall's lips move down towards my jaw, then towards my neck. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I can't help but let out a throaty chuckle, "I don't think that's a good idea, Niall."

Niall sighs against my chest, and when he raises his head, I can see the happiness within them. Did we really just promise each other we are going to spend the rest of our lives together? That I am going to be his wife?

"I love you so much, Jessica."

I smile as I stare at my engagement ring on my finger, the one that we had bought the very next day. Underneath my engagement ring, is my wedding ring. The promise that we are going to spend the rest of our lives together.

I feel all those emotions that I am supposed to, but then those pictures of my husband and Josie pop up on my phone. People text me, wondering if we ended up getting a divorce.

I trust him, I trust him with my life but Josie knows how to ruin things. It is so hard to not let her ruin this, just like she has always wanted to.

There are still faint scars on my wrist from back then, when Maura had to intervene between Niall and I. Every now and then, I still look at them, as if reminding myself that I am validated in my feelings towards Josie.

I sigh, only two more weeks until Niall is here for about four days.

When I get downstairs, Damien and Sydney are cuddled on the couch watching a movie, Emma is on her phone and Nathan is working on a puzzle. I walk into the kitchen, grabbing a cutting board so I can start to cut the vegetables for tonight's dinner.

"Are you staying for dinner, Damien?" I ask, my voice echoes through the house.

"If you don't mind, Mrs Horan," Damien responds respectfully.

"Not at all," I say.

As I grab a knife from the drawer, I hear the front door open and gasps fill the house. Turning around, my eyes nearly pop out of their socket as I stare at him.

Niall.

The kids run into his direction all squealing in excitement. Niall's laughter fills the air and I can't help but place my hands on my chest. My heart is pounding a million times a minute as I watch the scenery in front of me.

Is this real? Is he truly here?

The kids immediately start asking questions, and Sydney introduces Damien to him. Niall gives him a hand shake before his eyes drift toward me.

He's really here.

Holy crap.

"I'll be right back, okay?" Niall says as he places Nathan down on the ground. He walks into my direction and I immediately rush into his direction.

I wrap my arms around him, hugging him tightly as I feel my eyes water. Niall lifts me off the floor, hugging me and letting a sigh of relief escape his mouth.

"You're here," I whisper. "You're home."

It isn't much later until Niall place some back on the floor and presses his soft lips against mine. I feel a smile erupts onto my lips, wrapping my arms around his neck as I kiss him back. "Okay, there's more later, but we need to talk," he says softly, his lips brushing against mine.

My eyes open, and I pull away from him with a cautious look.

I hear Sydney mutter an oh no as I walk up the stairs and let Niall follow me to our room. Her comment makes my heart sink down into my stomach. Has it been that evident that there's been distance between him and I?

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

"Jess, let me just enjoy the sight of you before we start arguing," Niall says softly, his blue eyes meeting mine. "I know that we've been distant because of the tour, but I'm here because I care, okay?"

I furrow my eyebrows at him in confusion, "What do you mean you care? You're not here because you want to be here?"

Niall sighs, "No, I want to be here. I was told something, and I needed to come see you in person to make sure you're okay."

"I'm taking care of three kids, Niall, I have to be okay."

"No, stop thinking about the kids. I need to know if you're okay."

I stare at him, completely shocked that he would even ask. Of course I'm not okay, of course I'm freaking out that he's on tour with the girl that ruined me. How could I be okay with that?

"You know the answer to that," I say.

"Jess, my Mum called me and told me you barely ate any food the other day."

And that's when my body fills with complete anger.