Once You've Tasted Love

Chapter 12

*Two weeks later*

I had just woken up when I received a message. 
Gary x.
"Hi Sweetie, just wanted to know what you're doing today after work? x"
I smiled and answered "Hi Gaz, meeting Anna later. Why? I could cancel it for you if you want me to x"
"No. It's fine honestly. But are you free tomorrow evening?"
"Yes, why?"
"Got a little surprise for you ;-)"
I felt the butterflies in my stomach and again I smiled while I answered "Looking forward to it... Have to get ready for work now. Miss you x"
"Then go... Miss you too x"

Yes. Gary and I were still together and I was on cloud nine. We had spent as much time together as we could, we had been out for dinner twice, and also had had a few cosy nights in, either at Gary’s place or mine, and then we had days where we didn’t see each other at all, which wasn't bad, a bit of space is always a good thing.

Things were great, everything had just been going so smoothly, something out of a fairytale really.
Ok, neither had met the in-laws yet, but between us both, things were great,
chemistry, yes, that’s what we had, even after this short space of time. Chemistry, something all of my past relationships had been lacking.

We hadn't used the L-Word yet though, I wanted him to say it first, I didn’t want to come across as desperate or didn’t want to push him and scare him off.
I wanted this to work, cause yes, I definitely loved him, but there was no way I was going to risk it all and being the one causing a break up only because I had been honest about my feelings too early. So I kept my mouth shut.

As he sang... 'Have a little Patience...'I loved that song already even if it hadn't been released yet, but Gary had played it to me when he showed me his studio.
That man has his own studio in his house! It wasn’t very big, not big enough to work and record whole albums, but big enough to write songs and record demos, at least that’s what he had told me.

Work was easy that day and I got out right on time. When I stepped out of the tube station that was near Anna’s house my phone rang. Mum. 
I smiled and answered "Hey mum. How are you?" 
"I'm fine thanks. I just wanted to hear a word from you, ask how you are doing down there in London."
I giggled "Aww I'm really fine." 
"What's that tone in your voice?"
I frowned at her question "What tone?" 
"Who is he?" 
"MUM!" I gasped, I didn’t think she was able of finding out about this without me telling her.
"Don't even try to hide it. I can hear that you are in love." 
I blushed "Okay. I have a boyfriend yes. His name is Gary and I promise you I will introduce him soon, if you promise me not to tell anyone immediately, deal?" 
"Deal. But may I tell dad?"
I nodded "Yes and Edward and Sarah too." 
"Okay, bye love." 
"Bye mum, give dad a kiss from me please."
"Will do. Bye."
I put my phone back into my bag, sighed and walked up to Anna’s house.

I was greeted by an open door and Anna standing in the doorway, grinning.
"Why are you grinning like that?" I asked, smiling myself.
She shrugged "I'm just happy. You look happy and that's making me happy." 
"What's wrong with everyone today? Seriously. You, mum--"
Anna frowned "Your mum?"
I shrugged and nodded "Yeh, she just called me as I was walking over from the tube station and somehow she could hear by the tone of my voice that I am in love." I rolled my eyes as I thought of it. 
"She's your mum. Of course she notices something like that. But honestly, I've never seen you so happy, like ever." The tone in her voice was really serious, like she wanted to make sure that I knew she was serious and eventually it made me blush. 
"Thank you, and yes, I am happy." 

We walked through to the kitchen, and I sat down while Anna made us a brew.
"And Gary?" 
I sighed "Honestly? I don't know. I mean, don’t get me wrong, he is as sweet as ever and we get on like a house on fire, but we haven't used the three words yet. I know it has only been a few weeks, which is nothing but..."
Anna nodded "And let me guess, you want to say it, but you also want him to say it first, right?"
I nodded shyly, not looking at her.
Anna sat down beside me and nudged me.
I looked up to see her smiling "He will. Sooner rather than later, I'm sure. If things really are as good as you describe it, then he must feel the same, and if not yet, then he will soon." 
I shrugged and then tried to smile "Maybe I should stop being such a worrier sometimes."
"Yes, you should, remember what I told you? 'Relax and enjoy it.' You should listen to me more often. By the way, you know you haven't told me about the meeting with the boys yet?"
"Really?" 
She nodded.
I giggled "It was nice. The boys were funny and kind and Marks girlfriend Kennedy was lovely as well. I like them all very much. We had a nice evening, and Gary said they like me as well." 
"That's good. Got any press 'drama' yet?" 
I shook my head "No. And I'm glad. You know that I know that the press will find it out one day, but I am relieved they don't know it yet. I have no problem with it, it comes with being with Gary, and if I really want to be him I need to accept it, but I’m not keen on getting famous myself, and even less just because I’m Gary’s girlfriend." 
She nodded "Understandable, yeah that makes sense."

I decided that I had enough of talking about my life and turned it around "What's happening in your life? I have the feeling we're always talking about me and to be honest it makes me feel bad."
Anna grinned back "That’s because yours is obviously far more interesting while mine is just boring as always."
I rolled my eyes "How's Jack?" 
"Good, thanks, he’s working a lot, but so am I, so none of us is sitting at home alone all day. Oh, actually he asked me yesterday about family plans." 
My eyes grew big and I let out an excited squeal "Ah! That's cute. And?" 
She shrugged "Nothing. We want kids, but not yet. Maybe in a year or two. And we're both in no rush to get married, even if we want to get married some day."

I got back home somewhere around 10. I headed towards my bedroom straight away, putting my bag down, I took out my phone and plugged the charger in. I jumped into the shower as I felt a bit sweaty and sticky and I preferred going to bed freshly showered, especially when I had just put new sheets on the bed.

Before I finally got into bed I took a look onto my phone. I had a new message from Gary. „Hi, just wanted to say I'll come and pick you up at work tomorrow if that’s ok. I don't think you need to pack an overnight bag as I have some freshly washed clothes of you here. You can stay over the weekend too, if you want to. Gary x"
"Hi cutie, of course that’s ok. See you tomorrow x"
I put my phone back onto my nightstand and fell in to a deep sleep, wondering what the surprise was Gary had talked about.