Since We're Alone |NH|

Chapter 29

Niall's POV

"Yo, dude, is everything okay with you?" Mully asked me, coming into the living room where I had been held up all morning watching a golf tournament.

"Huh?  Yeah, I'm fine.  Why?"

"Because I just got a text from Tomi."

"Okay?" I said, not understanding what he was getting at with that.

"She's wanting to know if something's up with you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know.  She asked if everything was going well with Ophelia and if there was anything wrong?"

I sat upright.  "What?  Why would she ask that?"

"I don't know.  She said Ophelia said something was weird.  What's weird?  You didn't do something weird did you?"

"No.  I don't think so," I lied.  I knew exactly what she was referring to.  I had kind of hoped Ophelia wouldn't have talked to her friend but I knew that was a long shot.  I had been debating talking with Mully about my problem myself but I was too embarrassed by it.  Plus, I knew what he'd say.

"Yeah, she just asked if this was a usual thing for you."

"Is what a usual thing for me?"

"I don't know.  Want me to ask?"

"No!"  I stopped.  "Yeah, I guess, although I bet I can guess what it is.  Should've known she'd go to her friend for advice," I mumbled under my breath.

Mully tapped his phone for a minute before setting it down and looking at me.  "What's going on?  I thought you said everything was going great with Ophelia."

"It is.  For the most part."  I put my head in my hands.

"That seems like a confident answer.  Care to tell me the truth before she does?"  His phone went off at that point.  He picked it up and looked at it.

"Let me guess, something about how I keep freaking out anytime she's near me?  Or, more accurately, any time things get even remotely physical?"

"Not in so many words.  What's going on?  I mean, I know you like the girl.  And you seem to be in a much better mood this past week.  You seem to be in a much better place since you met her."

"I am.  Really.  Everything is good....for the most part."

"Okay, so what's not good?"

"Me and my damn head!" I buried my head in my hands again.

"Care to elaborate?"

"No."

"How about you do it anyway."

"Okay, fine.  Saturday after we all left the bar, I took her to that food truck place we like, figuring it was rather quick and about the only thing open at that point in time."

"Yeah, okay."

"We were fine.  Both of us seeming to really enjoy ourselves.  I know I was.  It's never been so easy to talk to someone.  And in the moments we aren't talking, the silence isn't awkward.  Well, for the most part.  There were some moments where she would get quiet and fidgety.  She chocked it up to being nervous.  To which I believed her because, well, I was nervous.  But, I don't know, I guess my curiosity got the better of me and I asked her if everything was okay.  I was afraid I was the reason she was uncomfortable."

"And were you?  The reason?  I take it you weren't."

"No, not at all.  She said some guy, and please don't go telling Tomi I told you this.  I feel this was confidential information, okay?"