Strictly Professional

28: Daddy Issues

ELLE
Daddy Issues-The Neighborhood

"Be honest. You wouldn't absolutely despise him just for those things. Something else happened. Tell me sunshine." His last word got to me, making my knees feel weak and pulling me into his spell once again. While talking, he pulled me towards the desk chair he was sat earlier today, sitting down and making me sit sideways on his lap, supporting the entirety of my weight on his legs with his arm around my waist. I couldn't believe I was about to do that. No one, not even my mother knew about this. Only my brother was aware, and it was something we've always kept between us. But my mouth started moving on its own once again.

"One night my mum wasn't home. She was still pregnant with Anna at the time and my brother was out. My father, he told me he wanted to show me something in his room and started taking me there. Before he could, my brother came back and took  me away from him. I didn't realise what would have happened if he hadn't returned until years later." I kept my eyes glued to my lap, thinking that it would be easier if I didn't look at him. I didn't want to face that pitiful look I knew he was giving me.

"Well now I hate your father too." He tried lifting my mood by being humorous about it and I appreciated his effort. With a short lived smile, I glanced up at him.

"But I'm so glad your brother showed up in time." He breathed in and out deeply, his free hand delicately placed at the side of my neck. I kept silent, not knowing what else to say after I just revealed my darkest secret to him. And he could probably understand how big of a deal that was to me. I wasn't crying anymore, but he still wiped the dried up tears off.

"Thanks for opening up to me." He almost muttered, his thumb running along my jawbone.

"It was only fair. You told me about your past." I lightly shrugged my shoulders, starting to feel a bit awkward. But he was quick to change that. He started peppering short kisses all over the side of my face, starting from my temple until he reached my chin.

"Stay with me tonight." He offered and I found myself nodding in agreement before I even realised it. I had stayed away from his room in worry that my mother would find out something was going on between us, but I couldn't find the energy to care any longer. So I got up and held his hand before leading him out of my room and into my brother's old one, which had been converted into a guest room. And I was silently grateful my brother's old bed had been swapped out for a double one.

Once inside, I closed the door and locked it before ridding myself of my grey track shorts, staying in just a black T-shirt as I made my way to the bed. All the exhaustion I've been feeling today had finally caught up with me and all I wanted was to lay down. So I did and Niall didn't waste any time joining me and pulling me into his chest.

I sighed in relief and full of contentment to finally be able to lay with him. I didn't realise how much I actually missed it and it was a bit alarming to know I craved it so much, but I chose not to care for now.

This was my favourite place in the world, though I refused to admit that out loud. I've never felt more relaxed when laying on someone's chest. There was something about him and the way he always played with the ends of my hair while simultaneously tracing patterns on my arm that made me never wanting to move.

I loved being with him, maybe more than I should.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked me, though his voice was almost a whisper. I blinked my eyes open but didn't move. I was glad he dropped the matter of my father so quickly, because I doubt I'd be able to keep talking about that without breaking down again.

"What are you thinking about?" I returned his question to him, feeling his bare chest rise and fall as he sighed.

"Not fair. I asked you first." He lightly chuckled, though I could tell he was deep in thought about something. But I was too exhausted to question him further so I just gave him the first thing coming to my head as an answer.