Endings, Beginnings, Espressos

Chapter Eight: Losing My Religion

You both walk into the house to the sound of happy chatter and music, Frank wrapping an arm around you and giving you a kiss on the side of your head. 

"It'll be fine, they'll love you" he reassures you as you mention worrying about meeting the others. 

"Oh My God!! Look at you" Frank hugs a huge guy with a deep rich voice. 

"Whats up, how you doing?" 

"Good really good" 

"Hey so Sidney, this is my girlfriend Y/N!" He introduces you "Y/N this is Sidney" a huge smile breaks onto Sidney's face as he embraces you. 

"Hi nice to meet you, hey" you both stumble in union as Frank introduces himself to a girl named Jezabel. 

"Hey, hey guys I'm Y/N" you introduce yourself to the rest of the crowed. 

"Good to see you again" You hear a familiar voice which calms your nerves down a bit.

"Laura!!" You give her a hug. 

"So did I hear that right, you're the girlfriend now then?" She quizzes you. 

"Yes you did, we're finally doing it!" You almost squeal. 

"Best news I've had since my slime ex got bad food poising and puke on his new girlfriend in public" she cackles, you join her unable to stop her infectious happiness getting to you.

After saying hi to some of the ones you do recognise you all head into the giant dining room for dinner and drinks. 

"Ready for the night, I would say anything is possible" Frank says a glint of excitement in his voice as you sit, arms around him smiling. 

"Its about time you two got together" Laura, who you'd met a few times before comes back from the toilet. 

"You are disgustingly good together" Sidney remarks and you blush. 

"Well, had to make good of myself at some point, and Y/N is my reason" he smiles widely as he kisses you on the nose, causing you to blush even harder. 

"Cheers, to the happy couple and cheers to us not having to put up with their immense sexual tension any longer!" 

"Oi" you laugh at Laura as she starts a toast, everyone chinking glasses together. 

"Thank you for having us" Frank says charmingly as he clinks glasses with everyone. 

"Right, I'm stuffed" Jezabel says triumphantly as she pats her stomach. "Who's up for booze and live music?" 

"Yes!!" everyone cheers in unison. As you all get up to leave to start to pile to plates. 

"Hey, chill, put those down... I'll do it later" Lauren smacks your hand playfully. 

"Come on babe, you're not at work tonight" Frank wraps him arms around you kissing your temple as you melt into him, walking attached to each other into the big living space, a red lighting scene set up with live music equipment. 

"Give us a song" one guy, you'd forgotten his name shouted playfully as the band set up. 

"Shut it you arse" the singer teased back. 

As you listen to the music, laughing, joking and drinking with Frank, both constantly touching in some way at all times you feel yourself relax, you feel young and free and able to take on the world. Ok you had a job, but maybe life could be more about road trips and sex?

. . .

"Because my grandparents emigrated during the Civil War so, in a way, I do like, have Spanish blood... you know filtered though South America... I don't know"