Happy Hour (A Romantic Comedy)

Chapter 30

The last 24 hours have been incredible and I really don't want to go home, to return to normality.

However, I know nothing will be completely normal anymore. Because now I have Chris.

After the little revelation about Kirsty, we spoke about us. About how we both wanted to keep going with this, wanted to be in a relationship. 

Is it odd to say this so early on? 

I'm not sure. As you know, I've never exactly been an expert on relationships. I've always thought that was because of me, but actually it seems it's because I wasn't in a relationship with Chris before. 

Because it's easy with him. As simple as him saying, slightly shyly; "So listen, do you want to be my girlfriend?" And me replying, "Obviously!"

Sickening, right?

We both realise it won't be easy, with my working hours being all over the place. And I can't necessarily take him away on all my overnight stays; me and Paige often come as a package deal and while I know she would never begrudge me the opportunity to get away with him, it won't always be possible logistically.

However, as we are driving back to Glasgow I am thinking I'm going to ask Calum if I can change up my hours a bit at the pub. I've been thinking about this for a while, as it would be nice to have a Friday or Saturday night off once in a while, but also being able to have a date night on a normal weekend night would be great. 

Of course, I guess there would be no guarantees Chris wouldn't be working the night I had off . . . But I'm assuming he'll probably only be working there until the next term starts at school anyway so it's not really relevant anyway. And his shifts seem to be few and far between… I guess Calum doesn't really need the extra help that much.

Chris drops me off at mine and leaves, but only long enough to pick up some more clothes from his so he can stay over. Obviously neither of us are ready to leave the bubble just yet. 

Paige is home so she finally gets to meet him, charmed by the fact he has also brought a couple of takeaway pizzas and bottles of wine and insists she shares with us. When he nips to the loo, she turns to me, her smile wide. "Oh my god, I love him!" she exclaims.

"Hands off," I warn jokingly.

The rest of the week continues in a similar vein. We spend as much time together as we can, fitting it around my work. I've always been someone who needs my space, but Chris being around doesn't impact this somehow. I can still get on and do the same things I would do while single, it's just that he's there too. Plus getting regular orgasms that aren't self-generated is pretty damn good too.

Friday I've picked up an extra shift in the gift shop before the pub and Chris is already behind the bar when I walk in. I wave to him happily before I nip into the staff room to dump my bag. Keith is back there, on a break.

"Did you get things sorted with Adam last week?" He asks me. He'd finished his shift before we'd finished our argument. I nod.

"Yep, thank goodness!"

He smiles. "I noticed there was something going on with you and that Chris fella. He seems like a nice guy, although I've barely worked with him."

"Yeah, he's only picking up the odd shift, just when Calum needs a bit of extra help," I reply. Keith frowns and looks like he's about to say something, but then shakes his head and goes back to his paper.

Speaking of Calum, I need to speak to him. I wander back out to the bar area, where Chris has vanished but my colleague Beth is serving. There's a couple of folk hovering so I deal with them and wait for things to quieten down again before I walk over to the office door, which is in a quiet corridor around the back of the pub.

The door is slightly ajar as I approach and I can hear voices inside. I recognise Chris' voice immediately and find myself . . . Blatantly eavesdropping.

"It seemed like a good idea at the time," He's saying quietly. He sounds a bit defeated. I feel worried for him. 

"I thought it was pretty crazy myself," Calum replies. "But how long are you going to let this go on? You have to tell Emilia the truth at some point."

"I know," Chris sighs. "I'm just worried she's going to hate me for it."

What the actual fuck??? I've gone from worrying to pure anger. What has he done? What is he not telling me?

I should have known this was all too good to be true.

I should walk away, calm myself down and then ask him what's going on. But I'm too mad. 

So instead, I shove the door open.

Both Chris and Calum turn around in surprise. This turns to shock when they realise it's me and I'm clearly not happy.

"Oh shit," Calum says quietly.

Shit indeed.