Moment in the Sun

20. New Year's Eve

Charlie POV

The Paris squad are all home for the holidays so we decide to have a New Year's Eve party at Elle and Tao's flat. They both stayed in our hometown, going to Uni close by so it made sense for them when they decided to move out of home that they get a flat together. It's pretty close to my parent's house so Nick and I get ready there, spending a little bit of time with Tori and my parents before we go, walking down the cold, dark streets together.

I shiver a little and press myself closer to Nick who dutifully wraps an arm around me but also suppresses a laugh.

"I told you to wear your coat." He teases.

"Shut up." I poke his side but he barely feels it, layers of thick clothing protecting him. I'm kind of regretting the decision to leave my coat at home. It's not like we're going anywhere I wouldn't be able to get it back if I left it behind. 

"Do you want to wear mine?" Nick asks but I shake my head.

"No, we're nearly there and you'll be cold."

"I'm bigger than you, I can survive a little cold. Here," He shrugs his coat off, draping it over my shoulders despite my protests, "Don't need you catching pneumonia or something."

"Fine. Thank you." He kisses the side of my head and puts his arm around me again as we keep walking. I'm immediately a little warmer and can't help but smile a little at Nick's protectiveness.

We get to Elle and Tao's flat soon after and knock on the door.

"You made it!" Elle greets us, throwing the door open wide. She's wearing a sparkly dress that definitely wouldn't be warm enough to wear outside the warmth of the flat.

"Elle!" I grin and hug her tightly. "It's been too long."

"I've missed you, Charlie." She pulls back to look at me, a smile spreading across her face. "Coat's a bit big for you, isn't it?"

"It's Nick's." I reply, shrugging it off and reaching to hang it on the nearby coatrack.

"Someone wanted to brave the cold." Nick spoke up, taking the chance to hug Elle too. 

"Do you want to let all the heat out?" Tao appeared in the entryway now, a teasing undertone in his voice. "Nice of you to finally show up."

After another round of hugs between the four of us, Nick and I follow Tao and Elle into the living room where Tara, Darcy and Isaac are already waiting. Darcy is in the midst of mixing up some kind of drink while Tara is, unsuccessfully, trying to convince her girlfriend to use less alcohol. There's a general cheer of greeting from everyone as we all greet each other. It's been way too long since we all caught up like this.

As the night goes on, Sahar shows up and we're all together again. We sit around the living room, laughing, talking and drinking. It's only been a couple of months since we all started Uni but our lives have all changed so much. I can feel a fuzziness in my head, the result of one too many of Darcy's extra strong drinks. We're all pretty drunk by now.

Suddenly Tara jumps up, "Ten minutes to midnight!"

Excited chatter starts up among the group and I turn to look for Nick. I've been having a pretty intense conversation with Isaac for a while so Nick wandered off after getting bored but I can't see him anywhere in the living room. I frown, confused at where he could have disappeared to. Sahar, sitting nearby, notices and speaks up.

"He went to the kitchen a while back," she tells me, "He's been gone a while though."

"Thanks. I'll go get him." I'm pretty sure I know what's happened. He's such a lightweight when it comes to late nights. I push myself off the floor and make my way to the kitchen, immediately spotting my fiancée sat at the island counter, head resting on his folded arms, fast asleep. I smile and move closer, gently rubbing his back when I'm close enough. "Nick?

"Mm." He lets out a sleepy grumble but opens his eyes to look at me. "Fuck, I fell asleep, didn't I?"

I can't help the tiny laugh that escapes me. "Yeah, you did."

"Oh my god, Tao didn't see, right?"

"No, just me. I came to tell you it's nearly midnight. Didn't want you to miss out on your midnight kiss." He sits up now and grins.

"I'd rather be inside you at midnight." I feel the heat spread over my cheeks at his words.

"As good as that sounds, I don't think Tao and Elle would appreciate us fucking in their kitchen," He raises an eyebrow suggestively, "Or bathroom."

"Ugh. We should have gone back to our place for New Year's." I smile and hook my index finger under his chin, letting my thumb slide across his lower lip.

"If your mum is still out when we get back there, I'll let you do what you like." I promise quietly, my lips ghosting over his. He lets out a little whine but otherwise doesn't protest, just standing up and pulling me into his arms.

"Can you believe, by this time next year we won't be engaged anymore?" He quietly mumbles into my hair. I jerk back from him, eyes wide.

"What? Nick, I..."

"Not like that, you goof. I mean, we won't be engaged because we'll be married. Husbands." He's laughing as I let out a gasp and shove my hands against his chest.

"You dick. That was an awful way to say that. Nearly gave me a heart attack."

"I don't think I could ever break up with you, Charlie, not even if it was what you wanted most in the world. Because I just love you so much." I shake my head, cuddling into him again.

"I'll never want that, Nick. I promise." I squeeze my arms around him as tight as I can and look up at his face. "Let's go back and join the others. Won't be long until midnight now."

He nods and lets go of me briefly, only to take hold of my hand as well walk back to the living room where the others are watching the TV. It's tuned to the BBC which has a live broadcast of London where the fireworks will be set off in two minutes. One day I hope Nick and I can be there in person to watch the fireworks explode high above us.

The news presenters in the screen are chatting animatedly about what the next year will bring and I glance around the room at my friends, my heart filling with love for them all. Tara is sitting on the floor with Darcy's head in her lap. Darcy is looking up at her girlfriend as is she's the most beautiful person on the planet. I might just have to fight her on that one. As beautiful as Tara is, I believe Nick is number one. On one sofa, Elle has her legs draped over Tao's lap, her head resting on his shoulder as he softly runs his fingers up and down her back. Sahar and Isaac are sitting together on the other sofa, leaning against each other in a purely platonic friends way, just enjoying being with their friends.

Nick is behind me, his arms around my waist and his chin on my shoulder. I can tell he's not paying the slightest bit of attention to the TV because he is too busy nuzzling into and nipping at my neck, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine.

"...and here it is, the final countdown to the new year! Ten, nine, eight seven..." Our voices drown out the TV presenters as all of us join in the countdown, cheering when they get to one and I turn around in Nick's arms.

"Happy New Year!" We say at the same time before crashing our lips together. He pulls me impossibly close by my waist as I loop my arms around his neck. It's not a long kiss, but it's meaningful and full of passion. It's the kind of kiss I want to have every day for the rest of my life. And I get to have it. Because the man kissing me like this is the man I'm going to marry before this year is over.