As the sun colours flowers | Paul McCartney - Beatles Fanfiction

43. You'll have to keep quiet

"Calm Down
what happens
happens mostly
without you."

― Josef Albers

***

"Look who I found lurking outside like a creep," Lydia said when she walked back into the gallery.

I looked up from the notebook I was scribbling in as she crossed the distance between the door and the desk before setting her bags down. Paul walked behind her with a bright red shirt and dark trousers on and a wry smile. His hands were tucked into his pockets, and he looked much more relaxed than when I'd left him the previous night. Some complications in the studio again, apparently.

"I wasn't lurking." Paul gazed around the room as his step slowed. "I was signing books for a few girls outside."

I groaned and leaned on my hands, dropping my head between my shoulders. "Can't believe they followed you here."

"You're signing books for lurkers then." Lydia opened the bags she'd brought, removing the items one at a time. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"They're not so bad." Paul shrugged and finally closed the distance between us, his smile wider.

"Until they start picking up on the fact that you come here almost every day now," I added reluctantly.

Paul hummed, his usual composure wavering as he glanced at me with a frown. But as soon as I started wondering how much being followed all day long by girls actually bothered him or not, he leaned in to kiss me.

"You don't want me to come anymore?" Paul then asked as he pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. His face was so close that it was almost impossible to think of anything else, especially Paul's fans, who seemed to find their way into the neighbourhood more and more often.

"I'm just not ready to see my gallery turn into Cavendish." I bit my lip and shrugged. "Or EMI. Or every damn place in this town where fans wait for you to show up."

"Can't you do something about it, Paul? I'm sure your lordship can get almost anything done now." Lydia winked and handed me a smaller bag. "You must be great in bed for Addie to put up with all of it."

I laughed and tossed her the pen I was holding. Paul wiggled his eyebrows and glanced at me with gleaming eyes.

"Am I?" he asked sheepishly.

"I won't discuss this while I'm at work, thank you." I pulled away from him and grabbed a fry from the bag Lydia had just handed me before sitting down. "And even though I appreciate you coming here, baby, I think it's a little distracting."

"They weren't waiting outside if that helps." Paul retorted as he sat on the edge of the desk. "They just happened to walk by."

"Some of them just happen to walk by and stick their greasy foreheads against the windows every damn day, too. I'm sure it's just a coincidence." I rolled my eyes. "Do you know how many times I've had to clean the windows this week?"

"You should put drapes up, love." He shrugged as if it was such an easy thing to think of that he couldn't comprehend why I hadn't done it already.

"Are you volunteering to do it, then?" Lydia grinned as she sat down next to me.

"Sure," Paul replied amiably.

"I don't think you get the point of having windows in a gallery." I cocked an eyebrow.

Paul rolled his eyes and stuck his hand in my bag, but I playfully swatted his hand, pulling the bag away from him as I stared at him expectantly. He smirked and tilted his head.