You're My Hope for the Future

Chapter 6

At half five, there was a knock at the door. Paul quickly checked his appearance in the mirror, glancing round the room to make sure he hadn't managed to miss any washing or anything in his tidying and headed to the door. He opened it to find Hannah stood there with a 6 pack in her arms.

"Here ya go." She smiled, shoving the box into his arms before heading inside and making herself at home.

"Hello to you too!" Paul said sarcastically, kicking the door shut and heading to the kitchen to put the beer in the fridge. He called out to Hannah. "You want anything to drink whilst this is chilling?"

"Umm, a cup of tea?" Hannah asked as she entered the kitchen, startling Paul as his back was to her.

"Jeez, Han! You trying to give me a heart attack?" Paul huffed. "Tea's fine."

Having made them both a mug, they headed back to the living area, sitting down on separate sofas.

"Sooo." Hannah began, feeling much more awkward now they were both sat in the same room.

"Yeah." Paul grimaced before taking a deep breath. "If you weren't drunk, and I wasn't drunk, what was going on at Christmas?"

Hannah looked down at the mug in her hands, as if her tea held all the answers. "I, uh, I guess we were flirting."

"Sorry about that." Paul apologised. "I figured you were probably a bit drunk and thought I could claim the same if asked. But then I didn't hear from you and started to get a bit worried."

"I thought you were probably drunk. And there's no need to apologise, I enjoyed it." Hannah confessed, blushing slightly.

Paul looked surprised at her confession and decided to make a few of his own. "I enjoyed it too. And Hannah, I need to tell you, I uh, I can't stop thinking about you. I... I still like you."

Hannah got up and walked over to Paul, sitting down right next to him, their knees touching.

"Did you do as I said and keep hold of that mistletoe?" Hannah asked.

"My Mum may have got a bit suspicious if it had disappeared." Paul told her, smiling softly.

"Too bad." Hannah said, one side of her mouth quirking up. "Guess we'll have to do without."

With that, Hannah moved closer and pressed her lips gently against Paul's. When she felt Paul's lips respond to the kiss, she teased at them with her tongue until his lips parted and they were snogging like teenagers. Breathless, they pulled apart.

"Wow, Han." Paul gasped. "Can't say I was expecting that."

Hannah smirked cheekily. "Bet you hoped for it though?"

"Well, I can't deny I was hoping something may come out of this chat." Paul grinned. Feeling bold, he reached up to tuck some strands of hair behind Hannah's ear, smiling softly as she looked down at her lap. Paul chuckled. "You can't go all shy on me now, Han. Not after that kiss you just gave me."

"Not shy, just... pleased." She replied, glancing back up into brown eyes, a content look on her face. "Any chance of one of your cuddles?"

"For you, anything." Paul smiled, relaxing back against the settee and letting Hannah settle against his side. Paul flicked the tv on just for some background noise and they chatted quietly, discussing everything from how tour prep was going to the latest news stories. Eventually, their peace was disturbed by Paul's phone ringing. He pulled it out of his pocket to see who was calling. It was Matt. Knowing how that conversation was going to go, Paul rejected the call before pulling up his texts.

'I called her. Now let me go back to wallowing in front of the tv.'

'Didn't work out then? Sorry mate. Let me know when you're free for a drink.'

Paul grinned at Matt's reply. No-one needed to know about the two of them just yet. Paul didn't even know if there was a two of them. As he turned the screen off, he noticed the time.

"You gotta get back or d'you fancy staying for some food?" Paul asked, pressing a kiss to the top of Hannah's head before she pushed herself back up to a sitting position. "We've still got all those beers to get through."

"Ooooh, what're you offering?"

"Not sure. Like I said, I've got a freezer full of leftovers, but not much else." Paul told her, thinking on what he could make from his few ingredients. "We could always get a takeaway if you like?"

"Takeaway and a film?" Hannah suggested, eyes bright. "And the beer."

"Sounds like a plan!" Paul grinned.