In Other Words (Niall Fanfic)

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Four 

Niall’s POV

 “Smells good, Rox.” I said loudly, hoisting up two cases of beer onto the counter.  The music she had blasting through the speakers had muffled my entrance, and the sound of my voice made her jump a little. She was in a simple dress, but looked stunning. “Wow, babe.” 

“Hi.” She said, making her voice a little deeper than her usual pitch. She took a taste off the teaspoon in her hand and placed it in the sink before putting her arms over my shoulders and pressing a hard kiss to my lips. “Everyone is on their way.”

By ‘everyone’ she meant Harry and Liam. The other two wanted to spend time with their girlfriends tonight. I couldn’t blame them, since I’d want the same. But they were sure as hell going to be missing out on some good eats.  Roxy wanted to invite my mum, but since I had a little surprise up my sleeve, I’d asked her to decline the invitation. Everything was working out so far. It was obvious that everything was under control in the kitchen, so I unloaded the beer into the fridge and went off to find something decent to wear.

Roxy’s POV

There was a knock at the door and I rushed to turn down the music, wiping my hands on a tea towel. “Ah, young Harold.” I said, leaning in for the cheek kiss I knew was coming. “Good to see you.”

“You been all right, Roxy?” he said, stepping in and removing his leather jacket, an entirely unnecessary accessory given the weather.

“I’ve been good. Glad you guys are back in town, though. ” I said, my arm stretching up over my head  into the cupboard for the wooden salad bowl that had somehow been pushed just out of reach. I braced myself on the counter with one hand and leapt a few inches off my toes, hoping to knock the stupid thing loose.

“What are you doing?” Harry laughed after watching my pathetic display. “You can ask for help, you know. Here…” He worked his way in next to me and retrieved the bowl, handing it down before taking a seat on one of the barstools.

 “Oh, take these before I forget.” I reached under the sink and pulled out the tin of cookies. “I had to hide them since Niall got into them while I was sleeping.” 

“What…” he was confused. He popped the lid with his large hands and peered inside. “Roxy, you didn’t have to go to the trouble. I was only kidding that you should make them.”

“It was no trouble.” I waved him off. “Baking helps me relax. Believe me, I needed it.” We had been texting a bit while they were on the road, and he mentioned that his mother loved this particular variety of cookies, and it just so happened I had a recipe that was handed down from my great-grandmother that I was looking for an excuse to try.

“I’m having breakfast at my mum’s tomorrow.” He said. “Thank you. Really, very nice of you.”

“What’s nice?” Niall said, stepping out of the bedroom in a fresh pair of jeans and a black t shirt.

“Never mind, cookie monster.” I said. He looked over at the spot on the counter where the cookie tin used to be, a look of sadness on his face. Suddenly his eyes lit.

“Shit! I meant to give this to you earlier.” He said, feeling around on top of the refrigerator, his arm pulling back with a small box in his hand. He slid it across the counter to me. I looked over to Harry, who shrugged, obviously not in on what the contents might be.

“What’s this?” I said, my fingers gripping the pressed paper lid.

“Last week, a fan came up to me in the street. She dug around in her purse, and I assumed she was looking for her phone or a camera, wanting a picture. Instead she pulled out this box and said “For Roxy.” I don’t think she spoke English beyond that. Just “For Roxy.” That’s all she said.