BIRDIE | NH |

NINE

Wren

"It was so nice to meet you!"

Harper wraps her arms around me in a crushing hug outside of the venue as people walk past us to retrieve their own car or wait for the valet to bring them.

"Yes! I'm glad we met." I say, my words getting lost in her thick, blonde waves. "Thanks for not making this a miserable experience."

Her laugh is bright as her husband, Oliver, steps up and laces his fingers with hers and kisses her temple. "Are you ready to go?"

"You have my number!" She smiles. "I'll text you and we can set up a time to grab lunch or dinner! Maybe even a movie?"

Nodding, a smile that matches hers spreads across my lips. "That sounds perfect."

With one last quick hug, the two of them disappear just in time for fire to lick across my skin when I feel the warm skin of Niall's palm agaisnt my lower back.

"Are you ready, Birdie?"

Turning, I swallow down my nerves when his crystal blue eyes meet mine. "Yeah, sure."

"Let's get home, shall we?" Extending his arm, he gives me a carefree smile when I loop mine with his before heading through the parking lot. "Thank you for coming with me, by the way."

"Of course." Keeping my eyes down, I focus on my steps. "That's what fake girlfriends do."

His silence next to me lasts the entire way to the car until he makes sure to open my door before climbing into the driver's seat. Letting out a long breath, my eyes close as my head tips back against the headrest.

What a night.

It feels like around every turn there was something unexpected.

The pendant.

The friends.

The kiss.

God, that fucking kiss.

His lips were so soft and confident as they pressed against mine, claiming me in front of everyone he knew as if it was just second nature for him to touch me and make me feel like the only other person in the room.

There was not a chance that I could hold back when it came to returning the favor, when it came to kissing him back. I knew that it was all for show but that didn't mean that I couldn't let myself pretend for just a moment that it was real.

For the rest of the night my body was buzzing with electricity every single time that Niall came near me. While his friends welcomed me as one of their own with open arms, those blue eyes never let me stray too far away and his hands found my burning skin almost any chance that they could.

Even now, sitting in the car, my lips can still feel the gentle pressure of his own and it's like the taste of fresh mint still dancing at the front of my mind.

"Are you alright?" Niall's voice is low as he glances at me. "I didn't push you, did I?"

"No, no— Everything is fine." Rolling my head to look at him, I take the moment to study his profile. "I'm just a little tired, that's all."

Silent for only a moment, he nods. "How long of a drive is it from my house to yours?"

"It's about twenty five to thirty minutes. Not too bad." I say.

"You can stay in one of the guest rooms so that you don't have to drive." The words are so simple yet send nerves racing through my veins. "I don't want anything to happen to you."