Love lays embedded deeply within the practice of deception. We immerse ourselves quickly in new realities much like a curious journalism student getting a job at a BDSM club but starts to uncover things aren't quite as they appeared originally on th...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"And— and then—" Niall's so out of breath from his boisterous laughter that he can hardly get a word out while retelling a story to me while I sat amused on the freshly polished bartop slurping down my pink cocktail with raised brows and fighting a larger than life smile.
"Oh god!" He giggles even more, dropping his tea towel onto the counter beside him to wrap his arm around his stomach to aid his belly laughter. "It was so fucking funny, Rose."
My laughter was airy as I removed the straw from my mouth, setting the glass down beside my hip as I watched him practically double over in front of me. There are men at the bar waiting on their drinks not amused by the animated Irish man who's not doing his job but instead is engrossed in entertaining me after I arrive back from performing.
I was up on stage, doing my thing and loving the attention poured down on me but also as soon as I arrived I was handed a hefty wad of cash from George, it being what I earned during my final performance on New Year's which was a pleasant surprise. Honestly, I had completely forgotten about it and lacked collecting it due to being so hung up on Harry, the man I have yet to see tonight but apparently, he's off hiding in his office.
McKenzie isn't here tonight yet, something unusual because he's normally the one who's here every night much like George while Niall and Harry often have days off to stay home. Whenever I'm here though, Niall is. I've never had a shift without him and I don't ever want one, he's truly my lifeline when I'm here.
"Eugene— oh, he jumped up at Harry yesterday!" He's giggling louder as he recounts the memory and I can't help my laughter at the image he's created in my head of big bad scary Harry having a sweet golden baby leap into his arms.
"I bet Harry loved that." It's probably the reason he's sulking in his office, his pride has been bruised by a puppy named after a Disney character.
"Oh! Oh, it gets better!" He continues to giggle. "Eugene licked his face!"
And he exploded with laughter as did I, unable to stop myself anymore as I doubled over and giggled towards the ground at the image created in my mind. I can picture the distaste in his sculpted face, scrunched up at the feeling while both Niall and Scarlett laughed loudly at what they both witnessed.
I can't hold any of it back, loving how I'm made to feel when I'm with Niall. He just has this aura surrounding him, he commands a room without even trying and easily lights it up with a simple smile but he genuinely has no idea he's doing it. He can put a smile on my face without even trying, I want to be around him constantly because he's the first friend I've ever had who truly looks out for me.
He's even been protecting my drink and bought a pack of cupcake liners to cover my glass with before stabbing the straw through aggressively so I can actually drink.
"I can't— I fucking love that dog!" He's giggling, trying desperately to regain composure but I fear it flew out of the window a long time ago.
He managed to brace a hand on the bartop, his chunky gold ring clattering down against the polished wood and my eyes went to it simply out of instinct upon hearing the sound it made. I had laughed so hard that my stomach was aching from the intensity. Niall lifted his hand from the support he gave himself to wipe stray tears from his cheeks.
