Just Pretend

Chapter 58 - Daddy Is A State Of Mind

"This feels wrong." Noah laughs as we're all gathered in the lobby bags in hand.

I can't help but feel a little guilty about the guys parting ways with Noah and I heading to Scotland, Sadie and Nick heading even further North of Scotland for the Islands whilst the rest of the gang hang out in London.

"Gotta do what you gotta do for the Mrs." Folio chuckles patting Noah on his back. "Say hi to Rose and Isla for me." Folio says with genuine affection.

"Me too!" Jolly adds remembering the girls.

"Will do." Noah smiles back at them and I shuffle awkwardly as Nick and Sadie trudge their cases down the hotel stairs.

"We made it." Sadie sighs tugging her case over to us. "So we car share home and my Mammy will get us from your grandparents?" Sadie confirms the plan.

"Yup. I cannot be fucked for this long ass drive." I grumble. I'll be the one driving since I'm the only one with a U.K license.

"We could stop in Edinburgh half way?" Nick suggests as he joins us. I look to Noah with pleading eyes.

"One night won't harm us right? I mean your grandparents don't know we're coming so we can delay the surprise by a day?" Noah asks almost reassuringly.

"I don't see why not. Might be a struggle to get a hotel with this little notice but what's the harm in trying?" Sadie adds and I shrug in reply.

"I guess it's a plan. I'll call hotels on the way there if we get something great we'll stay the night of not just the afternoon?" Nick asks.

"Sounds like a plan." I confirm and we say our goodbyes to the rest of the group heading outside to the rental car.

Noah piles our bags in the boot whilst Sadie and Nick hop into the back seats as I fiddle the aux settling on a playlist.

"Oooft, that's a banger." Noah grins as he sits in the passenger seat.

"It really is." I smile at him as Evanescence "Going Under" blares through the speakers.

"I always forget you can drive." Nick chuckles to himself as I buckle myself in.

"I know, I really do have to get my American license. Right are we all buckled in kids?" I ask everyone as I start up the car.

"Yes Ma'am." Nick replies from the back seat and we head off up the road, Noah's hand on my thigh the entire drive. Not moving. Not even a single inch.

*

"Have you guys been here before?" I ask Noah and Nick.

"No actually. It's so cool. Bryan would love to photograph here." Noah thinks aloud as we walk up the cobbled street to the castle stopping to look in various shop windows.

"Mar, we have to go in. It's our shop." Sadie tugs on my hand as we slow down outside one of the independent shops that sell everything from Pedro Pascal Meme tees to "Ur Mom" key rings.

I turn to Noah with an apologetic smile as I get dragged inside the shop, a wave of nostalgia and incense washes over me.

"Wow. This place reeks of uni days." Sadie laughs as we look around the shop stopping at the earrings. I look over to Noah who is browsing through the tees with Nick chuckling at the designs.

"You need the frog ones." Sadie tells me with a laugh pointing at some dangly frog earrings.

"Aye and you need the chicken ones." I reply quickly flicking the plastic yellow chickens. "I actually like those wee black hearts." I nod towards the top of the rack where the black metal hearts are sitting.