when love lasts | wroetoshaw

nineteen

the flat was quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos from when everyone had gathered to finalise the ski trip. the suitcases were lined up neatly by the door, packed and ready for our early morning flight to switzerland. harry had just finished stuffing a few last-minute items into his bag and flopped onto the sofa, his hair still damp from a quick shower.

"we should call mum and rosie," he said, glancing at me. "they'll want to hear about the trip before we go."

i nodded, curling up beside him. "let's do it."

harry dialled quickly, and within seconds, his mum's familiar face appeared on the screen, with rosie leaning over her shoulder to wave.

"finally!" rosie exclaimed. "we've been waiting all day for this call."

"what, you missed me?" harry teased, his grin wide.

"not you," rosie shot back playfully. "we wanted to see abbie."

"hi, abbie!" his mum said warmly. "ready for your first ski trip with this lot?"

"as ready as i'll ever be," i said, laughing. "though i'm still not convinced harry won't get me into trouble."

"that's a given," rosie said, rolling her eyes. "he's a menace on skis."

"oi!" harry protested. "i'm actually pretty good."

"sure you are," his mum said, laughing.

~

"so, what's the plan for the trip?" his mum asked, her tone curious.

"we're staying in this big chalet," harry said, leaning back. "hot tub, sauna, the works. it's going to be class."

"and who's going?" rosie asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"me, abbie, simon and talia, josh and freya, tobi and demi, and then will, chris, arthur, and george," harry rattled off. "ethan and faith aren't coming, though. they're staying back with olive."

"makes sense," his mum said. "a ski trip's a bit much with a toddler."

"yeah, ethan didn't want to leave faith to manage everything on her own," i added.

"understandable," rosie said. "but you'll miss them."

"we will," harry agreed. "but it'll still be a great trip."

"how was it meeting abbie's family then?" his mum asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

harry chuckled. "not as terrifying as i expected. her dad grilled me a bit at first - classic football questions, of course - but once we got past that, it was smooth sailing."

"dad loved him," i said, smiling. "i think the football talk won him over."

"and your sisters?" rosie asked, her eyes twinkling.

"they were great," harry said. "though maddie gave me the classic 'protective older sister' look when we first met."

"as she should," rosie said, smirking.

"but by the end of the night, even she was laughing at my jokes," harry continued. "so i think i did alright."

"you definitely did," i said, nudging him.

"what about abbie with our family?" his mum asked, glancing at me.

"oh, she fit right in," harry said without hesitation. "you loved her, and rosie wouldn't stop talking her ear off."

"of course i didn't," rosie said, grinning. "i had to make sure she was good enough for you."

"rosie!" his mum scolded lightly, though she was laughing.