Twenty-Two ➳ l.p.

Chapter Seven: A Million Times

“You know what?” Liam asked me, stealing a chip from my plate and swirling it in ketchup, “I think I really want to be a singer.”

“You have a nice voice,” I muttered honestly, and he smiled at me.

“You’re lying to me.”

“Liam James Payne, how many times have I ever lied to you?”

“A million times.”

“I have not; shut up. I think you’ll make a great singer.”

Chapter Seven: A Million Times

                “Dinner,” my mum repeated, toeing on her other high-heel and snapping in an earring at the same time. “I need you to invite the boys over for dinner because the Paynes, your father, and I,” she paused, grabbing onto the kitchen countertop when she lost her balance, “need to catch up. Grown-up things. And from what I understand, Harry can cook some. So he’ll help. Invite Abbie too, okay?”

                I hated when my mum went out somewhere, because she always put off getting ready until the last possible second, like now.

                “Why can’t they order a pizza?” I mumbled, sparing a glance at Matt, who gave me a rueful look.

                Mum swung her purse over her shoulder, giving me a hard look that clearly meant that I was going to receive a Mother Answer. Those consisted of ‘because I said so’s, and things of that nature. “Do not question me, Alice Engstrom.” She yanked on a strand of my fiery hair, tugging me down until she could place a kiss on my head, and sent me a dashing smile. “You and Liam now,” she stopped to dig in her purse, frowning. “I’m not getting any younger and—oh my word where have I placed this thing?” Mum let out a huff, hand frantically clawing at her bag, until she pulled out a thin tube a lipstick; the shade just a few tints darker than her mass of hair. “I’m only growing older, Ali. You and Liam—I’m coming! Oh my Jesus, Geoff is so impatient, isn’t he Dan?”

                My dad only let out a noncommittal shrug, referring to the fact that he didn’t mind the insistent knocking on our front door. Matt took that as a cue to slip out to answer it, and I sighed, turning back to my firecracker of a mum.

                “You were saying?”  

                Mum stopped fiddling with her handbag long enough to grab me by my shirt collar and tug me down to eye-level. Her fist dug into the cloth, and I furrowed my brows.

                “Mum?”

                “You and Liam,” she repeated slowly, nodding her head and narrowing her eyes just so I could see the sheer importance of her words. “I’m not getting any younger, Alice. I’m going to need grandchildren soon. And don’t think that I don’t use the internet, baby. I’ve heard of this whole ten-inch nonsense.”

                Oh my God.

                “Mother!”

                She let out a titter, kissing my forehead one more time before flicking my nose. I gaped at her as she clicked down the hall, shrugging her jacket on and, “Come on Dan! You see Geoff and Karen waiting there, don’t you? You’re going to make us late! This is why they never invite us anywhere, Dan. I’m ashamed.”

                My dad let out an inaudible sigh, shaking his head and stuffing his hands into his pockets. “I don’t know about the whole grandchildren thing, but make things right with him, alright darling?”