Since I Saw Him Last: A Gary Barlow Fanfic

Chapter Thirty Four

We left the hotel soon after spending time in the swimming pool. Gary had arranged for Tony to pick us up and take us back to the city. He explained, during our car journey, that he wouldn't be able to spend as much time with me as he had done this weekend. The tour was fast approaching, meaning that he and the other boys would be heavily rehearsing over the next couple of weeks. I knew how much hard work the boys had put into previous shows and this tour wouldn't be any different. It was Monday afternoon; I'd just arrived home and was getting myself ready to visit Charlotte. I'd spent the day at work staring blankly at my computer screen. The job didn't excite me anymore. How can I come back to a 9-5 job when I'd spent the weekend as I had done with Gary? Elizabeth had been making more of an effort to talk to me since she heard about Gary and I dating. She hounded me that morning asking what I'd got up to over the weekend, "Tell me! I've seen your face in a few magazines already. You're going to get found out eventually. You won't be able to work here anymore, that's how bad it's going to get." Elizabeth was a sweet girl, just a little bold sometimes. She reminded me of Charlotte in that way. She had little tact. I wish she was apt at reading behavioural cues. If she could, she'd read that she was getting on my nerves a little and she'd also know that I wanted to keep my affairs quiet. I guess this is good practice, my whole life is going to be public property soon.

I hadn't spoken to Charlotte since Saturday morning. She surprised me with a titbit of information about Mark and herself, I had no idea what she meant by it. "Hello Tash," she said as I arrived. She gave me a bear hug. "I've ordered us pizza. It should be arriving in a bit." I sat down on her sofa, "So Charlie, tell me. You have all my attention." My weekend was perfect but I didn't want to divulge too much to her, I thought I'd distract by asking about her latest development with Mark. "Oh, Tash. Tash, Tash. Where do I start?" She said flamboyantly. She pursed her lips before she spoke again. "Thursday night was crazy with the paps. We got in the car and drove off. He dropped me off at mine and said he would come round to mine Friday night. So he did. We had a lovely evening just watching TV, eating and drinking. You know what I'm like when I'm tipsy..." I nodded, "I'm guessing you had a word with him, that's typical of you." I laughed. She nodded, "I couldn't help myself. I was beyond frustrated. It's been about three weeks dating him. It got to the point where I was wondering what I was doing and whether it was actually that exciting dating a TT member. I asked him straight out, what's happening with us and where does he see it going." "And what did he say?" I asked intently. "He said he really likes me and doesn't see this as a temporary thing. He said he knows how I feel about him and trusts that I wouldn't go blabbing to the press about our relationship. Although, he did joke about what a chatterbox I am!" I laughed, "And?" "And then nothing, he went quiet that evening. I tried talking to him but I could tell he was mulling over what I'd said." I looked at her impatiently, "Come on, tell me you had sex!" She put on a poker face. "We went to my room that night, got ourselves settled into bed like an old married couple. He cuddled up to me, started kissing me and well, his sails went up." I gasped, "Oh, my." "Yep, that was my reaction. I could feel him hard against me. I wanted to respect his decision to wait so I asked him if he wanted to stop kissing me so madly because I might get carried away. And you know what he said?" "What?" "He said, 'I don't fucking care anymore'. I couldn't believe it, the little tease." I chuckled. "So when you phoned Saturday morning, I had to whisper because Mark was asleep. And then he started to wake up so I had to go." "It seems strange that he would be so strict about not sleeping with you but then suddenly decide 'ah, fuck it'?" Charlotte nodded, "I know. I wasn't best pleased. Well, I was, but you know." She winked at me. "I'm guessing you had words with him on Sunday too? Poor guy." "In a typical Charlotte fashion, I couldn't hold it in. We went for another walk on Sunday. It was a scorcher of a day so we ended up in a beer garden. I asked him outright why he'd had a sudden change of heart." Charlotte pouted, "He said that he could sense how much of a big deal this was for me. He could tell my attention was drifting. He knows how important sex is in a relationship and trusts me enough to go to the next level with me. I told him he shouldn't worry so much. I used you and Gaz as a perfect example of how sex can be. It doesn't have to be dirty, it can be amazing when you're both really into each other; the way that you and Gaz are. I told him I wanted that and he said he wanted that too. He said he doesn't want to upset me and really cares for me, if sleeping together will make me happy and bring us closer together then that's why he took the risk on Friday night to sleep with me. We were at it like rabbits on Sunday! I'll be seeing him later in the week but he's kinda busy with rehearsals." I nodded, "Oh yeah, rehearsals." I leant forward to give Charlotte a hug, "I'm really pleased for you Charlie and I'm glad you've finally joined the Slept With A TT Member Club!" Charlotte giggled, "Anyway, enough drama from me. How was your weekend, pretty good I hope?" She sounded eager to hear my news. "It was the most perfect weekend, Charlie. I couldn't fault it." "Come on, spill! Where did he take you?" "Firstly, he took me for a helicopter ride." "No way, I was so right! Gaz is too predictable. But he's bloody good at wooing a lady, I must say!" She couldn't hold back her excitement, "Sorry, I'll keep my mouth shut, continue." "So he took me to this boutique hotel only visited by the rich and famous. We had a picnic, dinner, massages and went swimming. It was really something." Charlotte clapped her hands together, "Oh, Tash. Seeing you and Gaz together; you're perfect for each other. You really are role models for Mark and I." She smiled sweetly at me. "Don't say that, the higher the climb, the harder the fall." Charlotte shrugged at my comment. "So things are getting pretty serious between you two?" Charlotte asked. "Definitely serious. Look at this." I lifted the Tiffany necklace from underneath my top. "Gary gave me this as a present on Saturday night." Charlotte edged over to take a closer look. "Tash, this is like £2,000!" I nodded modestly, "Read what's on the back." Charlotte picked up the pendant, turned it around and squinted her eyes. She covered her gaping mouth with her hand, she was shocked. "Tash. Oh, Tash. How sweet is he? 'Nobody Else'..." Charlotte stared in awe. "He said to me that it's more than just a lyric." Charlotte shook her head in disbelief, "You are one lucky girl, Tash. He's besotted with you. Mark tells me how he never shuts up about you. Girl, you have him hooked!" "Oh, don't say that Charlie." "You're too modest! I know he loves you but doesn't know how to say it so he's showing you instead. Can you not see it?" I stared back at her with a slight coy smile. "What?" Charlotte squared her eyes at me. "Umm, he's already told me he loves me." Charlotte gasped, "What the hell happened on this weekend break of yours? Oh my God! This is huge news!" "Calm down Charlie." "No, I can't calm down. It's not every day a member of Take That tells you that he loves you, HE LOVES YOU." My cheeks felt flushed, I wanted to stop Charlotte from sensationalising my news. "Gary also asked me to go on tour with him." She smiled, "The full month? I can't do that but I'll be taking two weeks off, Mark's cool with it. I've already booked annual leave." "I can't do the full month although Gary really wants me to. Dave won't approve four weeks of annual leave in one go, it's just not going to happen. I've requested two weeks too but he hasn't got back to me." Charlotte rolled her eyes, "Your boss is such an arsehole." I shrugged my shoulders. "So would that be the last two weeks of the tour?" Charlotte asked. I nodded, "Yep, Gary said he can get backstage passes for the other girls too if they wanted it." "Oh, of course they will! I guess the Captain knows how to pull strings." She nudged my arm as she winked at me. "And anyway, if Dave doesn't give you the time off, you can always just quit your job and follow Gary around?"

The pizza arrived, we lounged in front of the sofa watching TV. "Charlie, have you seen the papers?" I bit into my slice of pizza. She nodded, she waited to swallow her mouthful before speaking. "Mmm, I have. I love the fact that we're becoming famous. I've never had my photo in a newspaper before." Her eyes widened. "You're not taking this seriously are you?" She shrugged her shoulders as she smiled, "If I become famous for dating Markie, then so be it. I could be famous for something worse." She sat there smiling whilst munching her pizza slice. I shook my head, "I guess it's different for me. Gary said that I'd be getting more hassle from the press because they're more curious about his life than Mark's. I'll be the one getting harassed the most out of the two of us. You know how conservative I am!" Charlotte sipped some of her drink, "Maybe it's time for you to stop getting your knickers in a twist. I think you should embrace your relationship with Gary, warts and all." I thought about what she'd said. The press was a concern for me, I would hate to walk out of my front door to camera flashes every day. However, I was more concerned about how the fans would react. I hoped the fans, knowing that I'm a fan too, would warm to me. I'd be one of their own, fortunate enough to capture the heart of one of our boys. However, the pessimist in me was shoving the idea aside. What if the fans preferred it to be some random woman and not someone like them? I feared it would make the obsessive fans more fanatic about the boys, especially Gary's fans. I didn't know how I'd handle something like that. "Gary wants to announce it somehow." Charlotte's eyes lit up, "Oh, really? How?" I shrugged, "He thinks it's going to get worse from here on in and wants to announce us dating before the press do the job for us. I don't know what he's planning." "Aww, he should so post a photo of you both on social media." Charlotte giggled. "No! Just, no! I can see all the comments now." I held my hands to my face. "Tash, stop being so hoity toity. Relax. The fans are going to be glad that another fan has the chance of dating Gary. Trust me, the fans are older now and they'll like the fact that someone like themselves is dating a member of Take That. Anyway, I'm sure that if anyone said anything out of line, Gary would be the first to set them straight. He's a gentleman like that, he knows how to look after his lady." "Clearly." I winked at her.

It was getting late so I started to make a move. "It feels like I haven't seen the girls in ages. I think a catch up is in order. Shall we got out somewhere Thursday or Friday? I could do with letting off some steam." I asked enthusiastically. Charlotte nodded "I've spoken to Sophia and sent a few texts to Zoe. I've heard nothing from Victoria. I think these boys are taking up a lot of our time." We laughed in unison. "Okay, well I'll send a message around about it. It's been great to catch up babe. I'm so pleased for you and Mark." I smiled. "I'm pleased for you too, take care." She said as she hugged me. She waved goodbye and shut the front door. When I returned home, I made myself a cup of tea, got changed into my PJ's and snuggled into bed. I switched on the TV, hoping to drift off whilst watching it. My phone vibrated on the bedside table next to me. I picked up my phone to see a text from Gary:

Gary: Hey beautiful, how's it going? Rehearsals are going up a gear! Just a quick message to ask if you spoke to your boss about taking time off for the tour? xxx

It's funny how even a text from him can make me swoon.

Natasha: Hey baby, I just caught up with Charlie. I bet you already have the goss from Markie! ;) Manager won't let me take four weeks off work in one go. I've requested for the last two weeks but haven't heard back from him.

Gary: Right.

Natasha: Gary, what's up? :(

Gary: I've heard that Charlie has already asked for the time off and been granted it. I thought it'd be the same for you. How hard is it to approve?

I could sense he was rolling his eyes as he typed that message.

Natasha: I'll remind him again tomorrow. I don't want to be bugging him, I'm already on thin ice.

Gary: I don't know what for... Anyway, I might be able to see you for a little bit this weekend so try and keep it free.

Natasha: Friday? Saturday? Sunday?

Gary: Saturday.

Natasha: Okay, I'll look forward to it. :)

Gary: Missing you already.

Natasha: Missing you too Gary.

Gary: Sweet dreams beautiful. xxx

I swear my heart just stopped.

Natasha: Night baby. x

And that was all I needed to sleep soundly.