I'm Yours (Book One in the Glen Power Series)

Chapter 5

It really feels like these past few months have flown by. It's nearly Christmas already, and I'm starting to think of what to take home for the few weeks of the holiday.

I must admit that I've missed my little village. Well. That's a lie. There's absolutely nothing there, and no one really there for me anymore. I've just missed the home comforts. As much as I'm learning to stand on my own two feet, it'll be nice to get home for a while and have food cooked for me. Yeah. I miss that.

There's a knock on my door before it opens a creak.

“Is it safe?” It's that familiar Irish accent. I grin.

“Yeah, come on in.”

Glen makes himself at home on my bed.

“Ready to go home?” I ask him.

“I'm not going home.”

I stare at him. He's not going home for the holidays? Why not? He shrugs, as if reading my mind.

“I've got nothing to go home to,” he says casually. “My parents are away for Christmas with work and all that. Don't really want to go back to Ireland and be on my lonesome.”

“That's really sad,” I say. He shrugs.

“Nah, it's alright. I'll just stay here. I've let them know I'll be staying here so they don't freak out and think some bum has broken in.” He grins. “I'd rather be here on my own than there. It's less sad that way.”

I nod. I don't believe him. I see something in his eyes that makes my heart break. But I let it drop. For his sake.

********************

Almost immediately after Glen goes back to his room, my phone rings. It's my mum. That woman has got incredible timing.

“Hi,” I answer and lay back onto my bed.

“Hi darling. Are you ready to come home?”

“Yeah. Still thinking about what to bring though.”

“You won't need much. Just some clothes and the essentials. We're not going anywhere.”

That reminds me of Glen's family and I don't reply. Mother's instinct kicks in.

“Is there something wrong?”

“Oh no, it's nothing,” I say. “I just...I found out that one of my house-mates isn't going home for Christmas.”

“Who's that?”

“Glen.”

“Oh, that lovely boy I see in all of your pictures? Is he your boyfriend?”

Typical mother.

“No, we're just friends.”

“Shame. What's he doing then?”

“He's staying in the flat for the holidays.”

“Is anyone else going to be there?”

“No. It'll just be him. It's quite sad.”

“He can come here.”

Hold up. Did she just say...

“You want me to bring a boy home?”

“He isn't your boyfriend. He's just a friend, right?”

“Well, yeah, but...”

“Then invite him here. And tell him your mum says she won't take no for an answer.”

I have to hand it to her. She is a saint when my friends are in need. And she's right. She won't take no for an answer.

“Alright. I'll tell him."

“Good. I've got to run. Someone's just come into the office.”

“Alright then. See you soon.”

“Bye darling.”

I hang up. Well. That went a lot differently than I imagined it would. How the hell am I suppose to announce this to him?

****************

I'm stood outside Glen's door, trying to figure out what the hell I'm supposed to say. This is possibly one of the weirdest things I'm about to do. Oh hey Glen, guess what? My mother that you've never met has invited you to stay with us for the entire Christmas holiday. Oh, and she won't take no for an answer. Sound good to you?

Going over this in my head won't make it any easier. I suppose I should just do it.

I knock on the door. On cue, I hear his footsteps and the door opens. He smiles.

“Miss me already?” I smirk at him.

“Tons.” This is it. “Okay, so this is going to sound really weird...” I pause. He leans against the doorframe, looking a little concerned.

“Oh?”

“It's just...well...” Come on Emie. “I was talking to my mum about...well you not going home for the holidays. And...well...she's kind of invited you to ours for the holiday.”

He doesn't say anything. He doesn't react at all. Oh no. I've freaked him out. This is not what I planned.

“You can say no, you know. I mean, my mum said that you have no choice because she won't take no for an answer....but that's beside the point. I'm sure don't want...”

“I'd love to.”

I stop in my tracks and stare at him. He's deadly serious.

“You...”

“I said, I would love to.” I can't believe this. “You talk all the time about where you're from and how tiny it is. I'm intrigued. And how can I say no to the family of my best mate?”

“Okay then,” I say in daze. He laughs.

“I'll take you to Ireland next year, if that makes you feel any better? Then we'll be even.”

A grin breaks across me face. A trip to Ireland? Brilliant!

“That sounds like a plan.”

“You're on. I'll go start packing. See you soon.”

He closes the door and I'm in shock. An Irish guy is coming to a tiny village in North Wales. This is sure to be interesting.

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A/N - So I've added an extra chapter this evening. Mostly because its a shorter one than the other (I think) so I thought it would be alright to post up the same evening as another chapter. Still reading loads of other people's work and I'm blown away by the talent here. Thanks for reading x