Get Ready For It - A Gary Barlow FF

Chapter 30

I arrive home about 20 minutes later. My phone has been going off the walls ever since I sent that tweet that I decided to answer around 25 questions or so on Twitter and have an impromptu Q&A session with the fans. I had to carefully choose the ones I could answer regarding the tour as nothing is official yet and I don't want to let anything slip before all the dates and finalized and we have the green light.

I enter the house to the amazing smell of grilled sausages and bacon and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Kicking off my shoes, I pad along the wooden floors of the hallway down to the kitchen to which I'm greeted with a small round of applause.

''Look who it is guys, it's Gary Barlow!'' James says jokingly as he takes a sip from his cup of tea.

All I can do is smile as I pad over to him and wrap my arms around his shoulders and give him a big squeeze from behind.

''Morning, Jules. Sleep well?'' I ask her as I peck her lightly on the cheek.

''I did very well, thanks. You? Thank you for letting us stay with you guys last night. We really hope we didn't impose on you guys too much'' she says as she links hands with James on top of the table.

''Oh, stop it with that. It was our pleasure to have you two here with us. We wouldn't have offered if it was any hassle. Would we, babe?'' I ask Sophie, as I pad over to her and wrap my arms around her waist from behind as she plates up the breakfast.

''Of course not, Jules. It's our pleasure. Well, Gary's pleasure as it's his place but we're both delighted ye stayed over. We had great fun last night'' she smiles as she brings over a large dish full with goodies.

Sausages, bacon, pudding, eggs. You name it, she's made it. Bless her, she's truly amazing.

''Awh, bless you Sophie, love. This all looks amazing'' James says with - like myself - eyes as wide as golf balls at the sheer amount of food that now adorns the kitchen table.

''Dig in lads. Don't let it go cold'' Sophie giggles at us as she refills Julia's cup of tea.

This is the best way to spend the morning; with my beautiful girlfriend and great friends enjoying our brekkie. What more could I ask for right now?

*****

''Safe home, guys. Text us when you get there, OK?'' I say to James as I pull him in for a big cuddle before they head towards their car.

I asked James to grab Paul and head to the hotel from last night to drive their car back to the house so they had it when they were feeling fit and ready to go.

''We will mate, and make sure to say thanks again to James and Paul for getting the car for us. Really appreciate it, Gaz'' he says as he places a small kiss on my cheek before doing the same with Sophie and I do the same with Jules.

''Anytime, James. Anytime'' I say back, wrapping my arm around Sophie's waist as we stand at the door and wave them off as they head down the driveway and off on to the main road.

The sound of the car horn sounds up the drive as they head off down the road as we wave them away before spinning on our heels and heading back inside the house.

''What a lovely way to spend the morning'' I say to her, closing the door and following her back to the kitchen to finish tidying up the kitchen.

''They are such nice people and they are so cute together. I can see it in his eyes that he just adores her'' she smiles to herself as she stacks the plates in the dishwasher.

Hearing her say those words makes me stop in my tracks from what I'm doing. Leaving everything on the table, I pad over to her on the other side of the kitchen. Taking her completely by surprise, I spin her around and crash my lips on to hers in a kiss that you would only see in a movie set or something, yet it's happening right here, right now in my kitchen. I feel her stumble slightly from the sheer force and surprise of the kiss, which makes me instantly tighten my grip around her waist and pull her closer to me, keeping her nice and secure against my body.

Warmth and security rush throughout my entire body as I feel, for the first time in this relationship, what people have been talking about all this time. It's what they say consumes you when you meet that special person. That feeling you get in your tummy. When it's more than butterflies and fireworks exploding in there. This is new. This is something that I've never felt or experienced before. Not that I think of it anyway.

It's only when I finally manage to pull away from her that it hits me. It makes sense so easily. Falling in to place just like that. I stare deep into her eyes as our breathing bounces up and down and fills the room with nothing but labored breaths and glazed-over eyes before the words fall from my mouth without even the slightest hesitation;

''I love you, Sophie''