Bad boy, Great lips//h.s.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

As soon as I stepped out, a gust of warm air met me.
"Texas," I muttered, mentally complaining about the funky weather. I hadn't texted my mom yet by I imagine she's already here. I've just got to find her...
"Rose!" I heard her before I was able to finish my thought. I dropped my stuff and spun in the direction of the voice. There, I saw her. My heart clenched. She looked wonderful as always. Her dark hair pushed back into a ponytail and no makeup on her clear face. I liked when she smiled her laugh lines stood out and her teeth showed. Brown eyes lit up, I hugged her.
"I've missed you sweet pea," she cooed to me soothingly. We embraced for several moments.
"I missed you too Mama," I told her back after pulling back and retrieving my things off the ground.
I heard a throat clear from over me, I looked up cautiously.
"Dmitri?" I grinned.
I quickly grabbed my carry-ons and hugged my boxing mentor.
"How are you?" He asked, Russian accent lacing his words.
"I'm great, what about you?" I wondered aloud. Mama was digging in her purse for her keys I assume.
"I'll be better sooner," he answered honestly. Dmitri had not only been my boxing mentor but a close friend and an open mind to confide in. We'd always been close despite our four year age gap.
"Why's that?"
He grinned in a goofy manner.
"Tony," his manager. "Wants to transfer me to a big gym in London."
I froze.
Happiness flooded my limbs as I started jumping up and down.
"Oh my god! No way!" I squealed.
He nodded excitedly way.
"Way," he said in a fake American accent. I giggled at him.
"This is great!" I engulfed his tall frame in a hug. He was stiff for a moment but then quickly recovered and squeezed me back.
"This is great," I repeated stupidly.
He nodded and helped me grab my things off the ground for what seemed like the tenth time
"Aren't you hot in that?" He asked me.
"I wonderin' that too," seconded my mother.
It was a bit too warm in my sweater, jeans and boots. But hey, London's cold and Texas... Well, it's not. Ever.
"London as snow and a chilly wind. Pardon me if I'm not wearing shorts and tee shirts like the rest of the Texas population," I laughed.
My mom grabbed my free hand and squeezed it.
She smiled at me. "We've missed you so much dear."

The drive took forever.
Forever.
From the international airport to our large ranch was easily two hours. By the time we pulled up to the gate, I really needed to pee.
"Can you hurry up? My bladder can only handle so much," I whined.
"Has London made you whiny or were you always like this but you just covered it up?"
I shrugged.
"Not sure but please," I begged crossing my legs tighter. Dmitri chuckled and squeezed my knee. To my delight, Mama sped up.
Within ten minutes were in front of my childhood home. I darted out of the car and ran into the downstairs bathroom.
I washed my hands afterwards and walked into the living room, there I was greeted with Brooke.
"Oh my god!" I screamed. I embraced my best friend. She lived in Washington. I didn't expect her to be here.
Even after hugging, we kept our arms linked.
"So, no one came with you hun? Why's that?" Mama asked from the kitchen.
"Everyone was busy," I lied. Actually, I didn't ask anyone. The person I planned on asking turned out to be a dick. To be honest, I always knew that but I thought he was better than the facade he put up. I guess not.
Putting more thought into it, I suppose we were both at fault. I expected too much and was dishonest. Fair enough I suppose.
"Earth to Rose," Brooke groaned loudly. I snapped myself out of thoughts of him.
"Yup?" They laughed at my obliviousness.
They asked me about London and my friends. I couldn't help but cringe when I bitterly realized that I had accidentally isolated myself when getting caught up with Harry and his bullshit. Liam was really the only person I consistently spoke with an even our communication got sketchy for a while. Wow.
So I made up some stories to soothe my mothers worry of me being all alone. I made it seem like I was surrounded by Nobel peace prize winners which, of course, pleased her and that was all I was aiming for.
Tammy came in and quickly embraced me before pecking my mother on the lips and sitting down hand in hand next each other on the couch. Gay marriage needed to be legal already.
"Sweetie! You look...pale," Tammy noted.
I laughed. "England sees the sun twice a year, what do you expect?"
She shook her head.
"No, I meant your spirit. Your eyes aren't as bright, are you sure everything is alright?"
Wow, I guess you could tell how terrible I felt inside. I wonder if it was just Tammy or if everyone kept their mouths shut, being polite.
"Yeah," I lied easily. "I'm fine, just jet lag. That's all," I smiled. I was too good at lying, I thought as I watched my step mom's worries fade from her eyes.
We visited in the living room for hours before anyone made any attempt at making something to eat. No one would have got up unless my stomach hadn't sounded like a dying whale.
"Hungry?" Tammy smiled before lifting off the sofa and padding into the kitchen. I mentally thanked Tammy for knowing exactly what to do.
"Well I guess I'll got pay bills real quick," Mama smiled and leaned down and kissed my cheek before heading in the direction Tammy had.
Broome yawn and stretched out her arms and stood up slowly.
"I guess since everyone else is disbursing, I guess I will too," she smiled sleepy.
"Disbursing? I'm impressed with your words. I thought I was the English major," I said playfully.
"Yeah, me too," she laughed. "Jet lag is kicking my ass, I'm going to take a nap. Wanna come?" She asked since it. was a silent agreement that we'd be sharing a room. I shook my head.
"Nah, I'm fine. But I need to go change before I go drive my baby," I told he referring to my gorgeous Nova waiting for me in the garage.
"Suit yourself," Brooke shrugged and headed up the stairs as I gathered one of my suit cases and shortly followed her.

••••••••••••••••••••••
Harry's Point of View
••••••••••••••••••••••

"Merry Christmas darling!" My mother greeted me happily. I nodded my reply and wiped my eyes, sleep fogging my brain still.
Gemma had called me last night after my break down over Rose. I didn't bring Rose up, Gemma did herself.
"That Rose girl? She's a bitch, I hope that's not the one you like or something," I recalled her saying. I felt the urgent need to defend her.
"No, I don't like her. I agree, she's a spoiled little American bitch," but I didn't. Instead, I bashed her with awful words and adjectives that didn't properly describe her. She wasn't a bitch, she was angry with me. Hell, I was angry with myself. Even in my drunken state of that night and my dark thoughts I still thought she was glorifying. Everything about her was. She never blushed expect when she was angry and after I'd accidentally punched her, her cheeks were painted a lovely shade of pink. Her lips had been slightly pursed but those were the only sign of her anger. That is until she punched me. I'd seen her angry before, she was as a explosive type of anger, always wearing her heart on her sleeve but that dreadful night at the bar? Her face was eerily calm aside from her lips and flushing cheeks.
She had scared me.
But then again, she always does.
Even when she's not angry at me and casually laughing at a comment or story I told her, she terrified me. They had always said if you can get then to laugh, you can get them to fall in love with you. Here's the thing, every time she laughed, the more I fell in love.
It was karma.
Every kiss, every touch, every laugh, every screaming match, I fell.
Isn't that cheesy?
Or maybe it's ironic for many reasons, I first saw her as a challenge. Something to waste my time with and drop her like a toy when I was done with her. In reality, the game board had been flipped on me. She played me; she was the one who sent my heart beating erratically; she was the reason I stayed up late at night.
I wonder if she saw me as game? Or did she have feelings?
No, of course she didn't see me as a game. The whole reason we are in this mess is because I was stupid and let her believe we were nothing. We weren't. Aren't.
"Honey! Come down stairs!" My mother called. I blinked my eyes rapidly before swinging my legs I've the side and standing up on jello knees.
I padded down to the stairs shirtless.
"Huh," Gemma said thoughtfully. "Didn't know you had those," she noted referring to the falling birds and butterfly on my upper stomach.
I shrugged. "Yeah, got them a while ago."
Gemma sat with her hair in a mess and sleep wear still on next to the decorated tree. I watched her pick a red package and chuck it at me.
"Got this in the mail this morning, for you."
I nodded and sat on the couch and unwrapped it. There was no return address on it, weird. I continued, peeling open the small box open. The cardboard was tapped at the side.
"Holy hell," I groaned before ripping at the extra and very unnecessary bindings. Finally, it was open.
Inside were different thick, card stock orange folders containing more papers. I picked up the first one and reached inside, pulling out the content.
The first was a short letter.

Your little 'Hilary' is quick and clever but a liar. I'd watch her carefully because I'm after her. Your plaything isn't what you think she is.
Your friend,
Ian
Merry fucking Christmas to me.