Love... A Niall Horan Love Story

Chapter 43: Doors

Brielle’s P.O.V.

I stared at the door in shock, blinking. Niall stood behind me, wisely not saying anything.

“Did he just…” my voice trailed off as I couldn’t bring myself to finish the sentence.

“Yep,” Niall confirmed, coming closer and putting a hand on my arm. “Let’s go.”

“But…” I protested, still staring at the door.

“It’ll make it worse,” Niall said, now wrapping his fingers around my wrist. “Let your dad cool down.”

Reluctantly, I turned away from the door and followed Niall down the steps. As we walked back, my head whirled. What could my dad be possibly doing that I couldn’t see? Who could he be with that I couldn’t meet? How could he just shut me out like that?

Somewhere, my mind connected nearly invisible dots. He’s been busy. He’s been locked up in his flat. He wouldn’t let me in because he had some friends over. He must have met a girl.

I tried to be happy for him, but somewhere deep inside, deep down in my gut, jealously burned. I want to spend time with my dad, not have him beg off to hook up with someone. He came back for me, not some cougar.  He should be spending time with me, getting to know me, his own flesh and blood, not someone he’s just met while he’s here visiting me.

I’m so consumed in my thoughts that I didn’t notice Niall glancing back at me. “You okay there?” he asked, dropping back to walk with me. “You have kind of a sour expression.”

Startled, I looked in a car mirror. I looked like I’d just swallowed a spoonful of lemon juice.  “Yeah I’m fine,” I answered. “Just thinking about my dad.”

Something in my expression must be pretty bitter because Niall chuckled and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

“Your dad’s a big boy he can handle himself,” he joked.

I made a face. “It’s not that, it’s something else.”

“What is it?” Niall asked, poking me in the arm.

“Nothing!” I said.

“Mmm-hmm,” Niall said doubtfully, staring at me.

“Nothing! I swear! It’s absolutely nothing” I exclaimed, throwing my hands up in the air.

“Ya know, denial isn’t good for the soul,” Niall said.

I looked at him. “Where did you hear that?”

“I have my sources,” Niall said superiorly, tossing his hair.

“Calm down, we don’t want that head to get too big,” I teased.

“What head? My head?” Niall asked indignantly. “Are you saying I have a big head?”

“Oh look, home!” I said quickly, taking off running.

I managed to get there first, but I didn’t have a key, so I was stuck outside. I banged on the door, hoping that someone would let me in. Niall came up behind me walking leisurely, tossing the key from hand to hand.

“You expecting someone in there, babe?” he asked.

“Maybe,” I teased.

Niall didn’t take it as a joke and pinned me up against the door. “That’s not funny,” he said, voice low.

“I thought it was pretty funny,” I said, tucking hair behind my ear. “Actually, it was so funny, people laughed around the whole world. Even people in China, even. And you know that’s a faraway place. ”