Impurity

Chapter Thirteen - Clouds

His phone’s buzzing in his pockets, but he doesn’t seem to be interested in answering the call at all.

"Niall.", I remind him. "Someone’s trying to reach you."

"I don’t care.", he casually says with a shrug, keeping his eyes on the road in front of us. "There’s nothing that could be more important than being with you."

"Don’t be silly." He’s really a bit over the top with his what he thinks are compliments. "I don’t mind. In fact, I’m asking you to pick up that damn phone because whoever it is, he or she isn’t gonna hang up too soon it seems."

“She?”, he repeats me, completely ignoring my request. “I’m not talking to any other girls but you.”

He’s so eager to prove me that I’m the only one for him, it makes me sick. It’s adorable, in the worst way ever, and it makes me feel like I’m not allowed to only look at other men. Which I am, in fact, not, because I have never met anyone as jealous as Niall. And I am jealous, too. Insanely jealous, in all honesty, but I don’t need him to remind me that there’s no reason to worry.

"Your mother maybe.", I suggest.

He looks at me and frowns. “My mother is dead, Morgan.”

I swallow hard. Something inside of me stirs. It’s like his words awoke a monster. Is it sorrow? Is it grief? Is it my bad conscience for not calling my own mum? I hold my stomach as if whatever rears up in me could break through my organs and skin.

"I’m so fucking sorry.", I say, barely able to speak. He’s all pale, watching my face with big eyes like there was anything in it.

"No, I’m sorry.", he quickly responds. "I shouldn’t have said that. It was inappropriate to bring up a topic like that when we’re in a good mood. I apologise."

"No, it’s okay.", I say and put my hand on his leg. "I just didn’t know. For whatever reason."

He turns away again and hits the brakes at a red traffic light. His phone is still vibrating.

"Niall, pick up, for fuck’s sake.", I beg. "It’s so annyoing. It’s probably your manager guy, right? Or Liam. Just pick up the damn phone."

"Oh, I’m sure it’s Ted.", he mumbles and I’m not quite sure if I was supposed to hear that. He just shakes his head, though. "I’m not in the mood to talk to anyone but you. Isn’t there anything you want to know?"

"What do you mean?", I ask, but then I remember. "The surprise!"

He mentioned there was something he needed to tell me after therapy and even though I’ve never liked surprises, I really wanted to know what this weird man had in mind to do with me.

"Exactly.", he says with a smile. I just now realise we’re driving to my place. "Are you excited?"

"Scared, to be honest."

"The usual.", he chuckles. "I know that already. And it’s good, you know that, too. Just reasonable."

"Just reasonable.", I repeat and roll my eyes. "To be scared of the man that fucks you on a parking lot like a cheap whore."

He quietly laughs and bites his lower lip before he parks the car and gets out to open the door for me, too. “Hurry a little, won’t you?”, he bids and grabs my arm to drag me to the door. He seems a little jumpy, yet happily excited. At least his phone has stopped vibrating.

He stops at the front door and finally takes the phone out of his pockets to check the screen. I can tell he’s reading a text. He frowns, nods and grumbles “Okay.”