That Summer

Chapter 23

My dad couldn’t have looked happier. The boys set up a surprise party the next night and he was truly surprised. “You guys are so great to him.” I said to them, watching my dad laugh with some co-workers and friends.

“He deserves this. He has to put up with crazy teenage girls. It’s nice to have some fun every once in a while. ” Liam smiled.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my dad so happy. I think working for you guys has gotten him out of the funk he’s been in since--” I stopped. I didn’t want to talk about my mom; not on a day that was all about my dad.

“Since what?” Louis asked confused.

“Since he was fired from his previous job.” I said taking a long sip of my diet coke. Being someone’s husband is technically a job and since she left him he was fired so technically I wasn’t lying. Logical, right?

“Oh.” Louis said. “Well, we definitely do not plan on letting him go! He’s great!”I just smiled and continued to sip my drink.

Eventually I made my way to a table and sat alone, not that I minded that, and continued to drink more soda. I’m secretly a soda addict but don’t tell my dad, he would try and cut me off. “Why are you sitting here by yourself in the corner?” I heard Niall ask sitting down across from me.

I just shrugged. “I’m just a little tired, I guess.”

“Come on! This is a party! You’re supposed to be dancing and having fun, not sitting at a table by yourself.”

“I’m not by myself right now, am I?” I giggled.

He narrowed his eyes. “You know what I mean!”

I giggled again. “I know.”

“We’re okay, right?” Niall asked looking into my eyes.

I nodded slowly. “Of course, Nialler.” I smiled weakly.

“Do you think your dad would mind if I took you away from the party early?” He asked after a few minutes.

“It depends,” I said leaning forward. “Where would you be taking me?”

He just smirked. “It’s a surprise.”

I looked at him for a moment before responding. “Okay, I’ll trust you.”

He stood up and held out his hand for me to take and I accepted quickly. Niall’s hand was slightly chilly from the drink he had been holding previously but it was still soft; our hands seemed to fit together perfectly.

I found my dad quickly, telling him goodbye and happy birthday again and was off with Niall. We walked down the streets, still hand in hand and me grinning like mad. “So, are you going to tell me where exactly we’re going?” I finally asked.

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I just needed an excuse to get you to leave with me.” He said grinning.

I shook my head laughing. “Clever, Niall.”

“Is there anywhere specific you would like to go?”

I thought a moment. “Would you like to buy me some ice cream?” I smiled hopeful.

“That sounds perfect.” He said squeezing my hand.

After Niall bought us ice cream we decided to take a table outside to eat it where we then proceeded to get more ice cream on our faces than in our stomachs.  “I can’t believe you shoved your ice cream in my face!” Niall laughed in the bathroom, after we got back to his hotel room.

“It was an accident!” I laughed as well.  “I tripped and it went onto your face!”

He came out of the bathroom, wiping the rest of the ice cream off his face. “No it was not, you liar!” He poked my stomach.

“Okay, okay!” I laughed, being tickled by his poking. “Maybe it was a little on purpose, but it’s not like your innocent either! You smeared ice cream all over my face too!”

“Only because you started it!” He said wrapping his arms around my waist.

“Your face just looked like it needed some ice cream.” I smiled innocently, wrapping my arms around his neck.

He pressed our foreheads together and smiled down at me. “I really missed you, Lizzy.” He whispered.

“I missed you too, Nialler.” I whispered back.

Niall moved a hand off of my waist and cupped my cheek, still slightly smiling. “How long are you staying for?”

“I don’t know yet.” I sighed. “I haven’t gotten a chance to talk to my boss or look at flights back.”

“Have you,” He paused. “Have you thought about not going back and just staying here?” He asked nervously.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “I have thought about it. I just haven’t made up my mind. I was just thrown back into this and I haven’t really had a chance to take it all in yet.” I said honestly. “I just don’t know if it’s a good idea or not.”

“Is there anything I could do or say to make you stay?” He asked whispering again. I moved closer to him and buried my face into his neck. “I don’t want to lose you again, Elizabeth. I just got you back, I can’t.”

He sounded like he was on the verge of tears. I lifted my head back up and looked him straight in the eyes. “You never lost me, Niall.”

“Yes, I did.” He sounded hurt. “You refused to answer any of my calls or talk to me or any of us. It was the same as losing you.”He pulled away from me and sat down on the edge of the bed.

“I’m sorry about that. I just didn’t know what to say.” I said standing in front of him.

“You could have at the very least said goodbye!” He shouted. “Instead we had to find out from your dad that you and Zayn had run off!”

“So you would have rather me gotten you all together and say ‘I’m sorry guys but I’m leaving and not coming back because I can’t deal with the fact that I’m in love with you, Niall and it’s not fair to you, and Harry, I’m sorry I cheated on you twice!’ Is that what I should have done? Huh?!” I shouted back. He looked at me with his mouth hanging open. Crap. I thought to myself.

“You’re in love with me?” He asked shocked.