FOREVER [Niall Horan] ✔

Chapter 14.

"If it is true that there are as many minds as there are heads, then there are the as many kinds of love as there are hearts." -Ana Karenina, Leo Tolstoy

Niall's POV

I walk towards the kitchen of my restaurant. I have been wanting to meet Clare and Mark, the head chefs, for a long time now. My eyes widen when I see Rebecca sitting at one of the tables, alone. I walk as nonchalantly and unnoticeably as I can but, of course, she has to see me.

She stands up quickly, I glare her through my peripheral vision, as if she was waiting for me to come, and walk, practically runs towards me. I roll my eyes.

"What?" I ask, bored.

"Hi to you, too." She trails her index along the lapel of my blazer. "How are you?" She steps closer and I take a step back, thoroughly despising our proximity.

"I was better," I say honestly with a straight face before gently taking her index from my chest and keeping it at her side.

"C'mon, Niall, don't be rude to me." She lifts her hand again, but I pull myself back. "And don't deny that you like me."

"I don't," I scoff.

"You sure did when you were with me, in my room and let me touch you and ride you," She whispers, sensually, having the opposite effect on me.

"A man makes mistakes and it was, what, 7 months ago!" I want to laugh at her. I mean, how stupid can she be? "And I was drunk." I disdain and start to walk towards the kitchen, before she pulls my arm to stop me and I roll my eyes again. This girl clearly doesn't get a hint.

"You'd come to me, one day. I'll make you," She hisses in my ear, her grip on my wrist tightening.

I laugh, humourously. "Sure." I can kick her out of my restaurant, but I don't want to create a scene and ruin people's afternoon.

I tear my hand away from her hold, turn on my heels and walk past her, not in the mood to argue with her anymore. I still dread the day when she met me for the first time at a fucking bar. After that night, I never expected or wanted to meet her, but she appeared at La Dinér. She soon came to know that I own the restaurant and ever since that time, she always happens to land here.

I can't believe that she still tries to pursue me, even after I told her, a hundred fucking times, that I am in no way interested in her, but she doesn't get a hint.

I push the thoughts of her at the back of my head and saunter towards the kitchen, the smell of delicious food reaching my nose.

Mark is standing in the middle of the kitchen with his arms wrapped around Clare, both in chef coats and hats. He bends to peck her lips softly and she smiles before going back to work.

They have been married since they were 18, for almost 10 years now. They went to the same university and are together ever since. I envy their relationship, the thing they have, which always brings them back together no matter what. The way they look at each other as if they're the only people there; the spark in their eyes never fades away. The way they support each other in every possible way, I absolutely crave it. I yearn what they have and I don't. Love.

I clear my throat to make my presence known. They turn to me and smile. Clare walks to me and gives me a small hug, Mark following suite.

"Hello, Niall. How are ya?" Mark greets and I grin.

"Good. You guys?"

"We're great." Clare smiles and looks up to Mark, since he is a bit taller, and he smiles at her. I stand in awe until I realise what I came for.