Always You || Simon Minter (miniminter)

Chapter 15

It's now 10 PM, and most people at Harry's are absolutely smashed. I've made good friends with Freya and Sarah, Callux's girlfriend, and we're all sitting on the couch with, of course, a bottle of wine, while the boys are causing chaos with their other presumably YouTuber friends.

"So, Millie... Josh told me something's going on with you and Simon?" Freya asks, taking a sip of her wine, waiting for my answer.

"I mean... nothing's happening, but I do kinda like him. I doubt he likes me back, though," I mumble, glancing at my wine glass before downing it all at once. I think I'll need it.

"I think you guys would be great together," Sarah beams. They're both in happy relationships, and honestly, it makes me feel a little pang of sadness. I'm happy for them, but I've never really experienced being loved like that.

"I guess we'll just see what happens," I shrug, scanning the room — almost immediately locking eyes with the tall blonde. He smiles at me, and my cheeks heat up. I quickly look away.

"Go talk to him! The bells are in an hour anyway — maybe you'll get your kiss," Freya winks, shoving me off the couch toward Simon. I sigh and make my way over to him.

"Hey," he smiles down at me, a glass of whiskey in hand.

"Hey," I smile back, suddenly feeling awkward.

"I don't know if I said it, but you look beautiful, Millie," Simon says, stepping closer. His cheeks are rosy, I presume from the whiskey.

"Thank you... you scrub up well," I laugh, and he laughs with me.

We stand there in silence, but it's a comfortable silence, one that seems to stretch for hours.

"Here, I want to show you something," Simon says, taking my hand and leading me to the balcony.

The cold London air hits me, and the view takes my breath away. Almost the entire city sprawls before us, the O2 Arena right in view.

"Wow," I whisper, leaning slightly over the balcony to get a better view.

"It's amazing, isn't it?" Simon murmurs, placing his hands on my waist and wrapping his arms around me, pulling me close.

"You know... I do remember," he whispers. I turn to face him, still in his protective embrace.

"The kiss," he clarifies when he sees the confusion on my face.

"You remember?" I whisper, shocked. He nods, a small smile creeping onto his lips.

"I meant the second one. The first one was just luck, but when I kissed you the second time... I meant it." He leans closer, our faces inches apart, his breath warm against the cold night air.

I'm at a loss for words. "You meant it?" I whisper, repeating his words, trying to comprehend it.

"Millie, I've been falling for you since the first moment I saw you walk into our house," he confesses.

I stay silent, not wanting to interrupt, wanting him to keep going.

"I was scared about what JJ would say, but I spoke to him," Simon admits. He spoke to Jide about liking me, and Jide didn't try to kill him. Impressive.

"Oh," is all I can manage, my brain completely numb. I'm also slightly drunk, which doesn't help.

Simon frowns, his eyes turning from bright blue to a cooler grey. "Millie," he whispers, tilting my chin to meet his gaze.

"I didn't think..." I trail off, caught in my own whirlwind of thoughts.

Harry's shout from inside breaks the moment: "One minute to the bells!"

I glance back at Simon. "I didn't think you liked me," my voice shakes.

"Of course I do. I thought you were amazing from the moment you stepped through that door," he says softly, hand still holding my chin, his arm around my waist tightening slightly, pulling me closer.

"I've fallen really... really hard for you, Millie," he chuckles, his eyes bright blue again.

"5... 4... 3... 2... 1!" everyone in the apartment shouts.

Without hesitation, I grab Simon's face and pull him to me. Our lips crash together. My arms snake around his neck as we sink into the kiss, moving in perfect harmony. Butterflies erupt in my stomach — I feel giddy, alive.

We pull away, breathless, grinning at each other.

"I've waited for that," Simon says, pulling me into a hug, small circles of his thumb tracing my back.

"Happy New Year, by the way," I laugh, realizing we completely forgot about the bells. Simon leans down, giving me a brief kiss this time.

"Happy New Year," he whispers, sending shivers down my spine.

"We should go back inside," I say, still savoring the moment. I'm not ready to tell everyone... not yet.

"Let's go," Simon smiles, kissing my forehead before taking my hand. He opens the door, and we step back inside.

Simon drops my hand just as Jide appears, running toward me.

"Where have you been!" he shouts, tackling me in a hug.

"I was outside," I laugh, finally catching my breath.

Jide looks between me and Simon, then back at me. Shit.

"What were you two doing?"