Life Changes

Chapter 9

So, Harrison and Jessica survived their first day of being a couple! Maxi, on the other hand is asking Harries and his wife Em to set him up with someone. Let's see what happens!

Hoppo's POV:

"Karen? What do I need to pack for this wedding?" "Nothing! I already packed our bags; they're sitting by our front door. Now hurry up! Harrison and Jessica are bringing us to the airport in half an hour." As I was waiting for time to pass by, I heard a knock on the front door. "I'll get it!" Walking to the front door, I saw Harrison standing there. "Morning Hoppo! Ready for your little getaway?" "I'm a little bit excited; I think Karen is more excited than I am!" Laughing, we went to the kitchen and I grabbed a water bottle for the both of us. "How are things going with you and Jess? It seems I rarely see her anymore! She's either at work, sleeping, hanging out with the girls or down at the bar with you guys!" "Things are going good! We're slowly getting to know each other; by the way, have you seen the way Maxi acts around Jess and I lately? It's like he walks away whenever we're together." "Maybe he just needs to get used to the idea of one of his best lads is off with his boss's niece. He did take it pretty hard when Michelle ran off with Brandon; maybe he's just lonely. I did see him talking to Harries so I'm wondering if Harries and Em are going to set him up with someone." "I hope so! Maxi's a nice guy and he deserves a nice girl."

Maxi's POV:

After my talk with Harries yesterday, I wondered if I made a mistake asking him to set me up with someone. I've never felt something for any girl until Michelle came along. Well, I can't turn back now I thought as I pulled up in Harries and Em's driveway. They had asked me if I could watch Billy and Leo for them while they went out with friends. Putting the car in park and grabbing the keys and my phone, I made my way into the house. Billy and Leo were watching Paw Patrol on the iPad, while Harries was drinking water and Em was in the bathroom getting makeup on. "Hey Em! The single bachelor is here! Haha!" Em walked out of the bathroom and gave Harries a little punch and walked over to me and gave me a hug. "How you doing? I'm so sorry to hear about Michelle! I kept telling Harries to invite you over for supper, but he kept saying you were too busy." "Really? Harries never told me about supper..." Em took her eyes off me and glanced at Harries, giving him a stern look. "Em, we really gotta go! Corey and Jennifer and them are all waiting. Bye boys!" Harries ran past Em and I and made a beeline for the car; laughing out loud, Em gave me a quick rundown of the boys' bedtime routine. Giving each of them a kiss, she wished me good luck and if I needed anything, I could text her. When the door shut, Leo walked over to me and asked if I wanted to play Lego's with him. Grabbing the Lego bin, I sat down on the carpet and played with him.

After Harrison and Jessica dropped Hoppo and Karen off at the airport, they decided to go out for supper and take a walk along a private beach.

Jessica's POV:

After dropping Hoppo and Karen off, I was getting hungry. "Hon, do you want go get something to eat?" "Sure! What were you thinking?" "There's a Wendy's right up ahead, and then after, we can take a walk along a private beach." "That sounds great! You are so romantic; where do you get all these ideas from?" "Well, I was in a relationship before I met you; I'll explain more when we're at the beach." Sitting back and holding Harrison's hand, I looked out the window and thought, If Harrison had a girlfriend before me, am I just as good as his previous girlfriend? Or am I not his ideal girlfriend?  I've got to stop thinking about his ex-girlfriend and comparing myself to him; I also hoped I didn't have to run into his ex. Before I knew it, we pulled up to Wendy's and drove to the drive-thru. Harrison ordered a bacon cheeseburger combo, while I ordered a Caesar salad with spicy chicken nuggets and a drink. Pulling into an empty parking spot, Harrison put the truck into Park and turned it off. While eating our food, I got the idea to ask him how he got to be a lifeguard at Bondi. "Harrison, what or who inspired you to become a lifeguard at Bondi?" "Ever since I was a little kid, I had heard about Baywatch. When I was in my teenage years, I watched a couple episodes; even though it was acting, I knew that is what I wanted to do. After graduating high school, I decided to immediately try out for being a lifeguard. I failed two times to get in, but that didn't stop me from trying; the third time I tried, I got in! Now, I've been working at Bondi and I love it." "I can tell! I love your face when you walk out of the water after a successful rescue; obviously there are days where things don't go as planned. But I think you handle it quite nicely and in a professional way." Leaning over and giving me a kiss, we threw our empty cartons in the bag and tossed it in a garbage bin. Harrison turned the truck back on and we turned on the radio and jammed along to music during the half-hour drive to the private beach.

After the half-hour drive to the beach, Harrison pulled up to a quiet spot and turned the truck off. Hopping out of the truck, he goes over to Jessica's side and gives her a hand.

Harrison's POV:

Taking Jessica to this private beach has been on my to-do list for quite a long time. I usually come here to unwind after a long and busy day to gather my thoughts and relax. It's one of my favorite places to go, but on the other hand, it brings back bad memories. Sure, hanging out with Jesse and Maxi back at the apartment sounds more fun, but I get sick of hearing them argue about who's better at Call of Duty. Grabbing Jessica's hand, we took a walk along the beach. "So Harrison, have you dated anyone before me?" Here we go; I promised Hoppo that I would tell Jessica about my previous relationship with Sarah. I wanted to get it done and over with, so I am glad she asked me now instead of her finding out later. "Yes I actually have." "Oh?" "When I just started working at Bondi, this girl was on the waves every morning. No matter what the weather was, or how cold or warm the water was, she was always surfing. I wasn't looking to begin a relationship just yet, but the lads wouldn't stop bugging me about her. To get the lads off my back, I summoned up the courage to ask her to go out for coffee after work. She said yes, and that's how it started. We had been going out for a year, and I could really see us together. Maxi and Jesse went with me to get a ring, and Sarah and I had been talking about getting engaged for months. The night when I had planned to propose to her, she texted me saying that we needed to talk; thinking it would be a little talk, I took the engagement ring with me. She pretty much told me that she couldn't see us together for the rest of our lives, and when I asked her what changed her mind, she said she had met someone else who could give her more in life than I could. She pretty much gave me a kiss on the cheek and wished me all the best for my future life. She walked out, and that was the last time I saw her. I still had the engagement ring in my back pocket; on my way home, I drove past this beach and I threw it in the water." "Oh Harrison, I'm so sorry to hear that. She's stupid for leaving you, but on the other hand, it does benefit me cause now we're together and you're my boyfriend and I'm your girlfriend." Giving Jessica a kiss, I knew I had made the right decision in telling her now about Sarah. After our kiss, we held hands as we walked back to the truck; on the way home, Jessica fell asleep. As I gazed at her beautiful face in the moonlight, I still couldn't believe that she was mine. Pulling up to Hoppo's house, I gently woke her up and kissed her goodnight once more at the door. As soon as I got home, I plugged my phone in the charger and set my alarm for the next morning. As soon as my head hit the pillow, my eyes shut and thinking about Jessica, I was fast asleep in minutes.

Ok! Now that Harrison has told Jessica about his ex-girlfriend Sarah, they can now move ahead without anything happening... but, when Sarah shows up at Bondi, she seems to be interested  in starting things up again with Harrison; what will Jessica think about her boyfriend's ex trying to steal him back again?  And with Maxi looking for a girlfriend, how will his love journey go? Get ready for a roller-coaster ride filled with  lots of emotions, drama and love! 

Cheers!