If We Ever Get an Hour Together (A Van McCann fanfiction)

Nothing Better

Lucia:

Van was gone when I woke up the next morning. I turned over on the bed, pulling the sheets over myself and crushing the note he left on his pillow.

Kitchen should have food I hope....will be back soon XX

I blinked slowly, the cloudy morning making me want to push deeper into the pillows and cocoon myself until it was at least noon. But I thought of the entire day that awaited me with Van by my side and I finally had to slide out. I didn't fly all the way to London just to sleep the whole time. I had a week before my flight back home, and I was definitely going to take advantage of being here with Van. 

The front door opened while I was in the kitchen. Van had absolutely no food except a takeout box with a smear of curry and a bottle of rum in his fridge. "Hello baby." Van dropped his keys onto the dining room table. "There's nothing in the fridge, don't even bother," he laughed. I turned around to greet him and he held up a paper bag. "I brought scones. And...ta-da." He motioned to the cups next to him. "Your drink of choice."

"My hero."  I shut the fridge door and walked over to him, kissing him innocently on the cheek. 

"You're kidding with that, right?" He pressed a hand against my back and pushed me towards him. I breathed him in, cologne and smoke. 

"Thank you, really. But fill that fridge. I don't want you starving to death."

"Small details. Besides, I always forget the food and then it goes in the trash." Van dug a hand into the paper bag, beginning to take out the pastries. He gave me my coffee. "So, what do you want to do today?"

"I don't know, where are you taking me?" I bit into the buttery scone Van handed me. 

He chewed, thinking. "I have no clue. I'd say let's go meet my friends, but they all have regular boring jobs and can't be bothered to leave."

"You're so mean."

"So that'll wait till tonight. Because we're going to my friend Lola's house. You'll like her I hope. Van looked out the window. "I know the lads want to meet up with you, but they can wait till Lola's, because I want you all to myself." His phone vibrated on the table, and he answered quickly. 

"Hello. Nope, you're fine mate. Uh huh." Van pushed his chair back, looking at me and rubbing his eyes. "Right now? But I thought we said tomorrow? I guess." He glanced at me again. I drank from my coffee. "How long do you think? Well I just...right. Yeah. I get it. See you in a few." Van hung up, bringing his hands together. "I've got to go to the label real quick. Something about the chords for....you know, boring audio stuff. Can't be bothered to try and explain it, I barely get it myself."

"Right." I ran my tongue against my teeth, watching Van get up. He grabbed his jacket and slid it on. 

"I'll be back in thirty minutes, forty-five at the most. And then I'll take you all over London babe, you'll love it. Just wait for me, alright?" He kissed the side of my head and was gone in seconds. I crumbled the rest of my scone in front of me and finished my coffee.

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Two hours later:

"How's London?" Isabel had called me to make sure I'd landed fine. "Where has Van taken you?"

"I'm waiting for him to come back from the studio. Some audio business." I leaned against the big window in his living room, looking down at the people walking below. He lived in the second story of this building, yet it seemed like we were at least four floors up for some reason.