British Rose

9. Brighton, Baby!

The package had arrived aweek ago. A large letter, heavy paper, the address hand-written. Giovanna had accepted it from the postman since Charlotte had been at work. The old-fashioned packaging made her raise an eyebrow, but also put a smile on her face. Someone was being romantic and despite the lack of a sender information, she was almost sure she knew who it was coming from. The concert ticket had arrived in a similar envelope.

Giovanna put it on the desk in Charlotte's room and texted her.

Hey! A letter just arrived for you. I put it in your room. I'm not saying it's from him but...it's from him. See you later! Gi

Charlotte sank down on one of the chairs in the tiny staff room of the café, exhaling deeply. Those 10 minutes of a breather her colleague just ordered her to take were exactly what she needed. The day had been crazy. A last heatwave had hit the coast and there had been no minute during the opening hours of the café in which there was no queue outside the door.

Charlotte took a sip of her water bottle and checked her phone.

1 new message.

Her heart jumped reading what her roommate had texted her. What had he sent her this time? Tour was over, so certainly no concert tickets. Then she remembered the little photo shoot they had done.

The remaining two hours of her shift couldn't go by fast enough.

Now Harry was standing in the middle of Charlotte's bedroom, in front of the wall where she had hung up the pictures. He hadn't spoken a word since they had entered the room. Charlotte was a few steps behind him, anxiously holding her breath and waiting for him to say something.

Another few minutes passed without a spoken word. Charlotte couldn't bear it any longer.

"Do ... do you like it?" Her voice broke, the words almost inaudible.

Slowly - Charlotte wasn't sure if he wanted to tease her (she hoped not) or gather his thoughts - Harry turned back around and looked her directly in the eyes.

The sudden intensity of his gaze she was hit with didn't lessen her anxiety in any way.

Then, after what seemed an excruciating eternity, he spoke.

"It might be the most beautiful thing I have ever seen." Turning around to look at the gallery wall again, he now spoke to the pictures. "No, I take that back. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen." His head turned and he added quietly, "apart from you, that is."

Charlotte's body deflated like a balloon with a loosened knot. Harry stumbled a bit when she leaped forward to hug him.

"I'm so glad you like it," she whispered into his neck.

Giovanna had stayed in her room when the two had arrived from the station, giving them a bit of privacy first.

Now that she heard some laughing and chatter from the kitchen, she decided it was time to check out the man herself.

They were in the middle of putting the kettle on when Giovanna showed up in the doorframe of the kitchen. Harry immediately stepped forward to introduce himself politely to Charlotte's roommate, extending his right hand to her.

"Hi, I'm Harry. Nice to meet you!"

"Oh skip that nonsense," Giovanna waved off his polite greeting and pulled him into a hug. "I'm Giovanna, the roommate."

After Harry had regained his composure from Giovanna's tumultuous greeting, the three of them sat down at the kitchen table with fresh cups of tea in front of them.