Mutual

Chapter thirteen

"Hannah?"
"Huh?"
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, why?" I look at Jack to see him move and sit next to me.
"You're looking at your phone like you'd just found out Katy Perry had just died."
"Who?"
"Katy Perry..."
"Oh my god! Katy Perry died? How?"
"No she hasn't. It was an example. Never mind. What's happened?"
"I've got an email."
"That's a pretty regular occurrence for pretty much everyone. Why are you so shocked?"
"No no, it's an email from the photographer's business I applied for."
"Oh yeah? What did they say?"
"Erm, I don't know."
"What do you mean, you don't know? How has this singular email shocked you so much by not even opening it?"
"I wasn't expecting to hear back."
"Well, you have. Open it. What does it say?"
"Hi, Hannah. We are thankful that you came to the interview we held. Blah blah blah, oh."
"Oh?"
"I didn't get the place."
"Oh. There'll be better opportunities, right?"
"Wait, there's more. We are pleased to let you know that you didn't get this place as we have enough employees currently. However, we have reached out to an agent who would be willing to work with you. We couldn't deny you and let you slide after such a wonderful portfolio. The agent will get in contact with you in the next few working days. Thank you very much for your time!"
"Oh my god are you serious! You might not have gotten the job but you got your own fucking agent! What the hell, Hannah?"
I'm so excited I jump into Jack's arms. He spins me before placing me down carefully.
"What the fuck is going on? You awoke me from my slumber."
"Only you, Andrew Fowler, would say 'slumber'."
"Go on then, what's happened?"
"Well I didn't get the job."
"Awh I'm sorry."
"Don't be, something even better happened."
"What?"
"I got an agent!"
"Woah! You didn't? I'm so proud!" He envelopes me in a hug. This day couldn't get any better. Rye comes in typing something on his phone. He almost walks into me.
"Hey Hannah! I was thinking of doing some Christmas shopping today and didn't want to go alone. These lot are nobheads so I was wondering if you wanted to come with me?"
"Hey!" Andy exclaims.
"You can't deny it. I love you all though. I wouldn't be here without any of you guys."
"Okay, let's leave the sentimental comments till later. I'm clearly not wanted so I'm just gonna scoot."
"I'd invite you, Andy, but I was planning on getting your present today."
"Oh. You don't have to get me anything."
"Don't give me that crap. You're almost as bad as Hannah."
"Just because I prefer to give than receive doesn't mean that-"
"I know I know. I get it. Let's go, Han."
"Now?"
"No time like the present, hey?"
"I'm in my pyjamas, Rye."
"Better go and get ready then!"

I rush off into my bedroom to get changed. Glancing over at Brooklyn, I see that he's still asleep. I don't bother to leave the room as I change my pyjama bottoms into dark blue skinny jeans and my top for one of Brook's hoodies. I suddenly get the feeling I'm being watched. I spin around Brooklyn's staring at me.
"That was a really good sight to wake up to."
"How long have you been awake?"
"Long enough to see enough of you." I blush instantly. "And you're wearing my hoodie! Look's so much better on you." I feel the blush deepen.
Brook gets out of bed and comes over to me to cuddle me. I lean against and snuggle my face into his neck. We stay like that for a couple of minutes before I pull away, looking down, keeping my arms around Brook's waist. He pushes my head up with two fingers on my chin. I gaze into his eyes, getting lost of them. He breaks the eye contact and looks at my lips before looking back into my eyes. He subconsciously licks his lips. I lean in and touch our foreheads together, never breaking the eye contact. I can tell he's about to kiss me when the door swings open. We spring apart and look at who interrupted us.
"What the fuck, man?" Brook yells at Rye.
"Sorry. Should have knocked first. I just wanted to see if Hannah was ready."
"Ready for what?"
"Christmas shopping! We'll carry this on later, Brook. I've got to go." I hug him and leave the room with Rye. Looking back, I see Brook starstruck and I'm about to go back to him when Rye tugs on my arm. I pull my hair back into a pony and shove on my vans. We head out of the door.

"What was the rush? It's only 9am." I clamber into the car.
"Sorry. I wanted to go as early as possible to avoid busyness."
"Oh okay."

Seven hours later, and we've just pulled up back outside my house. The shopping trip was very successful and I managed to get something for all of my family and each of the boys - even Rye. We'd split off for an hour as I wanted to go into Primark and Rye wasn't having any of it. I got him a black hoodie with a bee on it and I'm quite proud of it. Seeing that made me think of getting a hoodie with the allocated boys' emoji on it for each of them. I'd have to get them online though as I hadn't seen anything at all similar to Ryes with a cactus or clover on. I'd got a few other little things for them too. I grab as many bags as possible and take them into the kitchen. Ryan comes through with the rest of the bags and dumps them on the counter. Rye starts to make teas for everyone as I sort through whose bag is whose. I end up with thirteen bags and I take them through to my room. I see Brook is in there so I shove the bags into the bottom of my wardrobe.
"Woah you bought loads! Anything for me in there?"
"If there is, they're in that wardrobe. I'm sorting through it later, please don't go in there. I know you, so I'm going to move it later so you don't know where it is."
"Fair enough." He reaches over and pulls me onto his lap. Again, we get lost in each other's eyes. It's like a replay of this morning because we are interrupted by the door opening.

"Your tea is ready. Brook, I made you a coffee." Like this morning, Rye is yet again the intruder.
"Thanks, mate. Maybe knock next time though?"
"But it's funny to see your faces when I barge in."
"Would you like us to walk in on you and the next bird you bring home after a night out?" I wink at him.
"Erm..."
"Love you rye! Now where were we?"
To further embarrass Rye, I turn to Brook and smash my lips into his. I push Brook onto the bed and climb on top of him, and I swear I've never seen Rye move faster. I laugh and stand up.
"Hey, no I was enjoying that." He pulls me back on top of him and we kiss for a while before we start cuddling. I doze off thinking about how much I respect him for not taking things further yet like most guys do. I like the pace we're going at.

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