My Buddy Archie [1]

29..

"Look at those flowers," Connie smiled up at the trees I was driving under. "Beautiful."

"You're beautiful, Connie," Archie said, confidently. Without even looking at her, I could sense Connie flushing with flattery at the compliment.

And I decided I wanted something to do with that. "It's true," I added.

"Thank you," she laughed. "You're both pretty good looking too."

"Pretty good looking?" I snorted, "That's not at all what you were saying when my face was between your--"

"Shush!" Archie laughed at her high pitched, slightly panicked voice. "Jesus Niall..."

"Yeah, that's exactly what you were saying," I smirked.

"Shut up."

I chuckled as we pulled into the Pointer parking lot. We arrived at the same time Regina Good was leaving and I honked to get her attention. She gave me a friendly smile and wave before climbing into her husband's trunk. I gave him a wave too before getting out to help Archie from the car.

"Bye, bye Connie flower," Archie smiled, flapping one hand as he struggled to pull his backpack strap up. I smiled at his nickname for her. A couple days ago I showed him a cauliflower in the market, and now he insists on calling Connie by her 'funny' name.

She said goodbye to him too, leaning into the back seat a bit to kiss him on the cheek. Once Archie was out of the car I tightened his backpack straps and put my hand on his shaggy head to lead him inside.

"Good morning," Trisha greeted.

"Hey," I smiled. "How are you?"

"I'm well, Niall." She smiled brightly, "Wonderful morning."

"Nice and sunny," I agreed then gesture to Archie as he walked off to greet his friends-Bailey first though. "Well, he's all yours. I'll probably pick him up a little later than usual. Not by much."

"Okay, no problem."

"Alright, I'll see you." She waved before turning on her heel, her new haircut swishing around in a circle. When I got back in the car Connie's face broke into a smile. "What?" I asked, starting to pull the car out.

"You look nice today."

I smirked but kept my eyes on the road, "I have meetings."

"Still...very work savvy." She paused as she crossed her legs, "It's doing things to me."

"Is it?" I glanced to see her nod. "Good things?"

"Can't exactly benefit from them right now, so no. I could do without them at this moment in time."

I laughed, moving my hand from the wheel to rest on her thigh, my thumb rubbing her smooth skin. "Didn't I tell you to wait for it, angel? Not long now..."

"Hmm."

"I never know what that means. What is 'hmm'?"

"Nothing," she chuckled. "So lunch today--with your mother."

My shoulders slumped. Please don't tell me she's about to cancel on me again. "Yeah...do you have something else to do?"

"No, I denied everything that could be put in that time slot." She smiled at me, "I'm all yours from eleven to twelve-thirty." I returned her smile as I parked along the curb in front of her job. "Okay, kiss me goodbye."

Without any type of objection, I leaned over pecking her repeatedly before giving her a lingering kiss. "Later," I muttered, then kissed her one last time.