Seeing Blind |NH|

Chapter Forty

After dinner, we all sat around for a bit just chatting.  At some point, I noticed Esta sitting curled up on the couch, playing with her hair and trying to hide her yawning.  Tired, myself, I found a way to excuse ourselves.  Saying goodnight to Miriam and Patrick, Esta and I stood in the hallway for a minute.

"Tonight was nice," she said.

"Yeah.  She seems really sweet.  And did you see the way he was looking at her?"

"Yes, I did.  Maybe one day someone will look at us like that."  She smiled softly, not looking at me.

"I'm sure we will.  Or, at least, you will."

"Oh, come on.  Don't sell yourself short, Niall.  You're a great catch.  The rare good guy."

"How about this?  I won't sell myself short if you don't sell yourself short."

"I suppose I can try," she said, shrugging as she yawned again.  "Well, I'm exhausted.  I had fun today, Niall.  Goodnight." 

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around my neck, so I instinctively wrapped mine around her waist.  I hugged her tightly, feeling that she needed the reassurance.  She must've sensed I needed it too because she held onto me a little tighter, as well.  Stepping back, she kissed my cheek.  I felt my skin flush, again.

"Goodnight, Esta," I said, kissing her forehead before we both turned and went back inside our respective homes.

The next day, I left for London for a week.  I made sure to talk to Esta every day to keep her from feeling lonely.  I felt that if she felt lonely, she'd call Jace.  I did not want to return in a week to find that asshole back at her door.

She sent me several pictures of the progress she made on her home.  She had decided to go all white with her furniture, painting the non white items white.  I even had some sunflowers delivered to her to keep her home bright and happy.  When she got them, she sent me a picture of herself lying in her bed, her eyes closed, a small smile on her face with the flowers in a vase behind her.  Her text simply said, "Happy flowers." 

My flight back to LA from NYC had been delayed so much that I had to run from the airport and go straight to the lot for the Ellen DeGeneres Show.  We were doing an outdoor concert for her show.  I had invited Esta and made sure she had a pass to get in to see us.

"When she getting here?" Louis asked.

"I don't know.  At some point.  Why?"

"I just miss her, is all.  Haven't seen her in several months."

I looked past him as she walked in.  "Well, don't look now but here she comes, you fool."

Louis turned, screamed like a teenage girl chasing him, and ran towards her.  She seemed shocked by his reaction but quickly opened her arms as he picked her up, twirling her around.  I don't know why but something about that didn't sit well with me.  Harry sneaked up behind and gave her a hug as Liam hugged her from the front.

"Group hug without me?" I asked, walking up to them all.

"You always get her hugs," Louis said, not letting her go.  "Our turn, pal."

She laughed as she looked over at me, reaching her hand out for mine.  "Louis....Louis, I can't breathe."

"Oh, sorry," he said, as everyone else let go of her.

"Hey, you," she said, smiling at me before hugging me tightly.

"Hey," I whispered.

"I've missed you," she said into my ear.

"Same, darlin'."

"It's been a week, you two.  Geez, you'd think you two were dating or something," Louis joked.

There was that word again.  Why was everyone saying that, lately?  Esta just laughed at his statement.  I tried to brush it off, as well.  But, every time I looked over at her during the show, she smiled and waved at me, which made me blush. 

Harry even kept looking back and forth between us at one point before laughing and walking off, saying, "You two are ridiculous."

"What does that mean?" I asked, confused.

He shook his head, "Nothing, mate.  Nothing at all."