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Chapter 34

*C H A R L O T T E*

At that moment my phone rings. It's Lizzie.

"Hi Liz," I answer the phone.

"Oh hi Charlotte! How are you? Did you have fun last night?"

"Yeah, we went to bed when the sun was rising and now we all have a major hangover!"

"Who is we?" Lizzie asks with a curious voice.

"Oh, well, for some reason both Hero and Killian were too lazy to walk to their room so we had a sleepover. We're having coffee now."

"Well, well." I know this tone too well and I know Lizzie will ask me all about this sleepover when we're alone.

"Do you and Jack want to join us?"

"You sure? Wouldn't want to ruin a threesome." She starts laughing and I can hear Jack gasping in the background.

Great. Thanks Liz.

"Just come over," I say in a sour tone.

Just what I need.

Obviously Killian and Hero want to know what happened and they both think it's pretty hilarious when I tell them.

It doesn't take long until Jack and Lizzie are I my room. Lizzie is having some water and Jack is having coffee.

"We were thinking about leaving soon. It's a bit of a drive," Jack says.

"Great!" I respond. "Well as soon as my room is free, I will take a quick shower and I'll help you put the presents in the car."

"Oh, I should have a shower too," Hero says. "I'm going to do that now. Call me when you want to go!" With one last look Hero leaves my room.

Lizzie, Jack and I say goodbye to Killian. He's taking the train back to Cardiff in two hours because he has a group project in the evening.

"We'll meet before you go, okay?" he asks and he gives me a hug.

"Definitely," I promise.

After everyone is gone, I take a hot shower. My head is spinning and it's not because of the hangover. I don't know what to feel or think at the moment. It's all a bit much. Sex with Hero. Trying to be just friends with Hero. A sleepover with Hero. And now spending a lot of time with Hero while we're both staying at Jack and Lizzie's. With a sigh I finish the shower and put on some comfy clothes. Jeans and a hoodie it is!

I help Jack with the presents because Lizzie needs to rest. She doesn't like that one bit and she really wants to help but Jack and I are determined. Hero is bringing their luggage downstairs.

"Okay, let's put these last ones in Hero's car," Jack says.

"Hero has a car?"

"Yeah, we'll need two cars to take us back and fit all the luggage and presents," Jack says.

My heart drops. I don't want to take a long drive with Hero. That would be too much!

"You okay?" Jack asks.

"Yeah..."

"You don't want to share a car with Hero." Jack states.

"It's just too much, Jack! I need some time alone to wrap my head around all this."

"I understand. Well, Lizzie can't drive anymore but maybe she can share with Hero and you can drive with me?"

I look at him with gratitude.

"That would be amazing," I whisper.

I don't want Hero to hear us because I don't want him to feel bad but I truly need some time alone.

Jack walks over to Lizzie and explains everything. Lizzie gives an understanding nod and gives me a thumbs up.

"Come on Hero, be a gentleman and help a pregnant lady up," she says when Hero arrives.

Hero walks over to her to help her.

"I do love your car!" she says. "Can I drive with you?"

Hero looks at me with longing eyes.

"Yeah, sure! I'd love some quality time with Jack," I answer.

Hero looks at me a little longer but eventually he smiles at Lizzie and opens the door so she can get in. Maybe he understands that I need some time.

"Thanks for that," I say to Jack when we're on our way.

"It's okay. I can see where you're coming from."

"Okay. Distract me," I say. "How are you? What are you doing now that you and Lizzie had to drop out of university?"

"Well, you know the app I was working on last year?"

"Oh, yeah I remember!"

"Some company bought it so I got some money and they also offered me a job!"

"Oh, that's great! Congratulations!"

"Yeah it is. The best part is that I get to work from home almost all the time. I need to go to London one week every two months but that's about it. So I will be able to help Lizzie out with the twins."

"That sounds like a very good job," I agree. "So what are Lizzie's plans?"

"She's planning to finish her degree when the twins are one year old. She's got an agreement with the university so she can pick up where she left off and she'll be able to spread her courses over three more years instead of two.

"I'm happy for her!" I reply. "I know she loves her course."

"Yeah, she does. The pregnancy was such a surprise but it's a nice one. I'm sure we can figure it out. My new job pays me well so that's a good start."

Chatting about Jack and Lizzie's future calms me down and by the time we reach Cardiff, I'm ready to see Hero again.