Chapter 12

Couple of hours, a soccer game to which Henry tried to explain me the rules, and couple of beers on my part later, I can feel the effect of the alcohol, while Henry looks like he is not even a tiny bit tipsy.

"I think, I should get you back to your hotel. It's already late and I know that your schedule for tomorrow is packed," he announces when I try to stifle a yawn, but without much success.

"But I like talking to you. And why are you paying again? It's my turn," I complain as he tries to pay our open tab. The first night we were here, I was able to get my way to pay. The day after he insisted on paying and yesterday, he was sneaky. He excused himself to use the bathroom but instead paid our bill.

"Dear, if a man wants to pay for your drinks and food, let him. He is old enough to know what he is doing," Grace tells me, and I shake my head.

"No. We are friends and he already paid yesterday." I try to sound stern, but it doesn't come out that way, because the owner of the pub grins at me.

"It's already too late. And especially when you are friends see it as a token of gratitude, because one usually only pays for the other if they enjoyed their company and would like to do something good for the person," she tells me motherly and pads my shoulder with her hand. "Off you go and I'll see you soon," she says before she turns around to talk to other customers.

Sighing I get up from my chair and Henry helps me to get into my jacket.

"You should really get a jacket yourself," I scold him as we make our way through the pub. A few heads turn our way, but I ignore them.

"And you should be careful about where you place your steps," he mocks me in a friendly manner when I almost trip over the cobblestones in front of the pub and he has to catch me because otherwise I would have fallen to the ground.

"Stop laughing. That's insulting," I give back when he helps me get back onto my feet.

"I must admit, the slightly drunk you is pretty hilarious."

"Do you want to tell me, that I am not funny without alcohol?" I poke my index finger against his chest and draw my eyebrows together. When I hiccup, he chuckles deeply.

"Stop it," I tell him between couple of hiccups and then I put both hands over my mouth to conceal the sound.

"My intention was not to insult you, Charlotte. Even without alcohol you are funny," he says. "Do you think you will be able to walk to the hotel? I think getting a hackney right now, might be difficult," he adds and looks at me amusedly, because these fucking hiccups don't want to stop.

"What the heck is a hackney know?"

"A cab or taxi."

"Oh," I say, and I tear open my eyes in realization and think about what he said before. "I'll have to, I guess," I add, and every single word is interrupted by a hiccup.

"What is your favorite animal?" Confused about this sudden question, I draw my eyebrows together.

"Tigers."

"What is your favorite color?"

"Yellow."

"What is your favorite flower?"

"Dandelion."

"What is your favorite song at the moment?"

"Never Gonna Not Dance Again by Pink."

He shoots every question at me without letting me have time to overthink them.

"Is your glass half full or half empty?"

"Full. Why are you asking me all of this?" I inquire jumbled.

"Because it makes you think about the answers. In the process you relax you diaphragm, and the hiccups stop," he explains to me with a smile, and I notice that they really stopped.

"Wow," I express my astonishment and it feels as if a whole new world opened to me. Henry chuckles when he notices my facial expression.

"I definitely need to get you back to your hotel," he laughs.

"But I don't want this night too end. It has been the most fun in a long time," I beg him and tug on his t-shirt. Sighing he shakes his head.

"All the pubs will be closing soon."

"But we are young. We should enjoy life!" I smile and even though he wants to keep his face stoic, he starts to grin.

"You most definitely need to go to bed." He wraps an arm around my shoulder and begins to walk with me through the neighborhood.

"I don't remember this street. Are you kidnapping me, Henry?" I ask him and turn my head almost stumbling again.

"No, I am taking you back to my place which is not far from here, because getting you back to your hotel is quite difficult right now," he tells me, and I tilt my head to the side. Sighing he removes his hand from around my shoulders. "Hop on," he instructs me after turning his back to me.

"I am not a monkey," I complain.

"Right now, you have three options. The first one is that you hop onto my back. The second one is that I carry you in my arms. The third one is that I put you over my shoulder," he says with a certain stern tone in his voice which makes me pucker my mouth.

"A piggyback ride it is," I huff, and he takes my purse from my hands and then squats a bit down so I can more or less jump onto his back and wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck.

"Was that really that difficult?" he asks as he continues to walk down the street. I notice the amused and interested glances from people around us.

"No. But now people are looking."

"I don't care," he tells me and puts his arms around my thighs and under the back of my knees.

"Have I ever told you what a great friend you are?" I ask him as I rest my cheek against his shoulder.

"You have countless times," he chuckles, and I can feel his body vibrating.

"I guess, it can't hurt to repeat it. Tell me about that woman."

"Why the sudden interest in her?"

"I want to make sure she deserves you. You are my best friend after all."

"I see."

"So?"

"What do you want to know?" he sighs loudly as the turns around a corner.

"What is she like?"

"She is intelligent and witty, but at the same time she thinks too critically about herself, even though there is no need to, because she is perfect the way she is. She is full of energy which spreads to the people around her. She makes me smile and laugh with her cheerful spirit, or when she wrinkles her nose or puckers her lips. When she is deep in thought, she likes to draw her eyebrows together."

"So have you asked her out yet?"

"Not really, but I am looking forward to spend a lot of time in the next few months."

"Is she a member of the cast?" I ask him with enthusiasm and think about all the actresses that will be on set.

"I kindly decline the answer to that question."

"Oh, she is," I giggle when we stop in front of a house, and I slide down his back. I look up the brick building. "You live here?" I ask him, when he gets his keys from his pocket.

"Yes, this is where I live when I am in London. After you," he lets me get in first and I see my favorite dog.

"Kal," I greet him and squat down to scratch him behind his ears. "I missed you buddy," I tell him when he lays down on the floor to get a belly rub. I can hear Henry chuckle behind me.

"What?" I ask him and just leans against the wall with his shoulder and looks at his dog and me.

"Nothing," he answers, when I turn back my attention to the dog.

"Have you been a good boy? Have you eaten all your food?" Henry starts to laugh loudly behind me, and Kal gets up to walk over to his owner.

"He has been the best dog that you can think of. Get your shoes off and I'll show you where you can sleep tonight." Quickly I remove my sneakers and then I follow him up the stairs.

"What's behind that door?" I ask and point back to the one next to his tiny entrance area.

"My garage. Here on the first floor is my tiny kitchen, my dining area and my living room as well as a small powder room," he tells me after I have climbed the last stair.

I turn around and I am surprised by its small size and tidiness. To me it seems as if everything in his home has a specific purpose. The large TV to watch sports or whatever he feels like. The kitchen is small but has enough space to cook large meals. The dining table that can sit four people comfortably but adding other seats would make it tight.

"I like your furniture," I tell him as we walk to the next staircase.

"On the second floor is my bedroom, closet and bathroom," he continues.

"Ugh, I forgot that you have a different system of calling your floors than we do. And why do you have so many floors in your house anyways?" I groan, and he chuckles.

"Because it is a mews house."

"Oh, this used to be a stable and on top of it the coach driver and the stableman lived," I say in realization that I am in a historical building. But who am I kidding, almost everything in London is historical.

"Correct. When I bought it, I renovated it and expanded the roof into the second floor to create more space," he explains when we reach the top floor.

"There is only one bed?" I state matter-of-factly and look at it.

"I'll sleep on the settee – sorry the couch – in the living room."

"No, I'll take the couch. I am not kicking you out of your own bed and deprive you of restful sleep," I argue.

"Charlotte, I can survive a night on the couch. It wouldn't be the first time." We stare at each other fighting a mental battle.

"Since neither of us wants the other to sleep on the couch, we should both just sleep here," I suggest after what feels like hours but probably were just seconds.

"I don't think that that is a good idea, Charlotte," he sighs and scratches the back of his head.

"Why? Are you afraid, that I would jump on top of you in your sleep. We are friends, Henry. Friends can share a bed without anything happening," I tell him and tilt my head to the side. Sighing he closes his eyes.

"Okay," he agrees, and I smile at him happily that we were able to find a compromise. Then he walks into a room and after a few moments he returns with a t-shirt, a pair of long sweatpants and socks in his hands.

"Here, so you can change into something more comfortable to sleep in, because I don't think that you would want to sleep in your jeans and a blouse." Gratefully I accept the clothing. "You can get changed in the bathroom. There should be a spare toothbrush still packed underneath the sink. If you want to take a shower, there are towels in the cabinet next to it. I'll go on a quick walk with Kal in the meantime," he tells me, and I nod slowly.

"Just try not to hurt yourself while you are alone," he laughs and then turns around to leave me alone.

I quickly figure out how to use his shower which is amazing, brush my teeth afterwards and get dressed in his clothes that are way too big on me. I have to roll up the ends of the sweatpants so I can walk normally. His t-shirt feels more like a loose dress and reaches to the middle of my thighs. Standing in front of his bed, I try to figure out on which side to sleep on.

Shrugging my shoulders, I slip in the bed on the right side and pull the blanket up. It smells like him. With my eyes closed I try to find a comfortable position which I am able to after a couple of attempts.

I am drifting to sleep when I can hear him coming upstairs quietly. I notice him getting clothes from his closet and then walking over to his bathroom. The sound of running water tells me that he takes a shower. After couple of minutes, he opens the door to the bathroom again and he walks toward the stairs.

"I thought we made a compromise," I tell him drowsy, and I can hear him sigh. Then he turns around and walks over to the bed. I can hear the rustling of the blanket's fabric and then I can feel the mattress dipping when he sits and then lays down next to me. I turn around so I look in his direction. Since the whole room is dark, I can't make out his features.

"Thanks for taking care of my slightly drunk self."

"Stop thanking me for everything. Let's just sleep," he sighs deeply.

"Okay," I say and turn back around and close my eyes.