I stare at the ever growing collection of Blue's clothes that seem to have made their way into my wardrobe, unable to feel anything other than happy at the sight of them. When had this happened? We're not even boyfriends yet, but it feels, and looks, like we live together. It's like a gentle takeover.

"What are these?"

I frown at Blue's disembodied question, ditching my task of attempting to sort out our wardrobe, and make my way to the kitchen to see what he's talking about.

A vague sense of embarrassment washes through me at the sight of Blue holding a disposable Starbucks cup that he's found at the back of my cupboard.

"Um..."

He revolves it in his hand, his eyebrows lifting when he spots his own handwriting on the side.

"I kept the cups that made me laugh." I say sheepishly, my cheeks burning.

Blue watches the cup a while longer, his lips pursing together as he fiddles with the cardboard cup holder that sits snugly around the middle.

"I wash them! And I don't re-use them...so it's not...it's not weird..." I stutter, but he shakes his head, a small smile on his lips.

"Did you ever look on the reverse?" He asks softly, his fingers slipping the insulting cardboard holder from the cup.

I frown, shaking my head.

"Why would I?" I ask.

He smiles to himself, glancing at the inside of the cardboard circle.

"Exactly. Why would you?" He says, extending it out to me.

The outside of the holder says 'Hobgoblin' and I fondly remember the ordeal I had been going through at the time, trying to find Ledger a flat. But what catches my attention is the same grey scrawl, this time printed on the inside of the holder.

I gaze at it in disbelief, reading it again and again but it never makes any more sense.

'I missed you.'

"That's been there this whole time?" I ask quietly, glancing up at Blue.

He nods shyly, looking back at the cupboard stacked full of take-away cups.

"I can't believe you kept them." He says softly.

I look at the cups, my mind processing this newly discovered treasure for just a moment before I'm leaping forwards to grab another one.

"No!" Blue cries, his arms trying and failing to drag me away from my prize.

I tear the cardboard cover off, which outwardly reads 'You've been poisoned', and smile uncontrollably when I read 'I'll be your remedy' on the reverse.

I glance at Blue, who is beetroot red and looking like he wants the floor to swallow him whole.

"You're perfect." I say and he rolls his eyes.

He glances at the cupboard, pulling down the cup that reads 'You're just awful.'

He tugs the sleeve off, revealing his characteristic scrawl that lies hidden on the other side.

'You're simply perfect.'

"I think that's you." He mumbles.

I press my lips against his without a moments hesitation, grinning as he drops the cup to pull me further against him. He's been looking at me and thinking of me all this time and the thought makes me giddy.

I decide that it doesn't matter that we aren't official, or that his life is slowly infiltrating mine, we don't need a label to define what we have. This, this is all I need.

Nothing can touch my elated mood, and the next morning when I wander into Starbucks, I grin like a madman when I spot Blue.

I had seen him only last night, but it feels like far too long. I'm high-key obsessed with him.

My eyes trail over his body appreciatively, eating up his firm forearms and the delicious bulge of his biceps. His hair is tousled, a little longer than usual, his brows pinched in a perfect, concentrated frown. And his lips.

"Grey?"

My gaze snaps upward, my cheeks heating at his amused smirk. Caught in the act.

"My eyes are up here, gorgeous." He says, his voice ridiculously sultry as he gestures to stunning lakes of crystal blue.

"I know." I breathe.

He smiles, a breathtaking sight all on its own, and slides a cup towards me.

I look at it, picking it up and glancing at the side. I frown dejectedly when I read 'I don't like you' written in his handwriting.

Honestly, I thought we were kind of passed this stage, and as I glance up, I find myself giving him an unimpressed look. But Blue just smiles, and gestures to pull the cardboard holder down. I adjust the cup in my hands, slipping the cover off to reveal beautiful, italic letters, painted in grey on the inside.

'I love you.'

I stand very still, hardly breathing as I read it again and again, terrified the words are going to disappear. I glance upward suddenly, my intake of breath ragged as I meet an uneasy looking Blue.

He loves me?

"You do?" I croak.

He rolls his eyes dramatically, a good-natured smile overtaking his lips.

"I have for a while." He says.

"Oh." I squeak, glancing at the cup again.

But we're not even boyfriends. I wonder if that really makes any difference whatsoever? Ledger would argue that that has no relevance at all. Feelings, those are what matter. That's what he'd say. And Blue loves me.

The thought seems to break me all over again.

Blue glances at his watch, tossing his gaze over his shoulder briefly.

"Rex! Cover me, would you?" He orders.

"Why? What have you done now?" He calls back.

"I've broken Grey." He calls, glancing at me in amusement.

I can't contradict the statement.

"What did you do, dipshit?" Rex asks, sidling up next to his brother.

"Told him I love him." Blue says casually and I nearly choke on my spit.

"Oh. About time." Rex says, glancing at me.

Blue smiles, shrugging off his apron and joins me at my side. He grasps my wrist, drawing me outside with a gentle tug. I follow helplessly, still gazing at the cup in my hands.

He loves me.

I stop walking all of a sudden, gazing up at a slightly concerned looking Blue.

"I love you too." I breathe.

Blue's smile overtakes his lovely face and he laughs, caressing my cheek.

"I know." He says softly.

"How?" I demand.

He laughs properly at that, throwing his head back, and I'm entranced by the sight.

"Because of everything you do. The way you say good morning, the way you touch me like I'm the most precious thing in the world, the way your eyes light up when you see me. The way that you reach out to me, even when I've pissed you off, and how you plan your life around mine." He says and I know that he's right.

How I feel about him seeps out of me and into everything I say and do. I can't help it.

"Plus you said it in your sleep a month ago." He adds quietly and my jaw drops.

"I what?" I mumble.

Blue nods, grinning like the cat that got the cream.

"Oh my god." I cry, my face crashing into my hands.

This is it. This is how I die.

"No, no! Don't be embarrassed." Blue demands, wrapping his hands around my wrists, but I resist.

"A month ago? We were barely dating then. Nope. This is awful. Tragic. I'm going to have to move to Spain." I say hopelessly.

"Oh my god, such a drama queen." Blue mutters.

"I can't speak Spanish!" I cry, shaking my head.

"Come here." Blue demands and I relent.

"I loved hearing it, and the only thing I could wish for was that you were awake and telling me, because I love you too." He says simply, his voice hushed, for me and me alone.

"I love you." I murmur, watching his eyes light up.

"So, will you be my boyfriend?" He asks, almost nervously and I laugh, wondering why the hell I would say no.

"I'd love to." I confirm and he seems to relax completely.

"Were you more nervous to ask me to be your boyfriend than to tell me you love me?" I ask and he nods.

"Yeah. I already knew you loved me, but you might not want to be...you know, committed." He explains and I groan again.

"This is awful." I grumble, but Blue doesn't seem to agree.

"I have everything I want." He reasons, bundling me back into his arms and I sigh. When he says stuff like that, it's hard to disagree.

I have a boyfriend. Who loves me.

The thought fills me with liquid joy and I want to tell everyone. I can't wait for dates and holidays and to introduce him to my family.

That last thought doesn't float like the others though, instead filing my stomach with a sinking dread, sitting like a pebble in the middle of a vast, still lake. I'd have to tell them. I shake my head slightly, taking a shaky breath. I'm sure it will be fine. I am loved, this is a thing to be celebrated.

What could go wrong?

_

Hi gang!

I hope you've all had a lovely festive break and to celebrate 2024 coming to a close, your gal is back on the Sunday updates and giving you 2 for the price of 1. You lucky things.

I'd love to hear from you- so please comment:

1. Which brother you'd want to read about next? or are you sick of the Hayes brothers?

2. A new years resolution you've set for 2024?

3. Your favourite reading trope? (mine is grumpy sunshine, as you can probably tell)

Wishing you all a magic 2024- I hope you find everything that you're looking for.

~F