After the minor hiccup at the beginning of the week in Italy, the rest of it went fucking fantastic. I finished the last small things I had to do while there and spent every second I could with Muriel. It was almost like no time had gone by between us and we slipped easily back into being best friends. Only now, there were many perks to the relationship. If I could put it mildly, I was as happy as a fucking clam.

I finally got the girl of my dreams, and she finally stopped fighting me. Of course, Murry still wished to keep our affair private, and I am completely fine with that request because I know with me comes a lot more than just a man. And I know accepting that is a lot for someone to take on, especially someone as private as Muriel. But I'd be an idiot if I forced her to go public with me. I finally got her, I won't be doing anything to mess it up.

When we arrived back in London, Murry was adamant that keep up the pretense of still only being friends. Although, I'm sure Mum and Dad are completely aware of the change in our relationship. The only one oblivious to it is Maggie, which is fine because once Maggie knows the world will know. 

I know my sister doesn't mean to flap her gob at everything, but she's excitable, like myself in that regard. However, I know Murry would be more inclined to have my balls rather than my sister's if word was to spread. So, we decide to keep everything a secret. Meaning sometimes Murry talks me into returning to my flat alone to save face. 

Being away only makes me desire her even more. The second night she basically forced me out of my own parents' house at night and I tried my hand at late-night sexting, but she adorably had no idea what I was doing. Despite dealing with serious withdrawals from being separated by Muriel at night, it gave me time to plan a date. I wanted to take her out properly however, given our situation, my options for a date were limited.

So, I decided to throw together my little DIY date within the privacy of my flat.

"You need to disappear, mate," I say pouring the waffle batter into the waffle iron I had Denise pick me up from the shops earlier this morning.

"Honestly, Murry won't even know I'm here--"

"Absolutely not, your nosey arse will butt in. And I will not have you dropping in." I clamp the waffle iron shut and the smell of the sweet batter cooking fills the large kitchen. I twist around grabbing all the bowls from the cabinet and begin dishing the fresh fruit- also courtesy of Denise, into them. 

Stewart groans loudly and fixes his hat to his head and heads to the front door, "You're lucky, man. If you hadn't been whipped for this bird since we were kids I'd tell you to piss off."

"I've no idea what you're talking about." I give him a charming smile and he rolls his eyes, fully aware of the fact that I've managed to get out of the friend zone after what feels like an eternity. Stewart's not a total idiot, but he has seen the smug grin that's been on my face since I've returned from Italy, and he knows Murry and I have been together basically twenty-four-seven minus a few times at night. It's obvious I've been more than satisfied.

"Pfft. I'm out, later Olls." He leaves finally, and I race around the kitchen making a complete mess but decide to keep on with my plan. I still need a shower, to shave, and make sure my room doesn't smell like balls before Murry get's here. I'll blame the sorry state of the kitchen on Stewart.

I finish with the thin waffles and plate them, then throw the fruit into the fridge. Racing upstairs I begin shoving all the clothes and shit under the bed and inside the closet. My phone dings from my jogger pocket so I grab it quickly and my chest warms when I see Murry as texted me.

M: I'll be there in fifteen minutes. 🥰 Do you need me to grab anything? 

Me: No, babe. I've got everything handled.

Everything is handled besides smelling like shit and my room still a complete disaster. 

I toss the phone to my bed, then lift the sheets and take a whiff to be sure they don't wreak. Thankfully, they are about the only thing that doesn't stink in my room so I haphazardly try to make the bed and go into the large bathroom to start the shower while I power on my automatic razor. I shave and shower, and throw some hair shit into my hair, and grab some pants and a button-up t-shirt mum got me for Christmas last year. It's stupid looking, but if mum picked it, I'm sure Murry will like it. I spray myself, admittedly a little too much, with cologne and decide to give the room a few spritz's as well.

Just as I finish shoving the last item under the bed, I hear my phone vibrate and the house beep alerting to someone entering in the code to unlock the front door. 

I rush out and spot Murry stepping inside while I take the stairs two at a time. 

"Hey!" She smiles up at me, her eyes quickly scanning my stupid shirt while I expertly hide the fact that she's sucked the air right from my lungs.

"Ello', Gorgeous." She's bloody beautiful. She kills me in these summer dresses. She's wearing a sleeveless dress with straps that flutter, and the print is a light beige checkered print. Of course, it hides the curves I know she has, but it's still beautiful. 

She blushes and sniffs the air, "It smells yummy in here."

Thankfully, the sweaty bollock smell I'd smelt earlier has been taken over by the smell of the sweet waffles. "I hope you're hungry, cause I slaved over this all morning."

She giggles and shakes her head, "Liar. You said you'd just got out of bed an hour ago."

I descend the rest of the stairs and give her my best smile and repeat, "I hope you're hungry, cause I slaved over this for an hour." 

We walk through the open living area with the sparse furniture and enter the kitchen where I put my acting skills to the test, "My God, fucking Stewart. What a dick for leaving it like this." Sure, I should have wiped the counters because by now the waffle batter I'd spilled has hardened and there are dishes all over the place. Murry lifts a brow, and crosses her arms, seeing right through my bullshit. 

"Oliver, I know this mess is from you." She laughs, so I take her elbow and lead her out the back balcony area where I know is actually clean and pull out one of the chairs. 

"Stay here." I instruct when she doesn't immediately sit. She smiles and takes a seat crossing her legs and kicks her little foot.

I rush into the kitchen and remove the bowled fruit from the fridge and shove some shit from the counters out of my way, then pull the thin waffles from the microwave and lay everything out. I remove the giant bucket of ice cream from the freezer and begin scooping out large round scoops into a bowl, "Okay! You can come in."

Murry steps back inside and smiles wide, "Oh my Gosh! I love this." She skips a step and goes to the counter eyeing all the toppings. "This is so cute."

"Yes, I know." I gloat and slide a large salad bowl over to her so she can decide on her toppings.

I grab another bowl for me and her eyes go wide, "Ollie, I can't eat all of this. You've given me like ten scoops."

"Oh."

"We can share." She decides and starts to eye all the toppings I've set out on the cluttered counter. I can eat ten scoops myself, but I rather like the idea of sharing with her, so I set the ice cream bucket back into the freezer and quickly put some crap on top of it to hide it from Stewart. That wanker and I have gotten in some serious roommate rows due to Ice cream. 

"I think I want all the toppings." She says looking up at me with those pretty blue eyes to be sure it's alright and I nod realizing I should have set spoons out, but she doesn't hesitate and begins sprinkling the fruit, rainbow sprinkles, and crumbles the waffle into pieces on top.  

I dig out two spoons and grab the forgotten chocolate syrup and whipped cream from the fridge Denise had also grabbed from me this morning and watch her add both as well, then we head back out to the balcony and take a seat.

"Did you come up with this idea by yourself?" She asks me spooning out a bite of ice cream with a beaming smile.

"I did." I was craving ice cream last night, so that prompted the idea. I'm either thinking with my gut or my cock and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

"I'm impressed." She thins her eyes while sucking the ice cream from her spoon, and my dick twitches. Seriously, this woman is the most intoxicating thing on the planet. "I wanted to talk to you about something." She adds, and I prepare myself for having my world tumble down. "I've got some good news and great news." She says, the sudden surge of anxiety cools.

"Oh?" I ask, quickly filling my mouth with a large spoon full to be sure I'm forced to watch what I say instead of blurting something right out like a fool.

"Well, I was texting Ty last night and he's coming back again for a few days--"

"Oh joy." I chide with my mouthful. I don't like sharing Murry with my annoying brother. 

She giggles and then begins again. "And, I finally got an email back from the Red Cross. They said they have an opening for a tour in two weeks as well as another in November." 

"Two weeks?" I swallow the ice cream but she holds up a hand.

"I know, I declined that one. But, I wanted to talk to you about the one in November. I thought since you'd be filming, it would be...Perfect for me to accept it."

I wipe my mouth with my hand realizing I left her and I without any napkins and nod once. 

"Of course, I'd be angry if you didn't take it."

"I know, but before you say that it's from November to April. Five months." 

Well, fuck.

I screw my mouth shut, before I let a slew of words come out like vomit and instead press my lips together, "I see."

Filming ends in January. And I'd even have a two week break for the Holidays. If Murry were to take this Mission Trip she'd be gone through out filming, Holidays, and possibly my birthday. "What day in April would you be back?"

She bites on the right side of her mouth, the guilt answering my thoughts of her and I being together for my birthday. "April 15th. I don't have to accept it if you-"

"No, no, no." I scoop her hand across from me and cut her off to be sure she doesn't have a chance to complete that sentence. I'd never make her chose between me and her work. It blows fucking hard, yes. But she loves this, and this is what she wants to do for her career. I need to support it one hundred and ten percent. "You should accept it. We can celebrate my birthday when you get back."

"Really? I-I mean are you sure? I know five months is asking a lot and we just started doing this."

"I'm positive. I want you to take it. Besides, I'll be busy until January so technically it'll be only like 3 months of waiting around for you. And that's nothing compared to the last fifteen plus years of my life."

Her lips stretch into large smile and she stands from the chair kissing me sweetly. 

"Thank you, Ollie."

"Of course. I'm happy for you." I am, I really am happy for her. I'm just spoiled and want her around all the time so I'll ignore the disappointment brewing in my stomach and leave it for when she's gone. She sits back down and grabs her spoon, "Do you know where you'd be going yet?"

"Yes, I've gone once before actually. It's in Colombia."

My surprise must show on my face, because I am confused as to why a Red Cross Aid worker would be needed there. "We'd be tending to the families hit by the Mexican cartels. Mostly supplies and--"

"Woah, woah. Hold the fuck on. Mexican Cartels?"

Murry's brows furrow and she sets her spoon down, confused at my sudden confusion. "Yes, Colombia is a country that suffers from the drug cartels. Actually, there was an arrest recently that's caused the cocaine business to sort of implote so--"

"Oh, well, that's conferting." I say with full sarcasm. How the hell don't I know this? And why the hell would she be going to some fucking Cartel run country? "You've been before?"

"Yes." She narrows her eyes, clearly seeing how put off I am by this. "This is part of the job. Especially for the aid workers that are medically trained. We give medical supplies and training to the communities that have been hit by the cartels."

"This doesn't make me feel any better about it, Murry. This sounds dangerous...Henry knows about this?"

She drops the spoon into the melting ice cream bowl and sits up straight, "What does my father have to do- actually, no. We aren't going to go there. It's nothing to worry about Ollie. We aren't going into a military outpost, we are going to small communities to help. The chances of running into the cartel is nearly slim to none. Especially now, with the arrest of Montoya." 

I don't want to be that guy like Jeremy-fucking-Reynolds, I really don't. But I don't like this. Why can't she go to...I don't know Austrailia or something? 

"Honestly, I promise there's nothing to worry about." Her face softens and she gives me a smile.

"Okay." I force myself to say. I need to accept this. This is her career, this is what she loves.

"Okay." She smiles and settles back grabbing the spoon from the bowl and begins scooping up a melting mixture. While, I have suddenly lost my appetite.

"Wow, you cleaned your room." Murry says as we step inside my room. 

We've spent the last hour cleaning up the mess I made in the kitchen earlier. I wanted to leave everything, however Murry said she'd clean it up with or without my help, so I pissed and moaned the entire time and helped her clean up, sort of.

"I did." It's a lie, but hell anything I can say to impress this girl I'll take selfishly.

"Again, I'm impressed Ollie." She wanders around and I stand back and watch her.

I mean, we both know why we are in here.

If she'd let me sneak into her room at Mum's and Dad's we wouldn't bothering with even coming in my room here at my place, but the girl doesn't want to 'be rude' and have sex with me at my parents house. Which is fucking weird considering how many times I've banged a girl there.

Murry checks me over her shoulder and then bends at the waist and peeks under the bed lifting the duvet to expose all the shit I've stuffed under there. "Busted!" She laughs dropping to her knees and breaking into a harder laugh. 

"What the hell are you checking under my bed for? Fucking weirdo." 

"You do know I know you're like the worlds messiest person, right?" She says dropping to her knees and smiling at me from the spot on the floor. "There's no shame, Ollie. It's who you are."

"Right, cheers babe. You're calling me a mess?" Seriously, what a dick.

She laughs and shakes her, "No, not you - you're room. Here and at Jane and George's. You know," She pushes herself up, "A messy room is a sign of a genius."

"Now you're trying to stroke my wounded pride." I say, hoping if I act as if she's truly hurt my feelings she'll be more inclined to stroke something else. She laughs her laugh that makes my stomach flutter and I smile as she comes over to me putting her arms around my waist, causing the flutters to do somersaults. 

"When does Stewart come back?" Her voice suddenly quieter and her big blue eyes dreamier. 

"Oh, babe are you trying to seduce me?" I tease her because I can't help myself.

"Perhaps?" Her rosy cheeks burn and she lifts to her tip toes. My hands gather her thick her at the nape of her neck and I tug on it slightly bringing her head up and her pink lips closer to mine. "Is it working?" She asks even more quieter. 

"Oh, yes. It's totally working." I admit and wrap her hair tighter around my fist and give it a playful pull to see her reaction. She gasps then tries to hide it by pulling me down to her lips, but I can't help but keep smiling...cause I know she liked it.

I wanted a light-hearted chapter. And the next one is as well!

What do we think of Murry leaving for five months? They are used to distance so I think they've got it in the bag...right?