Once back at the Thomas house, I used the majority of my energy to attempt and ignore the anger I had for Mom and Dad getting back together.

I mean, he's only be moved out for a little over a month! He only just started his sentence and Mom is accepting him back after a mere month has gone by?

If she saw what I did and heard the filthy words coming from his mouth she would not be accepting him back so quickly. Those filthy words were spoken by someone who did not simply cheat that one and only time. Those words were said by someone who has been cheating for an incredibly long time. She shouldn't be accepting my father back in her life whatsoever.

I know it isn't my choice, and it is hers. But how is it possible to be truly happy in that relationship and marriage when that trust has been severed? In my opinion, I agree entirely with the saying 'Once A Cheater Always A Cheater.' When and if I speak to my father again, there is no way I'm going to allow him to manipulate me into thinking it was a one-time mistake. 

"Everything alright, Trouble?" Ollie appears next to me with a beer in hand while I sit quietly and listen to everyone speaking loudly. My new nickname he's given me causes me to smirk, but I answer him with a simple nod. Ollie takes a seat next to me and glances around.

He speaks quietly, "Is it about your Mom and Dad?" I knew there would be no hiding it from him. I mentioned it the moment I got back from lunch with Gemma and Mom and I know it's been obvious I've been in a bad mood since.

"It's fine." I shake my head, not wanting him to worry about me stressed about a decision I have no control over. "I'll get over it."

"I'm sorry, Murry. It's absolute balls to be fair."

I inhale a deep breath and grab his hand. My fingers thread between his and the lightning bolt zips up my arm into my chest like it does every time I touch him. I hadn't intentionally reached and held his hand, I only meant to give him a thankful squeeze for his attempt at comforting me, but our hands stay interlocked, and our fingers tangle around each other. 

My gaze lifts to Ollie's and he's grinning ear-to-ear, looking like the Cheshire Cat himself. "Thought we were 'just friends' when we have an audience?" He teases me. So I drop his hand and hide my own pleased smile pulling at my lips and look away to the lively group. My eyes meet Gemma who is staring at me with her eyes wide to perfect circles as Maggie talks away beside her.

'Oh my God.' Gemma mouths from across the stoop from us. 

I shake my head to brush off the clear handholding she had just witnessed and yawn.

"I'm tired," I admit, noting that Mom and Gemma are still wirey from not being used to the time difference despite the nap and red-eye flight from earlier today. 

"Mmm. My room or yours?" Ollie asks, humor dripping from his voice. I want to kick him, but I just chuckle and continue watching our families conversing and laughing as they catch up.

"We are to be on our best behaviors, Oliver Thomas." I give him a stern glare, and he scoffs loudly.

He takes a sip from the long-neck beer and mutters, "Yeah - okay. You want it as bad if not more than I do."

"I do not." I totally do.

I mean he's perfect.

My heart expands and warms my chest and I wish I could tell him how I feel. I want to hope he feels the same. I have a hunch he does, but it is still terrifying admitting it, and he hasn't admitted it for years if he does love me, so I suppose I'll be the one to do it.

It's clear I never was close to being in love with Jeremy. Because I never had this overwhelming urge to want to say it. It's like the word is building up inside and soon I'm going to burst like a balloon if I don't get it out. 

"Can we talk Ollie?" I hear myself ask before I realize I've said it.

His brows furrow nervously and he lowers the beer bottle to rest on his thigh, "Yeah. What's wrong?"

"Nothing, sorry. Do you want to go inside for a second?" I ask standing fixing my jean shorts.

"That depends, am I in trouble?" He asks. It's clear for a second he might consider that he actually is in trouble, but it passes and his eyes glint with green mischief.

"You're always in trouble, Oliver." We are both in equal trouble if he feels the same as I do.

"Well then," He stands from the chair quickly, "I'm ready for my punishments." I cringe and glance around quickly to be sure no one has heard his flirtatious comment.

"Ollie, God. Shut up."

He takes a long swig and gives me a charming smile and shrugs. "Lead the way, Trouble."

We slip away with a few questions by his parents and my mom but he makes up some excuse that they fully believe while I debate about how to go about this.

Do I simply just say it? Or do I lead into it?

Inside, it's warmer and the house still smells of the wonderful BBQ food we are a little bit ago. Only a few lights are on since all of us have been spending all of our time outside as the sun has set.

"Right then. I am ready." Ollie says grinning and pops the fridge open searching inside for his next meal.

"Would you stop thinking about food for two seconds? I want to talk to you about something important."

"Oh, sorry. I fully thought you wanted to bring me in here to fool around." He sets whatever he's grabbed back in the fridge and closes the door, "Sorry, babe. What is it you wanted to talk about it-"

"Holy shit!" Ty cries out. Then we hear a high-pitched howl, "Phew!" Ty comes strutting down the hallway and appears in the kitchen, slightly surprised to see Ollie and me. "Fucking hell! I just destroyed the downstairs toilet-- What's up you two?" He steps into the kitchen rubbing his stomach.

Oh my Gosh, thanks a lot, Ty.

"Fucks sake, Bruv. You good?" Ollie asks him truly concerned for his brother's wellbeing.

"Yeah, you know BBQ does a number on me every time, what are you lot doing in here?" Ty stops and leans against the kitchen island bobbing his brows at me.

"You are so stupid," I tell him. I will not confess my feelings to Ollie after this interruption. No way.

He stands straight and feigns as if his heart is breaking and holds his chest, "Ouch. Thanks, Mur. But don't you worry, I will cover for you lot so you can get your kicks in before you'll be sharing a room with Gemma. You're welcome." He struts out giving me a wink then exits yelling loudly when he steps outside.

"Do you see why I can't stand him?" Ollie gives me a smile and his hands grab and skirt around my waist.

I can't help but giggle and push his hands off my waist but he tangles his fingers between mine and pulls me back into his chest.

"We need to behave," I tell him, but my stomach and lady parts are fluttering like crazy.

"I intend to be punished, Muriel. Over and over again." His soft lips press against mine and I kiss him back.

"Do you?" I tease him speaking against his lips,  giggling, and reach up to use his neck to aid with pulling myself to my tip-toes.

"Oh yes." His hands circle around my bum and squeezes it roughly. "I suspect you'll need a few spankings yourself."

I giggle again and grip his black shirt and walk back towards the hallway to get this man upstairs. "Only spankings? I can think of a few other things I'd like you to do to me."

His eyes widen and he practically begins to drool. I've been trying to be flirtatious and sexy and with that PG-13 comment, I see I've gotten a pretty good reaction.

"Bloody hell," Ollie breathes out, and just to really amaze him I grip his shirt and spin him to the wall and forcefully shove him against it.

To my surprise, he bangs loudly against the wall and laughs, but goes with it and kisses me. I lift to my toes again and this time his hands press against my breasts. I swirl my tongue around his own thankful for Ty and his promise to keep our family at bay-.

"What in the fuck!?"

Dad?

I gasp and shove away from Ollie and we both stare at Dad who drops his suitcase in total shock with the front door wide open.

Oh, no, no, no

"D-Dad?"

"What the HELL is going on in here!" Dad bellows, his nostrils flared and his face bright red with anger. I'm mortified. So completely embarrassed he'd seen what Ollie and I were just doing.

"Henry, hold on-" Ollie starts and steps towards him, slightly stepping in front of me.

"You do not speak to me!" Dad charges straight down the hall and comes straight up to Ollie grabbing him by the collar and shoves him back against the wall I just had him against.

"Oh my God, Dad! Stop!" I scream, unable to even think straight with everything happening so fast.

"Don't fucking grab me," Ollie growls and shoves the grip Dad has on shirt off, "I'm sorry you saw that-"

"No! Shut your fucking mouth, Oliver." Dad spins to me and glares down at me, "Muriel, is this what you've been spending your time doing? Acting like a complete whore with him?"

Instantly, my eyes fill with tears, and I feel so incredibly embarrassed and hurt by the word that's come out of my father's mouth. 

"Don't you call her that, I swear to God, Henry.-" Ollie steps again between Dad and I and I grip his arm and squeeze his hand tightly. Dad glares at him like he actually might kill him then looks down at our hands gripped tightly.

"Henry?" Mom's voice fills the hall, and I look over my shoulder seeing both our families have come inside, most likely due to the loud yelling. 

"Do you know what I've just seen, Jolene?" Dad asks speaking to the group behind us and I want to disappear because he's about to out us in the worst and most embarrassing way.

"Henry, let's take this down a notch, yeah mate?" George asks calmly and Dad scoffs loudly, returning his heated gaze to Ollie and I.

"Easy for you to say, George. You didn't just witness your daughter's tongue down his throat and his hands all over her."

Oh Godddd

"Mur?" I hear absolute confusion come from Maggie, "You and Ollie are...?"

"Henry, honey- let's calm down." Mom attempts and the name causes me to suddenly have zero fucks to give about being embarrassed. 

"Calm down? Is this what you allow to happen under your roof, George? They're practically having sex in the Goddamn hallway!"

"They're consenting adults, Henry." Jane chimes in loudly.

Ollie steps closer to him and speaks sternly but also calm, "I'm sorry you witnessed that, I really am. But I-"

"You just couldn't help yourself could you, Oliver? I'll bet you were so pleased with yourself once you saw her arrive here completely deflated and lost."

"It wasn't like that, you know I've been in love with your daughter for years."

What? I was supposed to say it! And now everything is getting messed up because of my fucking father!

"In love?" Dad laughs angrily and looks him up and down, clearly disgusted with Ollie, "Please. You can proclaim love all you want Ollie, but you'll never be good enough for her."

"Henry," I hear George growl a warning, but I can't help myself.

"That's enough!" I yell and shove my hands against dad's chest as hard as I can. He trips back and I hear someone gasp from down the hall. "He is good enough for me, you're the one who is the disgrace here, Dad. Why are you even here?! You're not welcome!"

"You will not speak to me like this, young lady." Dad's voice raises loudly but I refuse to cower down and continue to glare up at him.

"You're a fucking piece of shit, Dad." I tell him so only he can hear, and this causes him to take pause. His blue eyes quiver but his clenched jaw flexes and he shakes his head.

"You are risking everything you've worked for for him."

"No, I'm risking the future you worked for for him." I gesture over my shoulder to Ollie who I know is behind me. "Be happy you didn't walk into something worse. I'd hate for you to see me bent over a fucking desk."

Again, I'm speaking low so I know Mom is spared from the details. 

"You need to leave." I deadpan glaring up at him, feeling like I'm invincible. 

"I can't... I want my family back." He shakes his head.

"Henry, we discussed this. You were meant to give us space." Mom says.

"I miss you, all of you." Dad looks to them, then to me. Looking for the first time in my life like someone who knows they've lost everything. "I made a horrible mistake, but I need my girls back, please." His voice cracks and I shake my head and turn returning to Ollie, hugging his arm to my torso.

"Muriel is welcome in our home," George speaks from the group. "If she allows you to stay you can stay."

Dad's defeated eyes gaze into mine and I glare back. 

"I can't be here with him here, I just can't." I shake my head and speak to George as well as Mom and Gemma.

I'm not falling for Dad's bullshit. I'm not going to allow him sympathy with this 'poor me' act. 

"Ollie, I can't be here," I tell him, the adrenaline of everything that's just occurred coming down and bombarding me with the fact that now everyone knows about Ollie and I. Granted, I'm sure they had an idea, but this is all humiliating. 

"Okay, you can stay at my place." He speaks softly and pulls my hand up to his chest.

"Absolutely not!" Dad cries out, "This is fucking ridiculous! I do not condone this or these two together."

"No one fucking cares about your opinion, Dad!" I scream at him then shove past and swing around the banister jogging upstairs. 

"Oi! Hold on, Murry!" Ollie calls behind me as I run up the third staircase as I hear arguing continue downstairs. 

I am humiliated. The whore comment, telling everyone what he had seen with Ollie and me, him being a completely ignorant asshole to Ollie. I want to get the Hell out of here.

"Babe, stop, talk to me." Ollie says on my heels when I get to my room and grab my suitcase.

"I need to get out of here, I can't be around that asshole." I say loudly, angry that the tears are building in my eyes because I'm fuming.

"You can stay at my place, we'll leave right now. Slow down." He grabs my wrist after I've thrown some clothes into the suitcase still unpacked from Italy. 

"No. He's going to pop in every chance he gets, he's going to poison and manipulate everything. He already is! Do you hear him down there? He's fucking embarrassing." As I'm speaking, we can hear my Dad arguing two floors down.

"Okay, fair. Where do you want to go? And we'll go."

"I don't know. I just want to get out of this house and get as far away from that man as possible."

Coming down from the adrenaline has me shaking all over and I'm upset and angry, but Ollie comforts me by pulling me into his chest and lays his head on top of my hair, and rocks me back and forth, "That was not at all how I wanted everything to come out, by the way."

"I know." Ugh, Dad ruined everything. My eyes burn and I bury my face into Ollie's chest. "Let's get out of here?"

"Where ever you want to go, Trouble."

😬 oh my LOL

Bloody Henry! Always screws everything up.

Give me your thoughts on everything. Ty being an adorable idiot.

Murry actually showing some progress in the vixen department.

Henry's interruption. You all called it two chapters ago! I couldn't believe it! Ha

Ollie's admitting his feelings for Muriel, oops. Lmao

Thanks for reading!