Chapter 18 ~ Liam

“But isn’t like too soon?” Harry asks looking at me and I roll my eyes. For starters, I don’t understand why they are here in my place when they should be in their homes, getting rest. Sometimes they act like such old ladies, always gossiping.

“I guess so, but don’t make me nervous, Hazza. I have enough with my own insecurities,” I reply checking my reflection on the mirror for what it seems like the millionth time. “Plus, if it’s not now it will have to be until she comes back and that will be in months,” I add fixing my plaid shirt again.

“And we all know that they may not be together in a month,” Louis says offhandedly and I turn around to glare daggers at him.

“Lou, that’s not funny,” Zayn reprehends the Doncaster boy and he only chuckles.

Tonight I’m going to meet Darcy’s mother and yes, I’m dead nervous about it but I know it means a lot to her and Lizzie, plus she really wants to meet me. My girlfriend has made sure to let me know that. Her mum is back from one of her trips and she’ll be staying for three weeks only, after that she’ll leave again and her daughters won’t see her again in several months.

Darcy and I haven’t been together for too long, a bit more than two weeks and yes, it seems awfully soon to meet her mother, but it’s not like I can meet her in a few more weeks because I’m too scare to know her now. I’m not a scaredy-cat, I can do this. It’s just a normal dinner and Darcy has told me not to worry, that her mum already loves me and it’s dying to meet me, that it’s her who should be worry considering that probably her mum will say something to embarrass her.

“Oh, c’mon! We all know it’s a miracle they have lasted so long!” The blue-eyed boy keeps teasing and I’m not sure why he does that, but he loves messing with me and the possibility that Darcy may break up with me.

Instead of answering, Niall hit him with his bag of crisps and resume eating right away. “That’s what you get for being a teaser,” the Irish boy comments with his mouth full. “Don’t worry, Lilipooh.” Again, I cringe at that pet name. “It’s gonna be fine, don’t forget to eat a lot.”

I sigh. It’s true that the boys are more concerned about me lately, making sure I’m eating properly and getting rest. I really need a break, I get tired easily now and I just want to go back to my bed and sleep for three days, but I always have something to do.

Brit is fine, the vet said she’s healthy and perfect, but she keeps sticking by my heels, always following me when I’m home, never leaving my side. She looks sad and she doesn’t eat unless I’m eating as well. I guess she’s just taking care of me as the guys are.

“Yes, it’s gonna be fine,” I say out loud to convince myself, too. I can’t stop shaking. “And guys, honestly, you should be home. I don’t need you here.”

“Oi! We just wanted to give you support before you had to go through this. It’s a traumatic experience,” Niall jokes and I laugh shaking my head.

“Leave everything close and Nialler, don’t eat all my food. I have to eat, too,” they just salute as they are getting used to do.

Shaking my head again, I say goodbye to Brit kissing her head and grab my jacket to leave my place. I really hope it’s going to be a good night.

* * *

“Liam!” Lizzie greets me with a huge hug running to me. I catch her when she throws herself at me and I spin her around a couple of times as I kiss her cheek. I haven’t seen this little girl in a long time and it’s incredible how much she has grown on me.

I put her on her feet and I look up to meet eyes with Darcy. She’s smiling, like every time she sees someone treating Lizzie right. When her eyes are on me, and only me, her look softens and a different smile plays on her lips, a shy one. I leave Lizzie’s side to walk over to where she is and softly I put my hand on her waist and leans in to peck her lips. I wish I could kiss her more deeply, but Lizzie is looking and maybe her mum is nearby. But I’ve missed her so much and I just want to hold her tightly and make up for the time we haven’t had together.

I look in her eyes and I know she’s missed me too, I can see the same desire to be closer, to just forget about the rest.

“Oh my, is this the lovely lad that has stolen my daughter’s heart?” I heard a feminine voice asking and I break the eye contact with Darcy to look over to her shoulder a beautiful woman, very similar to Lizzie, with a kind and warm smile and the same dimples as Darcy’s. Her eyes are like Lizzie’s as well and she seems so full of joy and energy.

She’s not a fancy woman, she’s more casual. Her clothes are simple and comfortable and I notice she likes earthy colours. She approaches to me with a big smile and kind eyes and I sense Darcy tensing next to me, which like a domino effect, get’s me all tensed up.

“You must be Liam, am I wrong? I’m Maggie, it’s really nice to meet you,” she greets me shaking my hand and her smile never leaving her lips. “My daughters have told me so much about you, I’m really glad you could make it.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” I reply politely, my own smile on my lips. “You have wonderful daughters.”

Maggie looks at Darcy and Lizzie –who’s next to her older sister– and her smile is so proud it’s hard to describe. But there’s not only pride in her eyes, I see longing and some regret and I guess it’s because she can’t be with her daughters as much as she would like.

“They are the most important thing in my life,” Maggie answers almost in a whisper before her eyes come back to focus on me. “I hope you’re hungry because I’ve made a lot of food and you know Darcy already. I love cooking but she never eats all the things I make for her.” Darcy shakes her head at her mother’s complaints and passes an arm over Lizzie’s shoulders. “Lizzie, come with me, I need you to help me with the final details. We’ll leave you alone a few minutes. I guess you have a lot of things to catch up.” Her tone is secretive and that makes Darcy’s cheeks turn the colour of Lizzie’s dress –a lovely pink dress–, but when Maggie winks it seems like Darcy wants to crawl to a hole and die.

Lizzie and Maggie leave us alone and Darcy is still looking down, completely embarrassed but she looks so cute it makes my heart feel warmer. I step closer and wrap my arm around her to pull her against my body, surprising her a little bit.

“I’ve missed you,” I tell her before she can say something. “Very much.”

“Me too,” she replies relaxing in my arms and taking her arms to my neck. “How are you feeling?” She asks next knowing that these past few days have been exhausting for me.

“Now I’m so much better but I know one way to make me feel even better.” She looks at me with real concern and interest in her eyes, so honest and innocent, she she doesn’t get my real intention with my words. “If you kiss me I’m sure I’ll feel like new,” I clarify and her eyes widen when she understands, next second she’s smiling adorably with her cheeks still a bit rosy.

Without uttering a single word, she stands on her tiptoes until her lips meet mine. Softly and tenderly, I kiss her back wrapping my arms more tightly around her small waist, bringing her even closer. I just love the way she feels in my arms, how perfectly I feel her body against mine while our lips move in sync as the world goes out of focus around us and everything becomes only us. It’s incredible and kind of scary how intensely Darcy makes me feel when we kiss or when she looks me in the eyes.

Slowly, she pulls apart though I could kiss her the whole night and still I wouldn’t have enough. When she looks at me, her eyes are sparkling with happiness and her lips look so tempting, naturally rosy, calling me to kiss them again.

“Do you feel better now?” Asks Darcy playing with my short hairs at the back of my neck.

“Incredible better, but maybe you should kiss me again just to make sure everything is fine with me,” I tease and she giggles.

“I would but dinner is waiting and you also need to eat, mister. Let’s go,” she says and I pout whilst she pulls away and takes my hands when these slide off of her waist naturally. She looks at me and giggles again at my expression. “I swear sometimes you can be so childish. Then the websites say you’re the more mature of the band but I’m doubting that.” Her tone is playful and light so I just keep pouting like a little boy. “Okay,” she agrees and leans in to peck my lips one more time but I grab her face in my hands keeping her from pulling away and kissing her deeper. “Cheater,” she accuses me when I let her go though I know she’s not mad at me, not a little bit.

“I can be a bad boy, too,” I joke and she giggles again.

“Okay, Bad boy, let’s go before Mum decides to come here for us and say something embarrassing.” Darcy takes my hand and we entwine our fingers together and walk in the same direction that Maggie and Lizzie left minutes ago.

Whilst I’m holding Darcy’s hand I don’t feel nervous anymore, plus, Maggie seems like a really cool mum and I think things will go great tonight. I will probably learn a lot about Darcy and that keeps me practically bouncing on my heels. I always want to know more about her, to know all those little things about her that make her the girl she is. I want to know more about when she was a little girl and I’m sure Maggie is eager to share those moments of her firstborn child. Plus, I really want to know more about what geologists do.

By the time we get to the dining room, Lizzie is helping Maggie to bring the food and when they see us their mother smiles at us meaningfully and I look at Darcy from the corner of my eye and I see her blushing again. I don’t think she has brought a boyfriend before and that thought makes me feel great, special, knowing that I’m the first guy she wants to meet her mum.

“Please, sit. We don’t want the food to get cold, do we?” Maggie states putting the big plate with what it seems a delicious duck.

We take our places around the table and I’m right next to Darcy, Lizzie is across her and Maggie is at the head of the table between her two daughters. The food smells delicious and I feel hungry –really hungry– for the first time in weeks.

“So, Liam. Has Darcy told you about that time when she wanted to be Catwoman?” Maggie asks and Darcy chokes with her first bite of the food that we have in our plates.

I chuckle, knowing this was going to happen. “She hasn’t, but I’d love to hear about it,” I encourage Maggie and Darcy looks at me with terrified eyes. I just smile, I can’t wait to know more about her.

-:-:-:-

I know many of you said Logan Lerman, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson and Zac Efron as Carter, but honestly, none of them really fit my mental image, but Andrew Garfield does, he has the same thing around him that makes him look like Carter in my eyes. Still, you can picture him as you want. It's your imagination, after all.

Dedication goes to @Sara_0110 because this Thursday it's her birthday! Happy b-day, love.

Bel, xx