Keep It Secret: Time Starts Now (Part Book 1) Read online

  “Mate, are you in here? O, Jesus. Fuck. Sorry!” I hear in the background as I gently set Ali back to the ground of the shower.

  We are both out of breath and are just coming back to the real world.

  “What was that?” Ali asks me still out of breath.

  “I think Ryan just walked in on us,” I answer also still out of breath not knowing how Ali will react.

  “Oh, well. I hope we gave him a good show, maybe he learned something,” she says shrugging her shoulder and laughing.

  I also start laughing and kiss her on the forehead. How can you not love such a light-hearted woman who never makes any drama? I turn off the shower, and we both step out and dry ourselves with towels.

  When I’m dressed, I tell Ali that I’m going downstairs to the kitchen to make breakfast. She is still getting ready. So I walk downstairs where I already hear people talking. It’s Ryan and Poppy.

  “You didn’t, and then what did you do?” I hear Poppy ask.

  “Nothing. I said sorry and ran out. I nearly fell over something because I was so embarrassed.

  I’m sure I know what they are talking about.

  “Good morning!” I say in a cheerful way as I enter the kitchen.

  “Oh, somebody is cheerful this morning. I wonder why?” Poppy answers with a cheeky smile.

  “Morning,” is all Ryan replies whilst looking down to the floor.

  “Oh c’mon mate, it wasn’t that bad. Nothing to worry about. Are you actually embarrassed?”

  “A little uncomfortable. I don’t want you guys to think that I’m invading your privacy, which I obviously just did.”

  “Ah, nothing to worry about. Believe me, I’m fine with it and so is Ali. We both had a good laugh about it.”

  “Well, I’m glad I could make you laugh,” Ryan answers still a little embarrassed.

  Poppy is just falling apart laughing.

  “This is hilarious,” she blurts out.

  ”How about I make you a cup of tea, Ryan, as you know it always makes everything better?” I suggest in a teasing way.

  “It doesn’t work on me. I’m not British.”

  “Come on, cheer up. Just get over it,” Poppy says to Ryan and gives him a little bump in the side.

  “Okay, okay. Can we just stop talking about it?”

  “Talking about what? That you just walked in on us?” Ali asks as she enters the room.

  “Oh god, not you, too. I already said I’m sorry!”

  “No need to apologize, but next time make sure to leave a little tip. I’m sure the show you got was pretty good,” Ali teases him further.

  “Can we just have breakfast now?” Ryan asks frustrated.

  “Sure,” Ali answers, and we all take a seat at the kitchen counter and eat breakfast.

  We are still having breakfast when my phone rings. It’s Jeff. For a moment I had forgotten about last night, but now it is all coming back.

  “Sorry, but I have to take this,” I say and leave the room to pick up the phone.

  “Hello, Jeff. How bad is it?” I ask him as I answer the phone.

  “It was pretty bad, but I handled it. The good news is they don’t have a clue who Ali is because you hid her under your coat. They are referring to her as the stranger. Also, I reached out to a few news outlets and was able to turn the story around, and as it was the four of you and not only the two of you, they are brushing it off as a friends’ night out. At least most of them, but you know there are some smear campaigns that I can’t control, and who will definitely make more out of it. Nothing to worry about though as most people do know that’s just what they always do.”

  “Oh, thank god. Thank you so much, Jeff. I really appreciate it!”

  I am so thankful that Ali will come out of this without any harm.

  “I do think we need to sit down and have a chat though. I know you think I am against Ali, and that is not true. I don’t even know her. I’m happy for you, but you know it is my job to handle things like this, but I do realize that maybe I have gone too far with it. So, I would like for me and you to talk face to face, and come up with a plan how we can make this work for you and her without something like yesterday happening again okay?”

  “Yes, absolutely. Thank you, Jeff. Really, thank you so much,” I reply and am so relieved.

  “I’ll text you the details, and then we’ll meet up. Take care!” Jeff answers and hangs up the phone.

  I take a deep breath and walk back into the kitchen. All three of them are staring at me waiting for the news.

  “And?” Ali asks me with a worried look on her face.

  “Jeff took care of it. The good news is as we went out altogether, Jeff convinced the news outlets it was just a friends’ night out, and that is exactly how they are going to publish it. There are some smear campaigns that won’t roll with that story, but anyone with common sense knows that what they write isn’t true, and also even if they turn the story how they want it to be, they don’t have your face, love,” I reply and everybody lets out a relieved breath.

  “Thank god,” Ali says and walks over to me and kisses me.

  I’m glad she does because this means she is not going through with what she told Poppy last night!

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  Chapter 23

  Ryan

  We have just finished our breakfast. Henry got a text from his sister who is in town and would like to meet Ali. So this is my chance to ask Poppy if she would like to spend the day with me. She is leaving tomorrow, so this is the only chance I have. I’ve enjoyed spending time with her and I would really like to spend more time with her, so I have to get over myself and just ask her. I walk over to Poppy who is still sitting at the kitchen counter next to Ali.

  “Poppy, could I talk to you for a second?”

  “Sure.” She replies and follows me out into the hallway.

  I stand there and feel like a young boy from school, not knowing what to say.

  “So, I have to go back to my hotel and get changed because I hadn’t been planning on staying the night.”

  What am I talking about? This doesn’t make any sense at all, but I just have to keep on going.

  “I was thinking, that if you want to, maybe, I don’t know, you and I could do something together today?” I finally get the words out and hope I didn’t just make a complete fool out of myself.

  “You want to spend the day with me?” Poppy repeats my question.

  “Yes, that is, if you would also want to. You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I just thought with Henry and Ali meeting up with his sister and stuff, you might have time.” I ramble.

  “Of course. I would love to spend the day with you.” Poppy replies and I am so relieved hearing that answer.

  “Do you have anything special in mind?”

  Oh no, I haven’t even thought about that yet. I’m such an idiot how can I ask her to spend the day with me without even thinking about what to offer.

  “No, but I heard you love the city and so do I. We could just walk around town and see what the city has to offer?”

  “Absolutely, I love that idea but won’t you be recognized?”

  “Don’t worry, I have the perfect disguise,” I say with a smile and I do.

  It works every single time.

  “Great! I’m looking forward to it.” Poppy says and smiles.

  She has a lovely smile. “Good, so I will head to the hotel now and freshen up. I’ll come back here in about an hour to pick you up. Is that okay?”

  “Yes, that would be great!”

  We walk back into the kitchen where Ali and Henry are having some more tea. Of course, they are.

  “I’ll have to head back to the hotel to freshen up and change my clothes. I would like to take Poppy out to town today, so if you can meet up with your sister on your own that would be great.” I say to Henry.

  “Sure, but it’s not like you couldn’t have come with us,” Henry explains.

 
; “No, no. I know that, but I’d rather spend the day in the city.” Poppy replies.

  Ali just looks at Poppy and me with a wide smile.

  “Okay, so I’m going to go see you guys tonight, except you Poppy, I’ll see you in an hour,” I say waving at Henry and Ali and giving Poppy a kiss on the cheek.

  I head out the door and get into the car that just pulled up to pick me up. The driver takes me back to the hotel. When I am back in my hotel room, I quickly jump under the shower and get dressed. I have to hurry because I don’t want to keep Poppy waiting. I take out a scarf and a hat and put my little secret weapon in my pocket. I won’t wear it just yet, I’ll put it on when I’m at Henry's house. Thank god it isn’t hot here so I’ll be able to wear my scarf. I call the driver, to let him know that I will be down in fifteen minutes. Then I text my manager and tell him about my day plan. Just as I’m about to head out of the door, he calls me.

  “Ryan?” he asks as I pick up the phone.

  “Yes, I’m here.”

  “So I just wanted to say have a nice day. Also, I just called the hotel and they are sending one of the securities with you. Don’t worry he won’t have to go with you, he’ll just be near you so that if anything should go wrong he can jump in.”

  “Okay, thank you but do you really think that’s necessary?”

  “I think it is. Just in case. Have a nice day and enjoy yourself. You deserve it!”

  “Thanks, man,” I say and hang up the phone. I take the elevator down and am greeted by the security who will be with us for the day. We both get in the car and drive off.

  When we arrive at Henry’s house I get out of the car and ring the doorbell. Poppy opens the door. She looks beautiful. She looks different from all the other girls I have ether met. She has bright pink hair and is really short, I think that’s adorable. I wonder if I should have brought her some flowers, but then again that may have been too much.

  “Are you ready?”

  “I am but is this your special disguise? A hat and a scarf?”

  “Just wait for it, you haven’t seen the main part of it yet.”

  I walk inside the hallway to the mirror. I grab the fake moustache out of my pocket and put it on my face.

  “There! What do you think?”

  She starts laughing. “Well I’m glad it’s only a part of your disguise and you don’t regularly have that moustache, but it does work. You sure are not recognizable like that.”

  “Do you still want to spend the day with me looking like this?” I ask her hoping she won’t say no.

  “Yes. Absolutely.”

  “Good. That’s all that matters.” I say, take her hand and walk to the car with her. In the car, I explain to her why there is a security with us and that he and the driver will be on standby, but won’t affect our date.

  We get out of the car and decide to do the London Eye walk along the Thames. I see a coffee shop.

  “Would you like some coffee?”

  “I would love to have a cup of coffee. I honestly can’t see another cup of tea,” she replies and we both start laughing.

  “Yes, me too. I don’t understand the mentality of drinking tea the entire day.”

  “I don’t either.” Poppy replies and shrugs her shoulder.

  We both go inside the coffee shop and I order us two tall Lattes to go. We keep on walking along the Thames, coffee in our hands. It’s a grey day but it’s still beautiful. There aren’t a lot of people around which is good so we can enjoy our walk in private. After walking and talking for half an hour we come across a bench.

  “Would you like to take a seat?”

  “Yes. Let’s sit down and enjoy the view.”

  We sit down on the bench and enjoy the view.

  “When do you have to leave?”

  “I’m leaving tomorrow to go back to Canada, after that I’ll soon be touring again. It’s only going to be a small US tour though so that’s okay. What about you do you have a lot going on when you go back home?”

  “Enough! I don’t think as much as you do though. I am really impressed. I don’t know how you do it.”

  “It’s not that bad. Sure sometimes it is all just way too much but if you just take it day by day it’s fine.”

  “Still there’s a lot to handle. So when will you have some spare time again?”

  “In a couple of weeks. As I said I have this US tour coming up but I have a week off during the tour and I 'll be spending it in LA.”

  “Wow. I’ve never been to LA but I think it must be beautiful.”

  “It’s definitely worth seeing. You really have never been?”

  “No. Never.”

  “But you would like to go?”

  “Absolutely. I’m sure I will someday.”

  And at that moment I have a great idea but I’ll keep it to myself for now.

  “Do you know that there is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in LA?”

  “Of course I know. I really want to go. I have never managed to do it yet.”

  “Me neither! I really want to go. I’ve been to the studios here in London with Ali before. Everything about Harry Potter is just amazing.”

  “We should go together someday!”

  “To the studios here or the Wizarding World in LA?”

  “Both!” I shout out and we both laugh.

  “We should!” she replies with a smile.

  It’s starting to get cold so we decide to keep on walking. I wanted to kiss her on that bench but I was too shy to make a move. All of a sudden Poppy stands still and looks at the Thames.

  “What are you looking at?”

  “Those seagulls are fighting over a piece of bread and they are huge.”

  “Where? I can’t see them.” I say and come closer to her.

  “Right there.” she points out with her finger.

  “I still can’t see them.”

  “Come closer. Look over there.”

  I am so close to her now that I decide to put my arm around her. She looks at my arm and then up to me.

  “Do you mind if I put my arm around you?”

  “You already did,” she replies with a smile.

  “And no, I don’t mind quite the opposite actually.”

  “And would you mind if I do this?” I ask and go to kiss her.

  Luckily she kisses me back. After our kiss, I look into her eyes and smile.

  “Again, you did it before I could answer,” she whispers.

  “I figured better not ask and maybe feel sorry afterwards than not getting a kiss from you at all,” I answer and wink.

  “Clever you. I would like to try that again without the moustache,” she says and also winks.

  I think if I should rip off my moustache right here, but I don’t want us to be recognized because that would mean our date would have to end here and I don’t want it to end yet.

  We are walking again and are just about to reach our destination, namely the London Eye. We joke around and laugh a lot until we are finally there. We both look at it in excitement. Standing in front of it is always so impressive.

  “Would you like to get on it?”

  “I would love to. I’ve been here so often but I have never taken a ride on it.”

  “Me neither. I’ve never been on it.” I reply and go to get us tickets for a ride.

  We are lucky because we can immediately get on a coach and we are in one all by ourselves. And off we go.

  As we look out of the windows and enjoy the amazing view I figure it is a good time to ask her how she feels about what happened last night at the restaurant after dinner.

  “So about last night. How do you feel with all that went down?”

  “You mean when the paparazzi showed up?”

  “Yes. That is exactly what I mean.”

  “To be honest, it was a little overwhelming. It came out of nowhere and I wasn’t prepared for it. Then again none of us were, but I guess you and Henry have been in this kind of situations multiple times. I’m quite su
rprised about myself, that it wasn’t too big of an issue for me.”

  “So you think you could cope with situations like that if they happened again?”

  “I guess I could. I’m not saying that I’m keen on them, but if it happened again I guess I could cope with it for sure. I wouldn’t have expected that myself, but I’m positively surprised.”

  “So I have one last question,” I say as I lean towards her.

  “Would you like to see me again?”

  Poppy looks up into my eyes.

  “Yes. I really would like that,” she says and then I kiss her again.

  I take her into my arms and we watch the view as we are going back down to the ground. The sun is already starting to go down and you can see it in all its wonderful colours. It’s weird because it was a very grey day and you couldn’t see the sun at all, but it must have been there the entire time. Often the most beautiful things on earth are hidden, you just have to open your eyes to recognize and see them.

  When we are back on the ground we walk back to the car which was close by because they really have been on stand by and were always close to us. Luckily we didn’t need the security though. The driver takes us back to Henry’s house, where Henry and Alison are already waiting for us with some food they brought back home with them.

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  Chapter 24

  Alison

  Henry and I are in his car on our way back to his house. We spent the entire day with his sister. It was nice, at first I was extremely nervous to meet someone from his family knowing that he is very close to his sister, so that was extra pressure. She couldn’t have been nicer and more welcoming though. Henry must have told her a lot about me because she seemed to know everything about me already. We spent the day in a park with an attached butterfly house. It was really special to me because my parents and my sisters used to go to a butterfly house and park very often when we were children up in the north of England. Life is so strange sometimes. When I think I was born and grew up in the city next to where Henry was born and grew up in the first couple of years of my life. Then we meet in Germany years later and he travels the world nearly on a daily basis. We have our heart in one home. The world really is a small place. I’m more and more sure, that it was our destiny to meet each other. It’s not normal to meet someone and feel this instant attraction. Feeling as if you have known the person your entire life. Feeling so safe and secure. I have never felt like that before in my life. If I haven’t believed in soulmates yet, then now I do.