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

  “A penny for your thoughts Love.”

  “What?”

  “Wow! Where did you wander off to in your head?” He asks me and takes my hand and places it on his lap with his hand on top of it.

  “I was thinking about how amazing life can be sometimes.”

  “Go on. Share it with me.”

  “I was just thinking about how earlier your sister and you were talking about the things you used to do when you grew up, up north. I realised we basically were born and grew up next to each other. Then we meet years later in a totally different place. We have so many connections. Does this sound weird or do you get what I’m trying to say?”

  “I absolutely know what you mean. I have been thinking about that too.” Henry replies and kisses my hand.

  Henry parks in front of the restaurant we ordered food from earlier and are going to pick up now. He turns off the car and turns to me.

  “Although I have only known you for a few months now, I have the feeling that I have known you my entire life. I have never felt this way with anyone before. We must be soulmates.” Henry says and leans in to kiss me.

  I can’t believe what he just said and pull back.

  “Did I just say that out loud?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The thing with being soulmates,”

  “No love, I believe I just said that.”

  “I swear to you, that is exactly what I just said in my head for the first time in my life,” I say absolutely blown away.

  “Well, there you have it. That’s just one more thing to prove that we actually have a special bond and definitely are soulmates.” Henry replies and leans in to kiss me again, this time without me pulling back.

  We are back in the car with the food and on our way back home. Ryan texted Henry that they are also on their way to the house. When we arrive at the house we go straight into the kitchen and set up the food. Henry opens a bottle of wine and I set the table. When I walk back in the kitchen Henry reaches me a glass of wine and we stand in the kitchen his arm around me and just stare out of the window waiting for the other two to arrive.

  “I hate that you are already leaving tomorrow.”

  “Me too.”

  “Why don’t you just stay?”

  “I can’t just stay baby. I have a life back in Germany.”

  “I know but I just want to have you here with me. You said that you always wanted to move back to the UK anyway. Why don’t you just move in?”

  I nearly choke on my wine and start coughing. Henry gently smacks me on the back.

  “Are you okay?”

  When I am finally able to breathe and speak again I say “I’m fine. Maybe next time you ask me something like that, wait until I don’t have anything in my mouth I could choke on.”

  “I mean it, though. This house is so big and you want to live in the UK again. We both don’t want to be apart from each other so just move in with me. That would be the perfect solution.” Henry tries to convince me.

  “Baby, I would love to move in with you and I will someday, I promise you that. It’s just too early for it now. We aren’t even a couple officially yet, I mean publicly. When I live here everyone would know also I can’t just move here overnight. I mean, that would be insane. And I would be here on my own very soon because you will be touring your album.” I explain the facts.

  “Well, us not being public isn’t my fault.” Henry starts but I interrupt him immediately.

  “Please don’t start that again.” I plead him.

  “I won’t. I’m just saying and I get your other points so how about this. Don’t move in completely then, but just look at this as your second house. Leave stuff here and have some of your things here.”

  I look up to him and smile.

  “I would love that.” I say and stroke his cheek. I am just about to kiss him as the doorbell rings.

  Poppy and Ryan are back so we all sit down to have dinner together.

  “So how was your day?” Henry asks Poppy and Ryan.

  “It was really nice.” Poppy replies with a big smile and Ryan looks at her also smiling.

  Henry and I look at each other and wait for the other two to share what they did, but they don’t. They just smile and giggle at each other.

  “Aren’t you going to tell us what you did?” I ask them.

  “Oh yes, of course. We spent the entire day out in the city. We had a long walk along the Thames, had some coffee and then went on a ride on the London Eye.” Ryan replies, again staring and smiling at Poppy who does the exact same thing.

  “You were able to just walk around in public like that?”

  “Oh yes, I have my special disguise.” Ryan replies and him and Poppy both start laughing.

  They are acting so weird. Like little school kids that share a secret. I feel like Henry and I are the parents right now. I look over to Henry and he just smiles and shakes his head.

  “He has this weird moustache and actually wore it the entire day. I wish you would have seen it. It’s hilarious.”

  “Come on now Poppy, you really liked it.”

  “I did.” she admits.

  I lean towards Henry “I think we are missing something here.” I whisper.

  “I am pretty sure she did not only look at his moustache,” Henry whispers back and chuckles.

  “I think you are right.” I say smiling because I can’t wait for them to just admit it.

  “Does anyone want any more to eat?” Henry asks all of us.

  Everyone has had enough though.

  “Ryan, would you help me get some wine out of the cellar?” Henry asks Ryan and gives me a wink.

  “Sure.” Ryan replies and they both leave the room.

  I start clearing the table and Poppy helps me.

  “And? Anything you would like to tell me?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You know exactly what I mean.” I say and give a little bump with my hip.

  “We KISSED!” she yells out than covers her mouth because she just realised she shouted it out but she’s still smiling.

  “I figured. How was it?”

  “Oh my god, Ali it was sooo romantic. First, he kissed me by the Thames and then when we were on the top of the London Eye.” she gushes.

  “Oh, I see so you shared a few kisses.”

  “We did. I’m so happy right now.” Poppy answers not once stopping smiling.

  “So?” I ask her if there is anything else she hasn’t told me yet.

  “He already asked me if I would like to see him again and of course I said yes! Although I don’t know when that will happen because he is going on tour soon.” Poppy replies happy, but also a little upset.

  “Don’t worry about that now love. Time goes by and if that’s the only issue I say there is none. Just look at it like this, it leaves you more time to look forward to something.”

  I try to lift her spirit again. Knowing I’m not being completely honest because I now know how hard it is missing someone and not being able to see them for quite a while.

  “Yes, you are right.”

  The boys come back up just as Poppy and I finished clearing up the table.

  “Shall we watch a movie?” Poppy suggests.

  “Good idea.” Ryan replies.

  Henry smiles at me.

  “Why don’t you guys go into the living room and pick out a movie. Ali and I will join you shortly.” Henry tells them.

  “Alright.” Poppy replies and off they walk giggling all the way.

  “Aren’t they adorable?” I ask Henry who is just opening another bottle of wine.”

  “They sure are. Are we like that?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t think so, but maybe we are.”

  Henry hands me another glass of wine.

  “You do know that only you and I are drinking and we are already on bottle number two. Are you trying to get me drunk?” I ask him as I take the glass of wine out of his hand.

  “Yes, y
ou just looked straight through my plan.”

  “Why are you trying to get me drunk Mister Green?” I whisper in a harsh voice leaning in closer to him.

  “To get you to sleep with me.” He whispers back and smacks me on my but.

  “Good plan!” I say as I walk off to the living room and Henry follows me.

  We sit down on the sofa and Ryan starts to play the movie they picked. None of us are really watching the movie. I am chatting with Henry and Ryan and Poppy are also chatting. Poppy is all cuddled up in Ryan's arms and I am happy for them. Henry and I fool around and make out most of the time when we realise that it is very quiet. We look over to the other sofa and see that Ryan and Poppy are also making out although they are hiding underneath the blanket. Henry and I both laugh about it.

  “So Ryan, are you going back to the hotel or are you going to spend your night here with Poppy?” Henry interrupts them and I give him a little smack on his hand but have to laugh about him interrupting them.

  Both of their heads immediately come out from under the blanket, pretending nothing just happened.

  “Ah, I think I’ll stay here if it is okay.” Ryan asks looking at Poppy.

  “It’s fine with me, but I don’t think you were asking me.” Henry replies to that and laughs.

  “Do you want to go up?” Henry asks me with that shine in his eyes.

  I know exactly why he wants to go upstairs.

  “Why? Do you want to smack me again like earlier?”

  “Well, someone of the two of us needs a spanking and it’s not me.”

  “Hey, you two under the blanket we are going up to bed. Goodnight.” Henry says to Poppy and Ryan.

  “Goodnight.” They both say from under the blanket.

  “Goodnight.” I say and shake my head.

  “Are you going to carry me upstairs again?” I ask Henry who is still holding me.

  “I might as well.” He says and starts walking off.

  “No, Henry stop, put me down. Put me down

  “Okay.” He says and puts me back down on the floor. Then he throws me over his shoulder so fast that I don’t know what’s happening and let out a little scream.

  “Nope changed my mind.” Is all Henry says, carries me up the stairs and throws me on the bed.

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  Chapter 25

  Poppy

  I wake up and turn around in bed like I do every morning. I am very surprised when I see that Ryan is lying next to me. I have forgotten what it is like to wake up next to somebody, but I really like it. I just stare at him. He is so incredibly handsome. It’s kind of unfair actually. Who looks so good in the morning? He is still asleep and I don’t want to wake him up. I don’t want to leave this bed at all. I am already looking forward to tonight and we can go back to bed together. Maybe tonight something a bit more might happen. We spent the entire night talking, kissing and cuddling but I’m ready for more. Then it hits me. I won’t be able to go to bed with him tonight. I am flying back home this afternoon. Oh no, I can’t believe this is ending before it ever started.

  “Good morning,” Ryan says as he opens his eyes.

  “Good morning.”

  “How long have you been awake?”

  “I just woke up myself,”

  “You look sad. Is everything okay? Do you regret being here with me?” Ryan asks me with worried eyes.

  “No, not at all. I’m sad because I just realised I am flying back home this afternoon and I would have loved to spend more time with you. I don’t even know when I will get to see you again, with your crazy schedule.”

  “I know what you mean, but don’t be sad. I feel much the same. Luckily I’ll be having a lot to do to make the waiting easier, but don’t think that I won’t have you on my mind constantly.” Ryan says and tucks my hair behind my ear.

  “So you think you will miss me too?”

  “Of course. I’ll miss you!” He says and smiles.

  I smile back and am so happy that he just said that.

  “Let’s not worry about that now, but instead enjoy our last few hours we have together,” Ryan suggests and he is absolutely right.

  I nod and get up. I walk in the bathroom and take a quick shower. After that, I get dressed and walk back into the bedroom. Ryan is already up, gives me a kiss on the cheek and walks into the bathroom behind me.

  “I’ll go downstairs and meet you there later okay?”

  “Okay. See you in a bit. Don’t run off.” He replies and I have to laugh about that comment.

  “I won’t,” I say and walk downstairs.

  When I walk into the kitchen Ali and Henry are already sitting at the kitchen counter having some tea. More tea. I don’t understand it.

  “Good morning,” I say to both of them.

  “Good morning.” They both reply and can’t wipe their smile off their face.

  I know what they are thinking, but they are wrong. I am not going to tell them though.

  “Is it okay if I make myself a cup of coffee?”

  “Sure, help yourself. Do you need any help?” Henry asks me.

  “No, I’m sure I can manage, but thanks,” I reply and walk over to the coffee machine.

  I take out the cup filled with coffee and sit next to them.

  “You look tired Poppy, didn’t get much sleep last night, ey?” Henry asks with a wide grin.

  “Actually no, I didn’t get much sleep because we had a lot to talk about.”

  “Talk? I see.” He replies with a wink.

  I just roll my eyes and leave it at that. I’m trying to be in a good mood, but first of all, I haven’t had my first cup of coffee yet and second I can’t get the thought out of my mind that Ali and I are leaving today. My mood doesn’t lighten up until: “Good morning everyone.” Ryan says as he enters the room.

  When I see him, I immediately feel good again. He walks straight up to me.

  “Oh, where can I get one of those?” He asks me and points at my cup of coffee.

  “Shall I make you a cup?”

  “You are the best!” He replies and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

  “Come on mate, is that all you’ve got?” Henry asks Ryan.

  “What do you mean?” Ryan asks and I also look at Henry wondering what he means?

  “A kiss on the cheek? Kiss her probably you fool!” Henry shouts and Ryan does exactly that.

  Henry sure does know how to make us feel uncomfortable, although he is only joking and that is just his humour. I had time to get used to this British humour through Ali. It can be very confusing at times, but once you understand it, it’s actually really funny.

  The time flew by. I am already in my room packing the rest of my things in my bag. We are about to leave for the airport and I just don’t want to. I can hear Ali and Henry walking down the stairs.

  “Poppy are you ready?” Ali calls for me.

  All I think is no, I am not ready, but I don’t have a choice so I call “I’ll be down in a minute.”

  Ryan walks into the room.

  “Do you have everything packed?” He asks me and points to my suitcase.

  “Yes, I have everything packed. Although I would like to pack you into my suitcase as well.”

  “I don’t think I would fit. Otherwise, I for sure would jump in right now. Come on then.” He says as he takes my suitcase and leads me downstairs where Ali and Henry are already waiting.

  We get in the car and Henry drives off to the airport.

  “What terminal do you have to go to?” Henry asks Ali.

  “It’s the Queen’s terminal. So Terminal 2.”

  Never before have I hoped for traffic, but now I do. I want this car ride to last longer. I don’t want to say goodbye yet, but I can already see the airport. Henry drives into the carpark of the airport so we can say our goodbyes. Obviously, both of them can’t come into the airport with us without being recognized and causing a whole scene. We all get out of the car and we all say goodbye to eac
h other.

  “Come on Beautiful let’s walk over there and give them a bit of privacy. Also, I want you to myself for a bit.” Henry says to Ali and they both walk off.

  “So this is it,” I say and look up to Ryan.

  “This isn’t it. We will see each other again very shortly I’ll make sure of that.”

  I look at him, let out a deep breath and smile.

  “So am I going to get a goodbye kiss?”

  “No.” He replies and I am a little taken back because I wasn’t expecting that reaction.

  Ryan takes both of his hands and cups my face in them when he sees my surprised face.

  “What you do get from me though is a see you very soon again kiss!” He says and then takes me in for a long passionate kiss.

  “Come on love, we have to go,” Ali says as she and Henry walk back up to us.

  We turn around for the last goodbye wave and walk towards our terminal.

  On the plane, I just look out of the window and don’t speak a word. I just think about Ryan. I miss him already. Now I have to think back to when we drove back to Ali’s house when Tyler and Henry left after the first visit. I remember Ali laughing and crying because she couldn’t understand her feelings after such a short amount of time. I didn’t judge her, I thought it was sweet but up until now, I couldn’t understand her feelings either. Now I do. I wish I could just run off of this plane and back into his arms. I do hope I will see him again very soon.

  “Poppy? Hello? Poppy?” I am taken out of my thoughts by Ali.