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

  "So you like Ali," I say with a grin.

  Henry looks at me first a little in shock, then he blushes and looks down to the floor. He puts his hand behind his head and starts to rub his neck. Still looking on the floor he says:

  "Yeah, does it show? I think she's really beautiful and I don't know, I mean I don't know her yet, but I think you would call it chemistry. Do you think I might have a chance?"

  "Henry, I can tell you one thing for sure. Ali may come across like a rather cold and disinterested independent woman. And she is. Well no, she is an independent woman and she has a lot of walls put up. But that is only because she has gone through a lot of things in the past. She is the most caring person I know. She just needs a little time to open up. I know Ali better than anyone else does, so believe me when I say that I can assure you, you definitely have a chance, if you use it wisely then you two could be writing your own happily ever after."

  "Wow Poppy, you are quite the poet," Henry says with amazement but also amusement. I look at him, put my hands in the air and say in a sarcastic tone:

  "Yeah, well show me something I can't do!" and we both start laughing.

  "Poppy!" I hear Ali call for me, "Poppy, where are you?"

  "I'm here!"

  "Where is here?"

  "In the garden!"

  Ali turns up wearing only a towel, well actually two, one on her head and one clasped around her. She stands still in shock when she realizes that I am not on my own, but actually standing outside in the garden with Henry. Henry also stares at her not knowing what else to do.

  "The bathroom is free now," Ali tells me without even looking at me.

  I have to break the ice and say:

  "Okay, my turn to get ready then, although I don't know if you are wearing the right outfit to go to the zoo, Ali."

  When I walk past her I give her a little clap on her butt. We both start laughing and everything is fine again.

  "I'll just get dressed and be right out again. Do you need anything? Coffee or tea? If you do, I can make you some or you can, of course, help yourself whenever you want," I hear Ali say to Henry before she comes in behind me.

  I turn into the bathroom and Ali walks to the bedroom to get dressed.

  I turn on the shower and feel the warm water on my shoulders. Feeling like little raindrops dancing down my back. I take the shower gel and rub it all other my body, loving the flowery smell filling the entire bathroom. It smells like a fresh morning on a lovely spring day. I am already plotting on how I am going to force Ali and Henry on some time alone. Maybe I'll just ask Tyler for help, he is always in with stuff like that.

  I step out of the shower after a couple of minutes, then I rub myself dry with a towel. I didn't wash my hair, as I always have to do that separately. I have bright pink hair. It is an awful lot of work to keep them pink, long and shining bright. But it's a price I am willing to pay. I love my hair color. And I do have to say it just suits me. That's not only my opinion. So I put some cream on my face, deodorant and get dressed. I'll do my makeup after breakfast. When I walk into the kitchen, Ali is already in the middle of preparing the breakfast and I can tell she is totally overwhelmed. There are eggs and mushrooms on the stove, bread in the toaster, bacon in the oven and tea in the pot. The coffee machine is also already turned on and ready to go.

  "Do you need any help, Ali?" I ask.

  "YES. Could you take over so I can set the table?"

  "Sure, no problem. I'll just let Henry know that he can have a shower now." So I wander off into the garden, where Henry is still playing with Prince.

  He already has me on his side. If you are nice to my dog and my dog likes you, then congratulations, I like you too.

  "Henry, the bathroom's free. But you have to hurry because Ali is nearly finished with breakfast."

  "Okay, thanks," Henry answers and disappears in the bathroom.

  When he comes back out, we are already sitting at the breakfast table. Even Tyler.

  "Good morning mate, slept alright?" Henry asks Tyler.

  "Yeah, how come you are all already showered and ready?"

  "We also, all three, have already been out for a walk Ty!" I let him know.

  "Good for you Poppy!" He sneers back at me.

  "So, any plans for today?" Tyler wants to know.

  "Yep, we are going to the zoo and I don't want to hear any complains. We are going to the zoo Ty and there is nothing you can do about it. And you are going to have a great time and love it. Do you hear me?" Now everybody is looking at me.

  "Okay, I never wanted to say anything against it," Tyler replies.

  "Oh, then that's good. I just really want to go to the zoo," I say a little shy now because I realized I overreacted a bit.

  So after breakfast, we all get ready. Ali and I put some makeup on and do our hair. Tyler went into the bathroom to take a shower and Henry cleared the table. What a nice guy.

  When we are all ready I say goodbye to Prince and promise him not to stay away for long. I hate to leave him behind, but dogs are not allowed in the zoo.

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  Chapter 5

  Alison

  We hurried outside just as the cab arrived. We didn't want to take the car because parking is terrible and of course with a celebrity in the group we cannot take the tube. So the cab it is.

  When we arrive at the zoo Poppy and Tyler are in some kind of tantrum because of some animal they are arguing about.

  "I'll prove you're wrong, Ty!" I hear Poppy say.

  "Wanna bet?" Tyler replies.

  "Oh, these two!" I sigh with a smile and shake my head.

  "Are they always like this?" Henry asks me.

  "Yeah, I'd like to say no, but they actually are."

  We walk around the huge park and look at all the animals. I love all animals. If I could, I would have my own zoo at home, pet them and look at them all day long. When we come to the house where the gorillas are, I'm totally in my world. I could stare at these majestic, beautiful creatures forever. I feel someone standing very close behind me. I know it's Henry, I can feel it, but I don't dare turn around. I just stand there enjoying the feeling. I feel his warmth, his energy and his breath in the back of my neck.

  "They are amazing aren't they?" Henry breaks the silence.

  "Yes, they are, I find them fascinating," I reply in a whisper.

  "They are majestic,"

  We keep standing there in silence watching every move of the gorillas. I feel Henry's hand on my shoulder. He has taken me into his arm. It's an overwhelming feeling. I have so many emotions rushing through my body and I don't dare move because I just don't want it to end. After a couple of minutes, Poppy and Tyler come walking in.

  "I'm so hungry, can we go and grab some food now?" Tyler wants to know.

  "Sure, let's go eat," Henry answers and walks up towards them.

  As he walks away from me, I already miss feeling his hand on my shoulder, feeling his warm body next to mine. I just want it back, I want more of it, but I just walk after them and bury my thoughts. Poppy looks at me and gives me a wink. I smile back at her and give her a sign to be quiet because I don't want to discuss what just happened in front of everybody.

  After we had some food in the zoo restaurant, we walk around the rest of the zoo and then head back home. We are all very tired because walking around the zoo all day is kind of exhausting.

  Later that night Poppy and Tyler tell us that they have a bet going on, on who is faster walking up the hill. Yes, yet another bet. So they are going out to take Prince for a walk now and see who will win the bet. I offer to go with them, but they insist that they want to go alone.

  So that leaves Henry and me alone at my house. If I'm honest I'm rather pleased about it, although I am very nervous and I can't explain why.

  "Do you want to watch a movie?" Henry asks me.

  "Yeah, sure,"

  "What kind of movies do you like watching?"

  "Oh anything, I
literally watch anything. Mostly really weird stuff like a lot of documentaries" I say and Henry starts to laugh.

  "Why are you laughing? I can't help it, I find it really interesting." I defend myself also laughing now.

  "No, I think it's cute and funny because I'm the same. Nobody usually can relate, but I also watch the weirdest documentaries like the life of plants underwater and stuff like that," Henry tells me.

  "Oh, I can top that one. I once watched a documentary that went over 2 hours about jellyfish."

  Now we both can't help it but nearly fall on the floor because we are laughing so much.

  "Well, I guess I finally found my match. You are just as weird as I am," Henry says still laughing.

  "Seems like it," I answer back also still laughing.

  Then all of a sudden Henry stops laughing and looks deep into my eyes. I also stop laughing because he did.

  "I'm serious. I know this sounds weird because we only just met, I mean we already figured out how weird we are, but I think I just found my match," Henry takes my head between his hands and I feel an instant rush of heat going through my body.

  "And who is that match?" I ask him in a soft whisper.

  "You," he whispers back and pulls my head towards him to kiss me.

  As he kisses me, I have like a million thoughts running through my head and at the same time my head is empty. I feel the heat running through my body, goosebumps all over me. An urge of lust and also an urge to stop, because I don't know what's going on. As the kiss gets deeper and more intense I end up finding myself sitting on his lap rocking back and forth, I come back to the real world. And pull back.

  "Are you okay?" Henry asks me with a worried expression on his face.

  "Yes, it's just… I just… I don't…. I mean…." I can't get any words out. I don't even know what's going on. There is all this passion that is just taking over my body and now I'm thinking, no, no, no, Ali, you don't do that. That's not who you are!!

  "It's okay, don't worry. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable, just know I'm not expecting anything to happen here," Henry tells me and comforts me.

  "Do you just want to watch a documentary?" He asks me with a smile, but that smile does it for me. Hell no, I do not want to watch a documentary is all I think.

  So that's why I reply "No!" with a cheeky smile on my face and go back to kiss him.

  His hands glide down my back and back up to my head. Then back down to my butt squeezing it hard but gently at the same time. Me still rocking back and forth on his lap. My body is completely taking over my mind. And I let it. This massive passion has been building up and it's all coming out now and I am letting it. I want to throw all my principles aside and tell him to take me straight into the bedroom as all of a sudden...

  "Wow! Am I interrupting something here?" I hear Tyler's voice in the room.

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  Chapter 6

  Tyler

  I can't believe what I am seeing. Ali is all over Henry and he is not doing anything to get her off him. Quite the opposite actually. No freaking way. Not on my watch. She may be a couple of months older than me, but she still is like my little sister. She has been through enough in the past few years and this is moving way too fast.

  "So? What the hell is going on here?" I ask them.

  "Ty, it's not what you think. We were just caught up in the moment and that is it. And it's not like I am a teenager anymore, I am 26 years old," Ali replies in a strong, but also very ashamed voice.

  "Caught in the moment? Are you freaking kidding? What would have happened when this moment would have lasted longer? Ali, you are my cousin and Henry you are my best friend. I did realize that you two were flirting and the thought of you two becoming a cute couple crossed my mind and I thought it would be kind of nice. But this? A quick hookup? Yeah, that's not awkward at all. So when you are done with each other one of you ends up being disappointed, then what? I get to choose between my cousin and my best friend? That's nice. Thanks a lot!"

  I'm so angry right now. I don't want to see either one of them, so I walk out of the living room.

  "Ty, wait!" Henry calls after me and shows up behind me.

  "What Henry? What do you have to say to me?"

  "I don't know why you are so angry. I mean back in London when you told me you were planning on going to visit your cousin and showed me pictures of her, I immediately asked you if I could join you. I asked you if she was single and I asked you if you could introduce me to her. I told you I thought she is really hot. I never ever lied to you or made a secret out of what I thought and you were totally fine with it Tyler."

  "I brought you with me to meet her Henry. Yes, that is correct. I introduced you to her because I think you two could be a good match. I know you very well and I know that you usually are a nice guy. She has been through so much the last years, you have no idea. And it's not my story to tell. The awful pricks she dated that treated her like shit. She doesn't deserve that, but she is just too much of a good person. So yes, even though she would never admit it she needs someone to look out for her and that someone is me."

  "I get that Ty, really I do and honestly mate, I think it's great of you to do that, but I just don't get what changed. You introduced me to her and now you changed your mind and all of a sudden I'm not good enough for her anymore?"

  "Henry, you met her yesterday. So what, you came all the way here with me just to fuck my cousin? Because I'm sorry, I don't have the feeling you are trying to get to know each other if you are dry humping on the sofa after knowing each other for, oh yeah wow nearly 48 hours."

  "Come on Ty, you know I'm not like that at all. I'm not a player who tries to get every woman into bed."

  "Well, the press sure thinks you do Henry."

  "Seriously Ty? Wow, that really was a low blow. You have known me for ages now and you repeat the one thing that bothers me the most. The fact that the shitty press makes up this persona of me being this womanizer, who I'm clearly not and you know that. I thought you were better than that."

  Henry leaves me standing in the hall and walks back into the living room. I just stand here for a moment. Fuck! I really shouldn't have said that. I know it's not true. I know how he is and I know that this was his weak spot, but I'm just so angry. I mean if this goes wrong, I will have to decide between the two and I need both in my life. There is nothing I can do now. I've said it. I'll go see what Poppy thinks, she always has a solution.

  "Oh my gosh, what happened?" Poppy asks me as I enter the kitchen.

  "What do you mean?"

  "Ty, if you could see your face right now… You look like someone died."

  "I'm so angry Poppy."

  "Why are you angry?" Poppy keeps asking.

  "You know what I just saw? I walked in on Ali and Henry dry humping on the sofa. Like honestly, if we would have stayed out any longer they would have been doing the same thing but without clothes on," I tell her feeling the anger building up again.

  "Oh wow. That doesn't sound like Ali at all, but then again, why not? They are both old enough, so just let them have fun. I don't see the issue here," Poppy says.

  "Seriously? Are you all joking right now? Do you really not get it? If this goes wrong I will be the one who will have to DECIDE between the two and I am not willing to do that. What about this is there not to understand?" I explain furiously and frustrated now.

  "Come down, Ty. Gosh, I have never seen you this angry. Do you think that even if it is just a hookup, that they would make you choose between them? I know for sure Ali would never do that. She is way too mature for that. And even if it would be a one night stand, she is 26 years old and I am pretty sure it wouldn't be the first one. Don't get me wrong. As her best friend I am neither confirming nor denying that she already did have a one night stand, but I am just saying that even if, she would not make you choose between him and her. Like come on Ty, do you honestly think Ali has sex with a guy and expects a proposal the next day? P
lease, it's Ali we are talking about. Miss independent - I don't need anyone."

  I stare out of the window and think about what Poppy just said. I can feel the anger going away.

  "I think you are right, Poppy."

  "You damn well know I am. As per usual!" Poppy replies with a cheeky smile.

  "But what do I do now? I just really overreacted and I said some things to Henry that really hurt him. I know they did because that was the reason I chose to say them."

  "Ty, you two are boys. Don't you just laugh it off and move on or something like that?"

  "I hope so but I doubt it."

  "How about we all watch a nice movie together and order some food? I say I get to choose the movie!" Poppy informs me and walks off into the direction of the living room.

  I take a deep breath and brush off the rest of my anger. I see where Poppy is coming from. I definitely overreacted, but I am just trying to look out for Ali. The shit she has been through and with her dad's death and all that. She seems so strong all the time, but she always acts like that. Even when we were kids, she used to do that, but deep inside I know she is hurt. She plays her part very well, no one can tell that inside she feels broken, but I do. I can't even count the times where my phone rang in the middle of the night with her sobbing on the other line. Telling me that she can't breathe. That she feels like the walls are caving in on her. She has these massive panic attacks because she keeps everything inside. She always helps everybody, is there for everybody, is strong for everybody, but what about her? I know she talks to Poppy about things, but then again Poppy has been through a lot as well, so she doesn't want to make her worry. It's a nightmare. I just want her to be happy. She is the one person I know, who deserves it so much. The problem is, she gets treated like a doormat and she still doesn't say anything bad about these people because she only sees the good in them.