Annie

Harry kissed me before I snuggled in to him. It was nice being this close, it was comfortable. I liked the way his arms fit around me, the perfect fit. I didn’t want to move from this spot if I didn’t have to. I could feel the warmth of his skin, the beat of his heart and the rhythm of his breathing. His finger tips traced a pattern on the lower half of my back on the small patch of skin that became visible.
"I'm gonna have to dig the car out today and go home. Can't get everything planned for tomorrow if I'm sleeping in your bed tonight. Need to have it done so it's perfect. Six months of build up means there needs to be a pretty stellar date planned."
"You're cute. But you don't have to do anything or go anywhere."
"I must admit, I am gonna miss having a wake up call like this morning tomorrow." I hit him before he kissed me.
"Don't get used to that. It won't be special if it's every day."
"Yes it will. If that was my every morning I'd be the happiest bloke in the world." I laughed a bit. "You look tired."
"I am."
"Nap?" he asked. I nodded. He started to play with my hair and lull me back to sleep. I owed Mother Nature a big gift. I promise I won't bitch about the weather for a while. Thank you for this blizzard; it accomplished what nothing else could. I woke up about an hour later to see Harry still asleep next to me. I watched him for a few moments. He looked peaceful asleep and happy. I couldn’t resist running my thumb along his cheek. His reaction to my touch was to tighten his arms around me and slip a leg between mine. Mine hand slipped to run my fingers through his hair.
“Mmm, you’re awake,” he said quietly.
“I am. You look cute when you are asleep.”
“You do too.” He kissed me quickly. “Has it stopped snowing yet?”
“No idea.” We slid out of the comfort of our blankets and each other to look out the living room window. The snow had stopped and you could see city crews were trying to clear the streets so that the Monday commute wouldn’t be too terrible. “We should probably figure out how to dig your car out.”
“Probably,” he said as he wrapped his arms around me again and kissed my neck. “Is it weird that I don’t really want to leave?”
“No, because I don’t really want you to. But we have tomorrow together.”
“We do.”
“You could always stay here tonight,” I said. I was quite shocked that I had offered it. Normally I tried to act unattached at all times in a relationship. To even convince myself of that. Less likely to get hurt if you don’t care. But I here I was and I felt like I cared, more than I probably should for how long we’d known each other. “Or…you…you don’t have to. We can just get together for dinner tomorrow or whatever. It’s fine. Whatever you want.”
“I want to stay here tonight. Pretty badly. But I also want tomorrow to be perfect. So I think I should stay at my place. But maybe tomorrow you could stay at mine with me.” He paused and I could hear the hesitation in his voice when he spoke again. “Or I guess you don’t have to. I mean if the date is shitty and you don’t want to see me again I can understand that you wouldn’t want to. Or you could. I mean I’m closer to work.”
“I’d like to stay there tomorrow. Are you sure you want to take me to your house?” I asked as I slipped around in his arm and wrapped mine around his waist. “I mean you don’t take girls home because they could say they’d seen the inside of your house and vividly describe it.” He laughed at me before leaning down and kissing me.
“You’re not any girl. I want you to know what my house looks like. I’d invite you tonight but I want tomorrow to be a surprise.”
“It’s a first date. The last one I had of those was dinner at an Italian restaurant. He picked it because he figured Catalano was Italian and that I’d like pasta. I asked if the giant hips gave it away.”
“Your hips are perfect. And I want tomorrow to be a first date for the history books. One you’ll always remember.” I smiled.
“Okay, I guess for that I can let you stay at your place tonight. And maybe, if you don’t blow this historical first date I’ll stay at yours tomorrow. So we should probably find something to dig your car out with huh?”
“Probably. I’m betting you don’t have a shovel.”
“Nope, but I know where we can find one if you’re willing to make a trek in the snow. It’s only a few blocks.”
“Sure. Let’s get bundled up.” We headed downstairs and put on a few more layers, boots, coats, hats and mittens and were out the door after I left a note for Kim. Once we were on the street level he grabbed my hand in his. I led the way through the streets.
We arrived in front of two ornately carved, black, wooden doors. The glass was frosted over but you could make out where it said O’Briens in fancy gold lettering with a shamrock beneath it. I took my keys from my pocket and unlocked the door. We quickly snuck inside and stomped the excess snow off of our feet. I flicked the lights on and Harry followed me in. I put my gloves down on the dark bar that lined the wall opposite the door and curved around the corner to the back. There was a fireplace on one side and multiple seating areas throughout. Some had partial walls secluding them from the rest of the bar. The wood floor looked as if it had been danced on for decades and never refinished. I’d fallen in love the minute I laid eyes on it.
“This is my other job. Welcome to O’Brien’s.”
“I can see why you liked it instantly. It’s got character.”
“It does. And when it’s open it has characters. You’ve met Lizzy, imagine the Irishman married to that.”
“Her husband is Irish?” Harry asked. He sat down in one of the bar stools and I started to make some drinks. We had a coffee maker here that had hot water available whenever. I’d hidden some hot chocolate mix in here around Christmas so I made each of us a giant mug with whipped cream on top.
“Yeah, Frankie is totally Irish. She went there for holiday her last year in Uni with a couple of her girlfriends. He was working in the pub they found on their first night. She spent every night there for the next three weeks getting to know him. She met his Dad the second night only to find out that the bar she was in was owned by his Dad. Heard stories about his Mum, she died when he was 16 and it was just his Dad and him. They lived in a small flat above the bar and he’d grown up inside that building. Told her about how he planned to take it over some day and get his Dad a house in the country to enjoy his old age.” I loved their love story. I’d asked her if someday she’d let me write it as my first novel. “The only night she wasn’t there was her last night. He took her out to dinner. She said it was the best first date of her life. He walked her around the town that he lived in. He showed her all these great old buildings and held her hand for five hours straight. She said it was like being with a celebrity. Everyone knew him but he knew every person who talked to them and could tell her something about them. She says he kissed her until she was crazy. They promised they’d stay in touch. Write letters. Call when they could. And the next day she had to get on a plane and come home.”
“Just like that. Three weeks of magic and she came home. How did they get together?”
“A week later as she was walking out of class he was standing outside the door waiting for her.”
“Seriously?” Harry asked. I could tell he was falling for their story too.
“He told her that his Dad asked how their date had gone and he said that she was the girl he wanted to marry. His Dad told him that when you find that girl you aren’t supposed to let her go and basically lectured him on letting Lizzy get on the plane. He told that if he’d been as chicken shit as he was being that they wouldn’t be having the conversation because he wouldn’t be alive. And that if Frankie had any sense he’d get his ass to England and marry the pretty girl. So Frankie packed up his life and took a shot. Showed up and hoped that not only would she not think he was crazy but that she’d at least let him stay the night before she sent him back to Ireland if she did.”
“What did he mean Frankie wouldn’t exist?”
“Frankie’s Mum had gone to visit her Aunt for a week and met his Dad. She was from Dublin and maybe 18 when they met. He told her that he didn’t think she should go back and she didn’t. They got married after two months and were married for 30 years when she died. They’d never intended on having kids. Frankie had been a happy accident. They didn’t think she could carry children. She’d had health problems all along and they took her far too soon. God the way Patrick tells the story it’s like she had hair made of sunshine and walked on water. And he’s not lying. Catherine was a knock out. He’s a great storyteller. I won’t tell you too much. It’ll take away the fun of hearing Patty tell it. Though he’s told me the story 100 times and I don’t get tired of it.”
“That’s a wonderful story.”
“Well lighting struck twice in the O’Brien family. Frankie had planned on a few days in London to spend with Lizzy. Two months later they were married. She was 22 at the time I believe. They’ve been married 10 years.”
“She’s 32? No fucking way.”
“She is 32. She’s like my sister. We clicked immediately. I met her my first day here. She was the one who told Cameron that he’d be stupid if he didn’t ask for my number and to take me to dinner. I think by the third night I was working here she started telling me she wished I worked for her and not her husband. Her full-time employee ended up deciding to move and when she had the opening she told me I didn’t have a choice. So I started working two jobs. She and Frankie are basically my family.”
“So his Dad is in London a lot then?”
“Lives in London actually. When Frankie decided he was moving they closed up the bar back home. Frankie was all he had when Catherine died so Patrick came with. He actually lives in the flat upstairs. I’m surprised he’s not down here already.”
“It’s because I move slower than you dollface,” came the gruff voice from the back of the bar. I peaked around the corner to see Patrick walking towards me. He was average height with gorgeous grey eyes and dark hair. He had aged well, still a solid build and moved well for his age. His accent was still thick even after ten years of living in London. When he approached I was sitting on the back bar like I usually did. “If I didn’t think you were the cutest thing I’d seen America export I’d tell you to get your arse off my bar.” He kissed my cheek. “Who are you?” I laughed as Patrick crossed his arms over his chest and stared Harry down.
“I’m Harry.” He stuck his hand forward to shake Patrick’s. I watched him eye Harry and then his hand before he shook it.
“This the one Lizzy told me about?” I nodded. “She claims he’s better than Cameron. Which can’t be hard, his stupid arse didn’t deserve you. But I don’t know that this one does either. He’s got long hair and I’ve seen him on the tele. My little babies bat their eyelashes at him.”
“He’s good Patty. Pretty good. We can keep him around for a while.” One more look at Harry and he turned to me. He leaned in and whispered in my ear.
“Looks at you the way I did Catherine and Frankie does Lizzy. I’ll let him hang around. He hurts you I get to be the first to kick his arse though.”
“Always,” I whispered back kissing his cheek. I thought my heart was gonna burst at his comment. Did he really look at me like that? How had I not noticed? I’d seen a look in Patrick and Frankie that I suddenly realized was written all over Harry’s face. It was the look Frankie got when Lizzy walked in to a room or snuck a kiss from him. Like the world spun on an axis based upon where Lizzy stood on it. It was the same look that Patrick got when he was telling stories about Catherine. My stomach filled with a billion butterflies. How long had Harry been looking at me like that?
“So what brings you two out in this shit?” Patrick grabbed the bottle of Jameson and poured himself a glass. He gestured to Harry who hesitated. I made sure Patrick couldn’t see me and nodded.
“Don’t turn down Jameson,” I silently mouthed. Harry nodded and took the glass from Patrick before taking a quick drink. “We came to borrow the shovels. Harry’s car is stuck in front of my flat. He got snowed in after a night out on Friday.”
“You didn’t come here on Friday,” Patrick said.
“I know. We went to The World’s End. I thought I needed a night away from here. Or at least that’s what your son told me when he gave me the weekend off. Said not to set foot in here until preferably Wednesday for my shift but Monday for dinner was acceptable.”
“He’s a good boy. Looks out for you.”
“He does. Though I think if he didn’t between you and his wife he’d be in a world of pain. Patrick and Lizzy started the Annie Fan Club when I moved here. No lie, he threatened to punch Cameron a few times.”
“I could’ve taken him in my younger days.”
“I know Patty, I know.” I laughed a bit. “You doin’ okay. I thought about coming to check in but it was cold and I figured if you needed me you’d call.”
“I was fine. Watched footie and stayed by the fire. Frankie volunteered to come get me. I think it was because he was severely outnumbered in that house. Four against one seems unfair,” Patrick said.
“Lyla against anyone can be unfair,” Harry said. “That girl’s got a wicked sense of humor.”
“She does, doesn’t she,” Patrick said laughing. “Keeps my kid on his toes those girls do. Between Lizzy and Lyla he’s gonna grey pretty early, not to mention Maddy and Cate. If Lindsay still lived in London he’d be one foot in the grave already. Though I think you’ve filled her shoes wonderfully.”
“I try. So you need anything?”
“Just to interrogate your new boyfriend a little.” I about choked on the water I’d started to drink. Patrick said boyfriend and Harry didn’t flinch. Even with the glass of Jameson to his lips.
“What do you want to know?” Harry asked.
“Where are you from?”
“Holmes Chapel, it’s in Cheshire.”
“Age?”
“19, I’ll be 20 on Saturday.” Patrick looked at me and shook his head.
“She’s a bit of a cougar that one.” Harry laughed.
“I am not,” I defended.
“You are too. But that’s okay. Someday you’ll realize you’re looking the wrong direction when it comes to age. I’m like a good whiskey. Better with the years.” Harry and I both laughed. “And you’re in that band that the girls play?”
“I am.”
“So do you do the drug, sex and rock and roll lifestyle?”
“Not at all. I like to have control over my senses so I don’t do drugs, a drink or two every now and then I’m okay with. I’m in a boy band. Not sure you can classify us as rock and roll. As for the sex portion, I’m a man and can appreciate a beautiful woman, but I feel that they need to be treated like a treasure and not trash.”
“Your Mum must’ve raised you right,” Patrick said.
“She did, thank you. I’ve been asking your little dollface to drinks for a solid month, almost two and she refused. I was persistent, kept asking. But didn’t ever push too hard because I wanted her to feel comfortable making the decision she wanted.”
“Good boy. She’s a bit chicken sometimes.”
“She is. But she’s pretty amazing.”
“She absolutely is. So where do you live then?”
“I’ve got a house in Hampstead, a few blocks from Lizzy’s shop.”
“The kids live over there these days. Tried to convince me to move in to the little cottage in their garden. But they need their space and I mine. Can’t bring ladies home with my grandbabies watching me.” I started to laugh. He was getting up there in age but boy was Patrick a ladies man, or at least thought himself one.
“Of course. You need your space to be manly. Though it is nice to have a woman around sometimes.”
“Oh he’s got plenty of women around in his life. And I’m not including me or Lizzy. Did you friend come see you on Friday?” He’d been chatting up a regular for a while. She was in her 50s and widowed about five years ago. They’d evidently been friends for years but within the last few months there were a few times I saw her car in back after I left work at night. And even a few times I saw it there when I opened the next day. Neither wanted anything serious. They’d both had the loves of their lives but both knew that they didn’t want to be lonely anymore.
“She did.”
“Good.” I saw Harry finish the last of his drink. “Okay, we should probably go. We need to get his car free so he and his friend Niall can go home.”
“That’s the Irish one right?” I nodded. “He’s Cate’s favorite.”
“He is Cate’s favorite. Maddy loves Louis.”
“He’s the one that plays footie?” I nodded again. “You play footie mate?”
“I try. Not all that great. Lou is by far better. Niall too.”
“Well good then. My girls can’t like shit footie players.” Harry laughed.
“They both love Harry but Cate’s logic is that we can’t fight over favorites. And since they believe Harry is my favorite then they picked others.”
“Believe I am your favorite, are you saying I’m not?” Harry asked.
“Well we have been instructed not to like shitty footie players by Papa. So I’m with Maddy on Team Louis.” Harry flipped me off.
“You’re gonna hurt his feelings dollface. Be kind.”
“He knows I’m kidding Patty. He’s absolutely my favorite. It’s his curls and those damn dimples. You know how I love a good dimple.” Patrick smiled and you could see one giant dimple form in his right cheek.
“You do have a thing for dimples.”
“Okay, we’re gonna take the shovels and go dig his car out. I’ll bring them back tonight and help you scoop the walk so it’s clear for morning. Want me to bring you some leftover pasta?”
“Always,” he said as I jumped down off the counter. He pulled me in to a hug and kissed my cheek. “Be careful and keep warm.”
“It was nice to meet you Mr.,” Harry paused.
“O’Brien. My name’s on the goddamn door. You had to pick the smart one huh?” I started to laugh harder than I should.
“He’s very smart. He just doesn’t know Lizzy’s last name. Don’t call him Mr. O’Brien. Patrick or Patty is just fine,” I said.
“Nice to meet you Patrick. Hopefully we’ll get a chance to talk again soon.”
“You play your cards right with this one and I’m sure we will.” We grabbed the shovels and were back on the street. Harry was still holding my hand even though we both had a shovel in the other.
“Patrick seemed cool.”
“He’s amazing. One of my favorite parts of my job. He interrupted the story though. He and Frankie sold the building when he decided to move here. The doors on the front and the bar are from the original O’Brien’s back home. Shipped everything here when they opened up this place after they were both settled. There’s two flats above the bar. Both relatively small. Until they got pregnant with Cate, Lizzy and Frankie lived in one. They had rented it to Nate until he moved. It’s sat empty the last few months. I’d thought about it but Kim would have nowhere to go.”
“Why would you think about it? You’ve got an amazing flat.”
“We do. And I love it. The flats upstairs are really cool though. All original finishes. There’s a stained glass window in each of the bedrooms that had been from the bar back in Ireland. They added them to the flats to give the building that appeal. There’s a fireplace in each of them too. Just above the fireplace in the bar. Plus I’d be able to watch over Patty. Though he told me I’d cramp his style.” Harry started to laugh.
“So two months on both of those relationships before marriage?” Harry asked.
“Two months. But Frankie decided he wanted a big family. They waited until Lizzy was 28 and Frankie was 32 to have Cate and then two years later Maddy came along. The girls really wanted a baby brother for Christmas. I think at some point they will. Maybe try separating the age a bit more. Get Cate in to school first.”
“So Cate, she’s named after Frankie’s mom?” I nodded.
“Catherine Elizabeth O’Brien. And then Maddy is Madeline Jane, named for Lizzy’s mother. I sort of hope they have a boy for the next kid. Lizzy and I have talked and she wanted to name a boy Patrick. I’d love to see Patty with a boy around. It would be incredible.”
“They really are your family.”
“Yup, they really are. I mean it’s been a few weeks that Lizzy has been trying to get me to let her plan a birthday party for me. Cate and Maddy really want to have a giant party for me. They think it must be so cool to turn 30. I told them when they were my age they wouldn’t think that. I’d rather forget about the upcoming birthday and pretend I’m 29. Never celebrate a birthday again. 30 seems so strange.”
“You can’t stop celebrating birthdays.” He squeezed my hand tight in his. The birthday that was looming in my future hadn’t sat right with me the entire year I faced it. I didn’t want to turn 30. I wanted to give my 20s a shot at being a good decade and not one of turmoil like they had been. They were just starting to get good as they needed to end and I felt that my 30s were going to be a time to grow up and deal with the realities of life. That maybe the fun would stop again. “You’ll find a way to make it special.”
“Maybe,” I said. We spent some time digging the car out before heading upstairs. We made sure Niall was ready to go and the boys gathered their things up.
“Thanks for letting us stay all weekend,” Harry said as he set his bag by the bedroom door and came over to the bed and climbed on top of the covers next to where I was laying. “It was fun. I’m actually sort of glad we got snowed in here.”
“Me too.” He leaned forward to kiss me softly. “Will you call and let me know you got home okay?”
“Sure. It’ll be a while. I need to drop Niall off first.” He kissed me again this time it was slower, sweeter but still so very soft. “I don’t know how I’m going to sleep tonight. One weekend and I’m already addicted to your cuddles.”
“I know,” I said pulling him closer to me.”I feel like I’m going to have withdrawal symptoms. This crazy right? All of this? So quickly.”
“It feels like it but I’m not gonna fight it. It’s so comforting and wonderful.” It was a few more minutes of silence and kisses before there was a knock at the door.
“You ready to go Harry?” Niall called.
“Yeah,” he replied simply. He sounded a bit disappointed that he actually had to leave. “I’ll call you. I can take the shovels back to Patrick if you want.”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll walk them over. I should take him the spaghetti I promised anyway.”
“Be safe and bundle up.”
“I will.” One more kiss and he stood up from bed. I watched as he walked out the door, leaving it open. Niall peaked his head in and said his goodbyes and they were gone. It wasn’t even a minute later and Kim was in the door.
“Are you gonna get out of bed and tell me what the smitten face is all about or lay there and pretend like you don’t like you were just beat senselessly by Cupid?”
“I’m gonna get up but my bed smells like him. It’s a bit intoxicating really.” I forced myself from bed and followed Kim upstairs. We talked as I prepared the pasta to take to Patrick. She told me that she and Niall had a long talk this afternoon. They didn’t want to rush things. Nothing exclusive. Nothing serious. Sort of how it had been with Nathaniel because she was so busy and Niall wouldn’t always be in London for any sort of extended time period for the foreseeable future. I told her that it was the opposite with me. That I had told Harry that I didn’t want him to go. That we’d both admitted we felt crazy but weren’t going to fight it because it felt right even if it felt like the world was spinning at some crazy rate and crumbling around us for feeling like this. I didn’t tell her about Patrick’s comment. I wanted to keep that to myself but I also wanted to talk to Lizzy. She knew what it felt like to be looked at that. That magnetic pull to a person even though every bit of logic in your head was shouting at you not to let it happen.
I bundled myself back up in my coat and boots and made the short walk back to O’Brien’s and dropped off the shovels and his food. I’d been warming up a bit when my phone rang. It was Harry. I quickly said my goodbyes to Patrick and snuck out.
“Hey,” I said finally.
“Hi. I almost hung up. I could hear voices but you didn’t say hi.”
“I know. Sorry. I didn’t want you to think I was avoid the call but I needed to say bye to Patty.”
“You walking back now?” he asked.
“I am.” I heard him sigh. It was the same sound he’d made when he’d gotten settled in to bed this weekend. I imagined that he was laying on his bed, happy to be home for the night. “So you made it ok.”
“I did. Took a bit longer than it should’ve. But luckily Niall and I didn’t get stuck or anything. Just had to drive slower than I normally do.” He was quiet for a minute. “I should’ve stayed.”
“It’ll be good. We will see each other tomorrow. What time are you picking me up?” I asked. I was excited for this date. I wanted it to be tomorrow morning already.
“11:00 okay?” he asked.
“Perfect. Do I need to dress a specific way?”
“Bring a winter coat, scarf and beanie. Warm but not warm enough that if we are inside that you’ll feel like you’re melting. And don’t forget to pack a bag for tomorrow night. You could maybe bring something nice for dinner.”
“Alright. This is intriguing. I’m excited.”
“Me too.” He paused again. “This is crazy.”
“It is. But sometimes crazy is just what you need.” He talked to me for the rest of my short walk home and made sure I was in the safety of my flat before he’d let me hang up with promises of a wonderful first date and a few kisses in the morning.

Notes

The boys are home safely and it's almost time for the first date!

It's good we finally got to meet some of the rest of the cast of characters in Annie's life and learn a little more about Frankie, Lizzy and O'Brien's. There will be so much more to learn about the O'Brien family and I can't wait for it to happen.

What will Lizzy say to Annie when they talk about Patrick's comment? Are Annie and Harry going to end up as part of the whirlwind love stories that the O'Brien family has experienced or will the initial feelings from the weekend melt as the snow does? Are Niall and Kim are being honest with each other and Annie and Harry about just wanting it to be casual or is there something there we could see in the future? What could Harry possibly be planning for their first date? What do YOU think he's planning? What do you think of this lovely weekend? Leave it in the comments. I'd love to hear what you thought of this chapter. It's the first new 100% new one I've written in a long time for Annie and Harry and I love it. Do you?

Comment, message, tweet, vote, subscribe, recommend to friends, rate. All those wonderful things that tell me you're loving this adventure as much as Annie and Harry are!!

A bit about today's title. I Want Crazy by Hunter Hayes. I've got quite the range of music in my iTunes and love everything. Hunter Hayes is one crazy talented kid. His guitar skills blow my mind. I think that I Want Crazy is a perfect description for how things are for Annie and Harry thus far. Easy is overrated sometimes. And there can be an ease to the crazy even. What song do you think of when you read Annie and Harry's story?

Find me on Twitter and Tumblr!
www.twitter.com/raybansncoffee
www.raybansandcoffee.tumblr.com