“It looks fucking perfect to me.”
“You say that now; wait until you’re introducing me to your friends.” He pales slightly.
“Yeah, we’re definitely going to a hotel.”
Swatting his hand away, I step into my shoes and grab my shawl in the hope it might cover my cleavage. “Come on, they’ll be waiting.”
“They can wait until another night,” he sulks but reluctantly follows me from the room and down the stairs.
“Harlow, you look gorgeous,” Helen gushes when she comes to say goodbye.
“Thank you.”
“Careful with this one, Corey. Someone might want to steal her.”
“She won’t be leaving my sight,” he mutters, making us both laugh.
“Have a great night.”
She waves us off, and we find the Uber waiting for us.
Corey confirms our destination and the car sets off, giving me my first glimpse of London by night. I keep my nose practically against the window the entire time, taking everything in, much to Corey’s amusement.
“You adding more to that must-see list you’re hiding in your purse?” I turn to look at him.
“I’m not hiding it, I was just planning out loud.”
“Right. You weren’t that loud about it, because I had no idea.”
“Well, you do now. The most important thing is spending time with your family and friends, but if we get time, I’d like to see a few places.”
“Your wish is my command, baby.”
I smile at him before turning back to the window.
I’ve always wanted to travel. We used to go to at least two different holiday locations each year when I was a kid, but with everything that happened, I never really got to do it recently. Something that I hope we can rectify in the coming years.
“We’re here,” Corey announces as the car comes to a stop outside a bar called The Pear Tree.
We thank the driver and climb out.
“Come here,” he says, pulling me into his side. “Look down there. You see that pink sign?” I nod. “That’s the original Rebel Ink. Where it all started. I’ll take you there another day. For now, you get to meet the guys who make it what it is.”
He holds the door open for me and I step through. Everything seems calm, normal, until he follows me. Then an eruption of noise comes from the corner of the bar and four tattooed guys come running at us.
I stand aside with a huge smile on my face as the four of them greet Corey as if they never thought they’d see him again.
“You’ll get used to them eventually,” a soft voice comes from beside me. Pulling my eyes away from the bromace happening before me, I find the kind eyes of a woman with pink hair. “Hey, I’m Tabitha. Although everyone calls me Biff. You must be Harlow. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Really?” I ask, baffled about how that can be.
“Yep, you’ve really stolen that guy’s heart, it seems.”
I look over to where he’s laughing and joking with his friends, and my heart damn near explodes in my chest with everything I feel for him. Seeing him back here with the people that mean the world to him is everything to me.
“The same can be said for me.”
I look back to find her staring at me with a wide smile on her face.
“Let’s introduce you to this lot.”
“Hey, Kitten, who’s your new friend?” the blond guy asks with a wink at me. He knows full well who I am, as do I as I watch him sweep Biff into his arms. She’s not the only one who’s had a full rundown as to who everyone is. “Hey, I’m Zach,” he says. I expect him to hold his hand out, but, much to my surprise, he releases his girl and pulls me into a huge bear hug.
“Um… hey,” I say with a laugh.
“Get your hands off my girl, motherfucker,” Corey barks.
“S’all good, man. Just thanking her for looking after our boy.” Zach winks at Corey, but it doesn’t help relax him at all.
“So you’ve met my overly-handsy boss. This is Titch, Spike, and the old one is D.”
“Fuck you, man,” D grunts, much to everyone’s amusement.
After a few seconds, we all head over to the table they vacated when we arrived.
“Right, drinks,” Zach says, rubbing his hands together. “Pint?” he asks Corey. “Wine, cocktail…?” he says, turning to me.
“Um… just an orange juice please.”
Everyone’s silent for a beat. As far as I know, they have no idea about the baby, but it seems that’s all about to end.
“Hell, yes. She’s pregnant.” Another round of excitement ensues, and I can’t help but sit here and laugh as they all give us their congratulations.
I love LA. It’s my home, and it’s where all the memories of my family are, but after even being here for just a few hours, I already know that I could make this place home. From the second I stepped off the plane, I was just relaxed. I’m not sure if it’s just the company and I’d feel that way wherever I am in the world, as long as Corey is by my side, or if it’s the place.
I turn to look at him as he laughs with his friends. He must feel my stare, because he turns his eyes on me.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” I say with a smile. “Everything is perfect.”
I have no idea if he’d ever want to move back, but I decide there and then that if he ever brought it up, there’s no way I’d stop him. I think we could be really happy here.
Our two weeks in Corey’s home city pass in the blink of an eye. We spend time with his family every day and meet up with his Rebel Ink family more often than not. I get a tour of the studio, which looks freakishly like the one I’m used to in LA. I even spend a day with Biff and her best friend Danni while the guys hang out. It’s incredible, but it reminds me of just how much I miss
