mutuality | wroetoshaw

forty nine

For central London, and with my paycheck, my apartment was actually really perfect. Now that everything was unpacked, and decorated, with all my friends' help, I felt more at home than ever.

Which was why I'd convinced myself, Harry and all our friends that it was the perfect place to get drunk together.

The living room was huge, adjoined to an open kitchen with a countertop that could definitely act as a bar. It was perfect.

Which was why, by seven in the evening my doorbell rang with the first guest.

Though, I wasn't really sure I could label him as a guest. He was more of a part time resident by now, but regardless, I welcomed him in with a hug and a kiss.

"Hey, you. Got the stuff you asked for," Harry says, setting down the Tesco bag on the table, and we can both hear the bottles of alcohol clink together.

"Thanks," I grin, grabbing hold of his hand and pulling him into the living room. "It looks tidy in here, right? I did a quick Hoover but it's the first time everyone's properly been round. I don't want them to think I'm a slob, even if I am."

He briefly looks around but looks back at me immediately. "Tilly," he says slowly, a hand resting on my shoulder. "Stop stressing. Everyone coming are your friends. They won't care about how your place looks, they're here because they love you -"

"- and because they want to get drunk," I add in, but nod my head along, listening to what he's saying.

"And that, yes. But stop worrying. It's all fine," he reassures me, kissing my cheek.

"Worrying is all I've ever done. I'm great at it. Don't you think I'm great at it?" I ramble, pacing up and down the living room, his reassurance clearly not as effective as he'd hoped it to be.

"You are great at worrying. Perhaps a little too great?" He questions suggestively, taking out some of the alcohol from the bag, letting me walk it out because sometimes that was all I needed.

"Maybe that's true," I sigh, jumping slightly when the doorbell rings again.

"Kon and Kirsty?" He questions, and I reply by nodding my head. They'd both also offered to come early to help set up, and grab anything last minute.

I open the door, and Kon catches me out instantly.

"What're you worrying about now?" He asks, Kirsty following him into my place.

"Nothing," I lie, giving Kirsty a hug, considering it's the first time I've seen her since the whole Ryan drama.

"Harry, what's wrong with your girlfriend?" Kon now reiterates, catching Harry's attention.

"She's worried about it being messy, despite there not even being a speck of dust on the floor," he replies casually, setting the bottles on the countertop.

"Girl, don't even start. It's so nice in here," Kirsty says, joining Harry by the kitchen, starting to unload all of her stuff too. "We've just got to go back down to grab the beers. Back up in a sec," she calls out, taking Kon with her, leaving the door slightly ajar.

"Told you it wasn't messy," Harry repeats himself, shaking his head fondly.

"Okay, okay. As long as no one goes into my room, it'll be fine —"

"Tilly, no one is going in your room. Please stop stressing!" Harry laughs gently, coming back over towards me and wrapping his arms around my lower back, peering at me. "Except for me. Maybe I'll go in your room later," he grins, wiping all the anxiety from my body, replaced with many other feelings instead.