Joshua // j.bradley ✔︎

FØURTY-FIVE

"So what's new" Mum asked me, Callum and Tom had gone down to the pub to watch the football and Callum could see some of his old friends in the area.

"Well, I've been meaning to tell you but I have a boyfriend" I smiled thinking about Josh

"Aww sweetie, I'm happy for you, congratulations" She said taking a sip of her tea

"Thanks Mum" I replied

"So what's he like?" She asked

"He's actually one of Callum's friends, he does Youtube as well, but I met him as he kept coming into where I work and one day he asked me out on a date" I told her

"That's cute" She smiled

"Yeah, he got me these for Christmas actually" I said showing her the ring and the necklace, she saw the ring earlier and thought I had gotten engaged which then led to her asking if I was pregnant because I hadn't mention any guys for a while until she realized it was on the wrong hand. I took the ring off and showed her the message engraved on the inside.

"He seems nice, when can I meet him?" She asked practically bouncing up and down with excitement

"He sounded pretty keen on coming with me earlier, he seems to think that because he has a beard parents will love him" I chuckled

"He's probably not wrong" She said

"Seriously, that's a thing?" I said surprised

"No Alexandra" She chuckled

"Well if you watch Callum's videos you may know of him" I said

"Maybe, I watch them from time to time" She said, I pulled out my phone and found the video Josh and I did together where he did my makeup, I played it as my Mum and I watched it

"He's handsome" She said

"And funny" She said a short while later when the video had finished. I put my phone back in my pocket,

"I want to meet him more now" She said

-

"Alex!" My 2-year-old cousin ran, well stumbled over to me with her arms out

"Niamh" I bent down as she ran into my arms and I picked her up,

"Good to see you again Alex" My aunt came in and gave me a hug

"You too Aunty Caoimhe" I said, my mother had all the family over. Another Christmas tradition, each family has Christmas at home but in the evening after dinner one family hosts Christmas and boxing day is another's duty, it's fun chilling with the family my mother's side obviously we see my dad's at Easter time but most of the time my step-dad doesn't come because he feels it's not his place.

"Let's go watch some TV and see everyone else yeah?" I said still holding Niamh as I took her into the living room which was filled with children, I was of course the oldest but I loved kids so I would chill with them than hear all the adult conversations. Callum was in there talking with some of the boys who were about 15/16 and a few girls were listening as well whilst I took to the younger ones.

"Who wants to watch a movie" I said over all the noise and was return with a bunch of yes's. I flicked through the channels and found the polar express my favorite Christmas film, I put it on and it was just about to start all the kids sat on the sofas and on the floor, it reminded me of the boy's house when we would watch movies. I pulled my phone out to take a video and put on my Snapchat story which was then followed by a picture of me and Niamh.

"You'd make a great mum but it doesn't mean I want any little Josh's" Callum said to me

"Shut up" I poked him with my elbow as I giggled. About 30 minutes into the film my phone started vibrating in my pocket, I pulled it out to see a FaceTime call from Josh,

"Niamh, I need to go for a second. Alex has a phone call" I spoke in the third person which is something kids understand

"Noo, no leave" She whispered she had an Irish accent like her mother

"Do you want to come?" I asked and her little head shook up and down frantically, I looked at Callum and mimed phone call before I left with Niamh to go up to my room. The call request had obviously ended by the time I got up there so I rung him back and he answered.

"Hey" I said when he connected

"Hey how's things at the McGinley household" He asked

"Good, I am playing mother for about 20 kids, well Callum is right now but I was until you called" I told him

"Cal and kids? Are you sure that's a good idea?" He chuckled

"As much of an idiot that he makes out to be he is actually really good with kids" I smiled, just then Niamh started to cry

"One sec" I said setting my phone down and going to pick her up

"What's wrong baby" I said bouncing her up and down, she started giggling so I'm guessing she just wanted attention.

"I'm back" I picked up my phone and sat back down on my bed with the baby sitting on my lap

"Who's that?" Josh asked smiling

"Go on tell him your name" I said to Niamh

"I'm Niamh" She said in her cute baby voice

"Nice to meet you Niamh, I'm Josh" He spoke to her, she giggled at him,

"She likes you" I chuckled

"And so does my mum, I showed her the video we did" I told him

"Told you it's the beard" He laughed