"Happy New Year, love."
Julie stroked Gill's cheek as their lips parted. It was their first New Year together and it was the best one either of them could remember. Having been told by his mother that Julie would be with her so she wouldn't be alone, Sammy decided that Gill wouldn't need him as comfort this year and had taken Orla down south to London to see the fireworks. Gill was a little put out that he didn't want to spend New Year with her and Julie, but she was grateful when it came to midnight and she could snog Julie's face off without embarrassment. They'd missed most of the firework display on the TV whilst taking part in the American tradition of sharing a kiss at the beginning of the new year, which turned into a full-on make-out session on the sofa.
"Happy New Year," Gill replied with a smile as she snuggled herself into Julie's side, one arm draped over her, and started to drift off.
"Eh, if you fall asleep here, I'm gonna have to carry you up the stairs, you lazy woman!"
"And? You've got enough muscle for the both of us." Gill squeezed Julie's upper arm to demonstrate.
"Maybe 20-odd years ago, on the job with adrenaline running through my veins, but not at gone midnight when I'm an exhausted 50-something-year-old and I've had 4 glasses of wine," Julie chuckled.
"Oh, go on. Give it a try," mumbled Gill. "I can't move."
"You're incorrigible, you know," said Julie as she pulled herself up slowly so as not to disturb Gill too much. She placed a kiss on her forehead and scooped Gill up in her arms ever so gently, letting out a slight groan as she did.
"God, you weigh a ton," said Julie mockingly.
"Rude," replied Gill, eyes still closed and with a grin as she hid her face in Julie's neck.