Love Hangover
I'm back
I had now been back in Walford a month. A crazy month might I add. I had been bombarded with visits from my friends. I had managed to stay in contact with everyone except Lucy, who had now moved to Devon. Whitney, Tyler, Fatboy and Poppy had all come round the following day after I had lunch with Joey and Alice. All catching me up on the latest square events, which were rather boring compared to what I was used to. There were a few differences now, Whitney and Tyler had their own place much like Fatboy and Poppy. It was nice to see that my friends were still as happy as they were when we last spoke. They had also filled me in on the fact Joey and Alice had become part of the group, much like my other cousin Dexter and now Abi and Jay. A full and blossoming friendship group, exactly what I needed right now, to get my mind off of that cheating scum I left in New York. Anyways more on that later.
Today I found myself apartment hunting, there wasn't much room at my parents' house now Abi had transformed the room and to be honest I didn't want to be living at home under their rules when I had lived alone for 5 years now. Deciding to bite the bullet and ask Joey to help me look for places to live he actually accepted straight away much to my surprise. He had suggested that a man should be with me whilst house hunting in case the estate agents tries to take the piss. Typical bloke.
So meeting up with Joey beforehand for coffee we found ourselves in the café an hour before meeting the estate agent. I was rather shocked that we had clicked so well, I felt like I had known him for ages, not a week. We had a natural connection and common ground between us. We had similar tastes in simply things like music, and films, we had practically the same sense of humour, Joey finding my sarcasm hilarious.
As we were sat in blissful conversation, my phone began ringing, glancing at the caller ID I spotted the number from a mile off, having deleted it from my contacts the week I left New York.
"Who's that?" Joey asked, he really was nosey, but noticing that I had rejected the call.
"Logan" I hissed, angry that he was trying to contact me, he must of heard that I had moved back to London.
"As in the one that cheated on you?" he prodded a little, his face tightening as mine fell. I hated being this sort of victim. I was cheated on by a vile man, let's move on and forget it.
"That's the one" I sighed, rubbing my forehead, trying to rid the thought of him bugging me, which he would now do. As on cue my phone began ringing again, but much to my surprise, Joey reached over, grabbing my phone in his hand, pressing accept.
"Joey what are you doing?" I hissed trying to snatch the phone away.
"Hello" he said, holding his finger up at me, telling me to be quiet.
"She's right next to me" Joey said, my face washing with confusion.
"I don't think it's any of your business where we are? Unless you want to know, not that you'll like it" Joey smirked, why was he insinuating that we were somewhere other than a café.
"Call again and you'll regret it" was his final words before ending the call handing me back my phone, cool as a cucumber.
"Joey, I don't need you playing the big protective cousin role, I can handle him on my own" I muttered, sliding my phone into my bag, cringing at the cousin word. He didn't seem like my cousin, more like a friend.
"You shouldn't have to, people like that need warning" he commented, taking the last gulp of his coffee, glancing at his watch. "We better get off, time for house hunting babe" he smirked, pushing his chair out. My stomach feeling almost light at the word babe that he so casually threw at me. Never been called babe before, well other than my dad, but he called everyone babe.
"Aye aye captain, lead the way" I replied, pushing him a little out the café door.
The first three apartments, were just outside of the square, each one pokey and cold, Joey shaking his head at each one as we walked through the door. The fourth be rejected just by the location, demanding that there was no way he was letting me live in such a dump. His protectiveness rather cute in all honesty. Another male other than my own dad being protective of me, it was something I could get used to, in a cousin sort of way I guess.
The fifth and final place was on the square, the flat next to uncle Jacks. Joey nodding in approval at it instantly, I had guessed this was because Uncle Jack would be closer to me, so someone was there but also that his house was a couple doors down. The estate agent let us in giving me a chance to view the flat. It had a nice open space kitchen and dining room, which led on into the lounge. Joey followed me into the bedroom, glancing around and pointing out the ensuite bathroom.
"I like it" I smiled, sitting on the edge of the bed, which was opposite a large window looking out onto the square.
"Yeah it's nice, central location, could see you living here babe" he replied, perching next to me on the bed, his fingers brushing over mine lightly, of course by accident, but for some reason I found myself blushing. Bloody idiot.
"Right well that's that then, better put an offer down" I concluded, removing myself from the situation, he is your cousin Lauren; you need to get over this ridiculous crush. Because that's what I put it down to a crush, because he was really good looking and sweet. I would soon get over it and that would be the end to it, or at least I hoped.