I try to wrap my head around what happened today. I curl up on the couch and try to cool down. I'm sure my cheeks are still tinted pink.
Ron sits next to me, which honestly doesn't help the situation. He lets out a deep sigh.
"The books weren't that heavy were they?" I ask.
"No, it's just Rosie. I still feel pretty horrible about it,"
I can tell he's really worried about her. "You know, since we're supposedly dating now, you should know that I broke my arm when I was little too. Probably around six. If you give her extra attention she'll be just fine."
"Thanks. You already helped with that." He scoots closer to me and casually slips his arm around my shoulder.
"What are you doing…" I stammer out.
"Sorry, I thought we should practice. You know for the wedding. And your Mom." Ron says.
He starts to move his arm, but I stop him and lean in a bit more. "No, you're right. So I guess you should probably know a few things about me."
"Yeah. S'pose that would be nice." He absentmindedly starts running a hand through my tangled curls.
I suppress the moan that wants to escape. He's really good at this. "So, as you already know, I'm an only child with protective parents."
"Aren't all parents like that?" Ron asks. "I know I am.
"From what I can tell you're a great Dad. And you've got a lovely sister." I look up at him to see him blushing.
"Well there's a lot more of them who would find our situation amusing," Ron says. He slowly detangles his finger from my hair.
"How many siblings do you have?" I ask with great curiosity.
"Si…Five, now. One of my twin brothers died almost a year ago." Ron says. I can hear the emotion in his voice.
"I'm sorry," I say. "If you need me to watch Rose or anything, I can."
"Thanks. So, this wedding. Does uhh Hannah know about the plan to actually pretend to be my girlfriend? She knows we aren't, right?"
"Yeah she knows you're not my boyfriend, so I guess I should talk to her."
"Right. She might think you've lost it if she sees me kiss you or something," Ron says as nonchalantly as possible.
Kiss. He wants to kiss me? I can feel my cheeks warming at the thought.
He clears his throat. "Hermione, did you hear me?"
"No. Sorry. What?" I shove my hands in the pockets of my dress.
"Well I was offering to have you stay at my place until you at least find a decent bed. And before you ask it's no trouble. I have a guest room."
"Ron, I can't do that. What about Rose?" I ask.
"Well, if you think about it, it would be a great way to get to know each other quicker. You know, make the dating thing really believable." He reasons.
"Hmm good point. But I really need to focus on getting all my furniture and getting organized for work.
Ron nods in the direction of the front window. "Isn't that your Mom?"
"What?!" I pull Ron away from the window, successfully managing to stand as close to him as possible. "She's going to be so mad. She never wanted me to move here in the first place."
When no one knocks at the door, I sneak a peek and see the woman walk into another apartment. "That wasn't her. And for the record don't joke like that."
Ron backs up in surrender, making me giggle.
"Sorry," he mumbles.
"No, I'm the one who freaked out. My parents are…just annoying. They have expectations for me and I'm not meeting them." I sit down on the floor and rest my hand on my forehead.
Ron's phone buzzes in his back pocket. "It's Ginny," he says. "They just got to my place with Rose."
I stand up and brush the particles of dust off my dress. "Oh, you should go then. Maybe I can call you later to go over a plan for tomorrow. I really would like a bed to sleep on eventually."
"Why don't you come over for dinner. I'm going to make Rosie's favorite and we can actually talk more."
"Well what's her favorite?" I ask, out of great curiosity as to what a 3 year old eats.
"She loves my oatmeal and eggs." Ron beams proudly.
I must make a face, because Ron looks offended.
"Hey now, I make good oatmeal and I'm still amazed that she eats my eggs."
"I really should call Hannah and Neville. Call me when you get her to bed."
"Alright. Wish me luck," Ron says with a smile. He reaches out and takes my hand and squeezes it gently. "Goodnight."
When I'm sure he is out of listening range, I squeal like a teenager. This man is going to break me. I hit 3 on my speed dial and wait for Hannah to pick up.
"Hey Hermione. I'm so glad you called! How was your day with Ronald?" Hannah asks.
"Amazing and so confusing all at once."
"How can it be amazing and confusing?" Neville asks. Clearly Hannah has her phone on the speaker.
"Hi, Neville. Okay, so just hear me out. Ron and his kid bumped into me last week and now my mom had to show up."
"Kid? You never said anything about a kid!" Hannah says.
"How old is it?" Neville chimes in.
"She is 3 and her name is Rose. That's beside the point." I sigh a little too loudly.
"Hermione. What's going on?" Hannah asks.
I make Neville leave so I can spill everything about how Ron is making me feel, despite knowing little about him.
"So you like him, what's the big deal?"
"I didn't tell you the worst of it."
"Oh my God, are you falling in love with him?"
"No…no I don't think so. No. So you know my mom. You know how she is about my lack of a love life."
"Hermione, what are you trying to say?"
Hannah asks.
"Well, because of my mom, apparently Ron and I have been dating for a month and we are very happy. So if you see us at the wedding don't be alarmed. I just thought I'd let you guys know." I sigh in exasperation and shift uncomfortably on the couch. " I should have accepted his offer." I mumble.
"What offer?" Hannah pryes.
Crap. Wasn't quiet enough. "He offered to let me stay with him until we can get the rest of my furniture and he can finish helping me settle into this place."
"Hermione! The charmer who you actually like asked you to stay at his apartment! With him! Pack a bag and get over there!"
I can see a light on in his apartment. "This could be the strangest thing I've ever done."