Chapter 4

Pippa smiles as she exits her classroom at the end of the day, finding J leaning against the wall across from the room. She glances around before moving across the corridor to stand in front of him, smiling as he reaches down to cup her cheek in his hand, tilting her head up to kiss her.

"Hey," she says softly, pressing a short kiss to his lips as she runs a hand down his arm, intertwining their fingers. "Thanks for waiting for me; you know how Mr Longford is...he goes on and on and on." She groans playfully, falling into his chest as he lets out a laugh.

"That's ok, I wasn't waiting long." He reassures her quickly, leaning down to kiss her. "Let's get out of here." Pippa smiles as she nods, letting him lead her down the corridor and out to their bikes.

They come to a stop at the beach, locking their bikes up before heading down to the sand to find somewhere to sit. J glances up in shock as Pippa whips her t-shirt off over her head, pulling off her shorts to reveal a swimsuit underneath.

"You came prepared." He jokes, watching as she pulls her hair up into a bun.

"Always dress to be ready for the beach, Josh! I don't leave the house without my swimsuit." She laughs, bending down to kiss him quickly. "You joining me?"

"Nah. I'll watch our stuff." Pippa shrugs in response before turning to jog off down the beach towards the water.

"Are you seriously doing homework at the beach?" Pippa calls teasingly as she ambles up the beach after her swim, towards J, who looks up at her with a smile, reaching a hand up to shield his eyes from the sun.

"I have a test tomorrow." He calls back, closing his notebook and sliding it back into his bag. Pippa gives him a wide smile as she approaches him, reaching down to grab her towel from her backpack, wrapping it around her shoulders before dropping on to the sand in front of him, her back resting against his chest. J wraps his arm around her waist, letting her get comfortable against his body, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

"I have something for you." J says, digging into his bag and pulling out the watch Pope had given him the previous day.

"What's this for?" Pippa asks, dropping her head on to his shoulder, looking up at him.

"Pope asked if I have a girl." J explains, securing the watch around Pippa's wrist as she watches him with a small, confused smile.

"Ok?"

"I said I did."

"Oh..." she draws out, tilting her wrist to inspect the watch, smiling as she runs her finger across the watch face.

"I want to give you this, Pippa, to show you in serious about us. That this isn't all just because I lost my mum-" J starts, Pippa cutting him off with a kiss.

"You're sweet." She says softly, turning in his arms to kiss him again. "You didn't need to do that. You don't need to prove anything to me, Josh. But I appreciate it. Thank you." J smiles as he pulls her back into his arms, capturing her lips in a deep kiss.

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Pippa smiles to Craig as she drops on to the edge of the pool beside him, handing him a beer as she does.

"Who's winning?" She asks, her eyes finding J in the pool and following him.

"Who knows. Can't even tell anymore." He grunts in reply with a laugh. The pair fall into an easy conversation about their days, Pippa leaning against Craig's good side as they watch the boys play ball in the pool.

"Jesus Christ, Craig. Stop him. Fuck." Pippa mutters, sitting up straight, watching as Pope holds J under water. Craig shrugs, laughing as J pops up, gasping for air. "Hey, are you ok?" She calls over to J, ignoring Pope calling out to his nephew as he swims over to Pippa. "You ok?" She repeats, running a hand through his hair as she drops her head down to his, pressing their lips together. J nods as he pulls away, resting his back against the wall, gently rubbing his hand along Pippa's calf to sooth her as she continues to run her hand through his hair. "They play rough, you'll get used to it."

"I'm ok." He reassures her, turning his body to look up at her, slinging his arm over her thigh. They both turn their attention back to Baz and Pope who had returned to wrestling under water, Pippa glancing back at the sound of Smurf heading their way.

"Come on, honey. Why don't you help me with the food trays?" Smurf suggests, resting her hand lightly on Pippa's shoulder, the younger girl nodding in response. She drops her head to J's, cupping his cheek as she kisses him before pushing herself up from the floor and following Smurf into the house.

"They're playing a little rough." She says softly as she leans against the counter beside Smurf, silently accepting the seasoning held out to her.

"They're boys sweetheart. That's what they do." Smurf replies, watching as Pippa sets the bowl in her hand down on the side, eyes glued to J as he reluctantly takes another shot. "You really like him, don't you?"

"Huh?" Pippa mumbles, snapping her head back to Smurf who gives her a knowing smile.

"It's ok if you do."

"He's a really nice guy." She replies with a small smile, glancing back out at the pool and making eye contact with J as he catches her watching him, lifting his hand in a wave. She responds with a smile and wave of her own before turning back to Smurf who was still watching her. "But the boys are being a little rough with him, right? You see it too?"

"Pip, honey, J is fine." Smurf reassures her, turning her attention back to the food as Pippa continues to watch the boys out of the window, biting her lip.

Pippa gives Smurf a small smile as she steps aside to let her pass, leaving J's room with a basket of laundry.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" She asks, stepping into his room.

"Not too bad." He replies, wrapping his arm around Pippa as she settles on to the bed beside him.

"This room stinks." She teases playfully, wrinkling her nose as she tucks her head against J's chest with a laugh.

"Sorry." He groans, pressing his lips to the crown of her head. "We could go to your room?" He suggests, letting out a light laugh as Pippa lets out a whiney 'no', followed by a long yawn as she tucks her arms tighter around his body.

"That wasn't very fair." She mumbles, turning to lay on her back, J's arms still tucked around her as she traces patterns with her finger on his arm.

"What wasn't?" He asks, ducking his head to look down at Pippa who was biting her lip, her brow furrowed.

"Pope making you take all those shots-"

"It's ok-"

"It's not ok, Josh." She cuts him off as he had done with her, pushing herself on to her elbows to look him in the eye. "They don't know when to stop, when enough is enough-"

"Pippa." J cuts her off gently, cupping her cheek with his hand. "I'm ok. It's done. It's over. But I can promise you, I won't be doing it again." He states with a laugh, dropping back into his back, Pippa moving to rest her head on his chest.

"Do you really feel that awful?" She asks softly, resting a hand on his chest as she looks up at him, nodding. "Is there anything I can do?" J shakes his head this time, dropping it briefly to press a kiss to the top of her head again.

"Just lay with me?" Pippa smiles up at his soft reply, leaning up to press a kiss to his jaw.

"I think I can do that." She replies gently, tucking her body close to his once more.