As the morning came, Kayleigh was facing the window with Johns arm around her. Kayleigh turned round to face John who was still asleep. She couldn't help but just stare at this lovely man who had entered her life and seemed to make everything feel right.
John's eyes started to flicker until they were partly open, he turned his head away slightly to open them fully and then looked back at Kayleigh.
"Have you been watching me sleep?"
Kayleigh just smiled.
"How long you been staring for? You coulda got up and made a brew?"
Kayleigh playfully tapped his chest "morning to you too."
John laughed and kissed her on the check as he sat up "morning you."
Kayleigh sat up too and rested her head against Johns chest as he put his arm round her.
"Spose I better go and get us a brew then" he said yawning.
"Yeah you had John, I'm the guest remember?"
"How can I forget...you come round here nick me t-shirt, nick half the covers, stare at me whilst I'm sleeping, yet I have to make the tea..." John said playfully.
"Oi you, you invited me...I didn't ask ya to have me over" she said tapping his chest playfully again.
John laughs.
"Did you hear from your Mandy last night? She didn't mind you staying over did she?"
"No course not, I'm not 14, and I'm actually the older sister! She just likes to know if I'm coming home or not."
"Mmm well its understandable in this day and age...Did she mention anything after Friday night?"
"You mean did she tell me if she liked you or not?"
"Mmm."
"Aw John...she really liked ya...after she realised you weren't as odd as you first appeared!"
"Eh!? What'd ya mean odd?" John took offence.
"Well...not 'odd' exactly...she understood you were just nervous."
"Oh right...Really made a good impression then?" John uttered sceptically.
"You did, honestly. Lordy John talk about taking everything to heart. Steve's already been raving about ya to our Mand anyway."
"Oh right...what'd he say then?"
"Just that you are a good guy and Mandy said we seem to be well suited."
"Good! Well I'm gonna get this brew" he kissed Kayleigh on the lips before releasing her from his grip and getting his polo shirt and jeans on.
Kayleigh got out of bed too and put on her Jeans under John's t-shirt she had slept in.
"That T-shirt definitely suits you...you can borrow it next time you stop over" he smiled.
"So there will be a next time then? You're not sick of me yet?" she giggled.
John smiled and turned toward the door he paused and turned his head to look at Kayleigh "never" he said bashfully and left the room.
After they had their cup of tea John told Kayleigh he was going to grab a shower and to help herself to anything in the kitchen.
"I'll drop ya off on the way to me Mums."
"Ah, you having dinner at your Mums?"
"Yeah, I would ask ya to come, but its for our Paul's Birthday...I'd rather introduce ya properly...and Paul would hate me stealing the limelight on his birthday" John joked.
"It's fine John, I wasn't expecting an invite."
"I know you weren't, just wanted ya to know I'm not trying to hide ya away or anything."
"Have you told them about me?"
"Yeah...I've mentioned you to me Mum and Nan."
"Only mentioned?" she smiled.
"Well...I've told them I'm seeing someone...they know your name...and I've shown them a picture...trouble is they think you've got a beard" John laughed.
"You didn't show them that pic?!" Kayleigh replied horrified.
"Well its the only one I've got...it was on my screensaver...that's how they started digging. Don't worry I told them you were in costume."
"Cant believe that John...I would have sent you a better one if I knew you wanted me as your screensaver!"
"Well that would take the intrigue away...keep em guessing...it'll be a pleasant surprise when they do meet ya. Anyway I'm gonna shower...help yourself to breakfast" John ran upstairs.
Kayleigh couldn't wipe the smile off her face despite the screensaver fiasco. She also couldn't believe the compliments John was giving, although they were drip fed to her or masked by humour she knew in her heart he meant them. Though she was still waiting for those all important three words to be said.
Once they were both dressed and ready they headed out the door.
"Hello John" said an elderly man in his garden next door to John.
"Hiya Ian you alright? How's Margaret?"
"Same as ever."
"Good, good." John turns to Kayleigh and whispers "quick get in the car" then turns back to Ian "nice seeing ya Ian."
"Is this your new lady friend?"
"Aye...yeah...this is Kayleigh" John said awkwardly.
"Hiya love, I'm Ian, lived next to this one since he's been here...lovely lad."
"Nice to meet you Ian." John was nudging Kayleigh to move "maybe I'll see you again some other time."
"Aye hope so love..."
"See ya Ian, we're in a bit of a rush."
"No problem son. Eh hope she lasts longer than the others?" he laughed, whilst John just stared at him.
John and Kayleigh got in the car "what was all that about John?"
"What?"
"You practically dragged me in the car?"
"We would never have got away...he can talk the hind legs off a donkey him...you'd have ended up staying another night" John winks.
"He seemed harmless enough."
"Oh he is, he's a lovely man...you'll see him again."
"What did he mean by the others?"
"Eh?" replied John as he started the engine.
"He said 'hope she lasts longer than the others' thought you only lived there with Charlotte?"
"I did."
"So what did he mean then?"
"I don't know" said John.
"Yes you do, you're being...odd."
"Well that seems to be the way I behave lately doesn't it? Just keeping consistent" he smiled.
"I don't feel you're being honest John, tell me what he meant?!"
"God sake woman!" John was getting frustrated "look...after Charlotte left, I wasn't looking for love, I told ya that...but it doesn't mean I lived as a monk...I told ya before a man has needs."
"What do ya mean?"
"What do ya think I mean?"
"I don't know John, that's why I am asking?"
"There may have been a few...women... who I kinda...saw...for a very short period of time...that didn't mean anything..."
"So there have been other women accept Anna and Charlotte?!"
"Er...sort of...they weren't relationships...One was just a two week thing and the other...well...wasn't long at all...anyway this was about 2 years ago...I didn't even know you properly then!"
"That's not the point...I thought you weren't looking for anyone and was happy on your own...yet turns out you'd been on the hunt the whole time!"
"Eh?...hang on a minute...when we met you were on ...if things had worked out with JapSi or...whatshisface...PussyLover...you would have been...ya know...whilst car sharing with me. I've not dated or tried to date another woman since we started car sharing."
"Er...Rachel?!"
"There was nowt going on with Rachel...I told ya."
Kayleigh crossed her arms and stared out of the window.
John turned to her and softly asked "Why are you so angry about this?"
"Because I thought we had something special and now it turns out I'm just another notch on the bed post!"
"Your not another notch on the bed post we haven't down owt yet!"
"That's makes it even worse John."
"How?!" John said in shock.
"Well you keep me at arms length all this time yet those other two women get the green light straight into your house and bed!"
"Because I wasn't in love with them was I?!" John raised his voice in frustration.
Kayleigh looked at John opened mouthed "What did you say?"
"You heard...cloth ears!"
"I want to hear it again."
"I'm not repeating it...you heard." John was quite fed up so even though she didn't quite get the three words she wanted Kayleigh decided not to push it.
They drove in silence for a while with Forever FM playing in the background, the song Joyride by Roxette began to play.
The song seemed too jolly after the conversation that just happened, but both John and Kayleigh felt the song summed up aspects of their love for eachother.
Kayleigh turned to look at John "I'm sorry John...I shouldn't have kicked off like I did...I don't know what came over me."
"Don't worry about it...I get it...I didn't like hearing about Rick trying it on with you either."
Kayleigh grabbed Johns arm and smiled.
"Can I just ask though...how did Ian know about these 'others'?"
"Cause he's a nosey arse that's why! I think he deliberately waits in his garden in the morning to catch me if he knows I have someone over."
"Oh I see..."
"Look...honestly they meant nothing to me, the one I saw for a couple of weeks, think we only saw each other 3 times...it was nothing...and the other...well I met her at Jim sisters wedding and it was...a one off..."
"Its ok...you shouldn't have to explain."
"No I know...but I hate upsetting you... and I'm sorry I snapped, that time was just not good for me, what with my dad being ill, Charlotte leaving. I wasn't meself at all. I just want to focus on us and not what's gone on before, as this is special, more special than anything or anyone that has gone before."
"I know John. I do feel the same...I've loved the last two days with you."
"Have ya?" John asked sincerely.
"Yes."
"I have too" John replied and looked at Kayleigh and grabbed her hand as he turned to focus on the road. As he let go of her hand Kayleigh leans over and gives him a kiss on the cheek.
"Give over...you always do that when I'm driving." He smiled to himself.
As they pulled up at Mandy's, Steve was outside tinkering with his bike, John and Kayleigh walked up the drive and Steve hollered "alright you two?"
"Alright Steve? Still trying to sort this one are ya?"
"Oh yes...you stopping for a bit John?"
"Nah, I've got to get to me Mums for dinner."
"Ah...you not taking this one with ya?" Steve nodded his head at Kayleigh.
"No, not this time." John flashes a smile at Kayleigh. "Right I best be off then" he gives Kayleigh a quick kiss on the lips "See ya Steve."
"See ya John."
As John walked to the car Kayleigh shouted after him "I'll text you later" as John opened the car door he replied "I'll look forward to it" and got in his seat to drive off.
After Kayleigh waved the car off, she turned to walk to the front door, Steve smirked at her and gave her a knowing look "you can bog off!" as she stomped into the house.
Lunch at his Mums had been the usual fair, too much food and too much tea. Paul, his wife Claire, Ben, Sophie and Nana Rose were there too. As they all sat in the living room drinking tea and evening sandwiches, John's Mum asked a few questions about how things were going with Kayleigh.
"Whose this Kayleigh then?" asked Paul.
"Someone our John's been seeing?" answered his Mum for John.
"Thanks Mum...I can speak you know?"
"Well then tell us more?" quizzed Paul.
"There's nowt to tell."
"Which means there is!" Paul said smiling at his Mum.
"Oh leave poor John alone" piped up Claire "I think it's lovely you're seeing someone again...be nice to have another female at these family dos."
"Another female?! You lot outnumber us already, what you on about?" Paul said to Claire.
"I just meant another female who knows what it's like to put up with you Redmond men!" Claire sarcastically smiled at her husband.
"Oh that reminds me John...I bumped into your ex Charlotte a while back."
"I know...she told me."
"She told ya? I didn't know yous were still in contact."
"We're not I bumped into her meself on Friday."
"Oh I see"
"Weren't you out with Kayleigh Friday?" asked his Mum.
Oh God, here we go, thought John "yes I was out with Kayleigh on our first proper date and we bumped into Charlotte and her mates...ok?"
"Ouch" said Paul "What happened then like?"
"Nothing, it was all quite civilised apart from her mate Gemma."
"Oh yeah, I remember her, mouth almighty."
"Anyway, all was fine in the end."
"Yeah she seemed ok when I saw her, didn't really have much to say to her to be honest. It's been a few years now...she's still as dull as she was then" laughed Paul.
"Oh I liked Charlotte" said Claire.
"She weren't dull Paul, she was just a bit quiet that's all" chipped in John.
"She weren't bloody quiet when she played that answerphone message back!"
"Alright, lets not go over that again" replied John looking shameful.
"Anyway, this Kayleigh, how'd you meet her?" asked Paul.
"Through work, we car share."
"Have ya got a picture?"
"He's only got one and she got a beard in it." Chimed John's Mum.
"She's got a beard...John, John, John, what ya doing? I know it's been quiet on the dating front but still..." said Paul.
"She's in fancy dress alright?!"
As John said that his phone beeped - it was Kayleigh. He opened the message and it was a selfie of her, just taken, she looked so adorable, the message read 'just in case you want to show a better picture of me...without the beard ? ゚リリ' John smiled, he couldn't wait to share this one, hopefully it would shut Paul up for a bit. Talk about good timing.
"Is that beardilocks?" Paul laughed.
"Paul!" said John's Mum and Claire simultaneously.
"It's fine" John said to them "yes it was her Paul and as it looks like I'm gonna keep being quizzed I do have another picture I can show."
"Oh let me get me glasses" John's Mum rushed to her glasses case and John passed the picture around beaming.
"Ooh John, she looks lovely. I can't wait to meet her." Said his Mum and Claire repeated the sentiment.
"Nice" said Paul.
Nana Rose had a good look "lovely our John, just lovely."
"Right, now can we change the subject please?"
"If we must" said Paul.
Later than evening at 22.15 as John went to bed he text Kayleigh 'Nan-Night xxx' she replied soon after 'Night. Did you have a good time at your Mums? Xxxxxxc'. "That bloody c" said John to himself 'Had lovely time ta. The picture went down well. I'm in bed now, you're missed! Xxxx'.
Kayleigh smiled so happily when she received that message, she was glad she hadn't ruined things with her outburst earlier. 'Ah, are you missing me? I'm just in bed listening to my song...?. Cant wait to c u in the Morning! Xxxx'.
"Wow, no c, she's getting better" John smiled to himself. He actually missed her not being in his home, not only had she created such a presence he couldn't live without in his car, she'd invaded his home as well as his head. 'Cant wait to see you either. Sweet dreams! Xxx'.
The morning could not come quickly enough for either of them.
