Niall's house was a huge mansion set in the nicest gated subdivision within the tri-county area. Really, I don't know why I expected him to rent an apartment or have anything less than this gigantic house.
Joel parked his car in the loop around the water fountain, making it easy for us to leave if I can't handle it. There weren't many cars in the drive, but that didn't mean anything. We were probably the first ones there.
The front door was heavy and wooden, with an extravagant wrought iron handle. Joel pulled on it, but it was locked. He rang the bell, and we waited. I felt nervous and self-conscious. I wasn't prepared for this.
Niall answered the door with a red solo cup in his hand. "Annie, Joel! Come on in!" He ushered us inside.
The grand foyer was beautiful with a giant chandelier and marble floors. Everything was pristine. I kept looking around in disbelief that a person I'm acquainted with owns a home this expensive.
"Follow me to the sitting room."
We turned the corner, and there was a massive television on the opposite wall. A sectional sat against the wall closest to us, and it looked big enough to fit twenty people. Three people were already on it, and I recognized them from doing my research about the band. Harry, Louis, and Liam had their butts planted on the couch, each enthralled with a soccer--excuse me, football--match on the TV.
"Guys, I'd like to introduce you to Annie and her friend Joel."
All of them broke their attention from the match to shake our hands.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Harry said. "We've heard so much about you!"
I tried to not look bewildered as I glanced at Niall. His cheeks and neck were red from blushing.
"Oh really? Only good things, I hope!" I joked.
Niall shrugged his shoulders. "Would you like something to drink?" He held up his cup.
I looked at Joel and he nodded. "Sure," I said.
"Oh wait!" Niall exclaimed. "I forgot the chicken! Annie, would you accompany me to KFC?"
I looked at the cup in his hand. "Are you okay to drive?" I asked.
"Of course. This is my first drink, and I've only had just a few sips." He showed it to me, and it was indeed full of dark brown liquid.
"Okay, let's go," I said. I turned to Joel, but he was already planted on an oversized chair opposite the sectional. He looked quite content.
Niall led me through the opposite end of the house and to the adjacent garage. There were three cars parked in it, including his Porsche he took me home in the other day. He used a key fob to unlock the silver Porsche.
I got in the passenger seat as he got behind the wheel. He put his hand on the back of my seat and turned to look out the rear window as he backed out of the space, completely ignoring the fact that he had a back-up camera.
"I can't believe I forgot the most important part of a party!" he said as he pulled out on the main road.
"How many people are supposed to be there?" I asked. "It doesn't seem like much of a party, no offense. I thought when you said it would be small that there would be double the people."
"I guess it's really not a party, but it's the first time the lads are visiting me since I moved here, so yeah. That's the result I guess."
I smiled, knowing I felt safe with him. I was no longer skeptical of what might happen at his "party."
He pulled up to the speaker at the drive-thru and ordered so much food I didn't know how everyone would eat it. Three family-sized buckets later, and we were on our way back to his house. I sat with two of the buckets in my lap and the other one in the floorboard between my feet.
"Here, let me help you," Niall said as he parked the car in the garage.
He managed to grab both buckets with one arm, and I carried the third.
"What's all this?" Liam asked when we sat the food down on the kitchen counter.
"Our dinner," Niall smiled proudly.
"Bro, there's no way we are going to eat all that." He raised an eyebrow.
"One word: leftovers. Or is that two words?"
"I think it is one word," I giggled.
Niall and I sat at the bar in the kitchen and ate our food, preferring to have a table under our plates. Everyone else went back to the living room.
"Niall, how many bedrooms does this house have?" I asked between bites.
"Six, and each bedroom has a bathroom."
"And you own this house?" He nodded. "Why buy a house here? Why not live on campus?"
"Well, as you can see I have a lot of things. Also, I thought living on campus would draw attention to me, so I decided to buy a house."
"That makes sense," I responded. After a few minutes, I asked him where the bathroom is located.
"Down the hall on the left."
I proceeded down the hallway, but the bathroom was locked. "Just a minute!" Liam yelled.
"It's okay," I said and turned back to the kitchen. "Niall?" Looking around, I found him behind the open refrigerator door.
"Yeah?" he said as he popped his head out from behind the door.
"Liam is in the bathroom. Where's another one?"
"Go down this hallway," he said and pointed in the opposite direction from where I came.
"The first door on your right is to my bedroom. You'll go through my closet and then to the bathroom."
I followed his directions and scurried to the bathroom. After I was finished, I took a minute to observe his closet. It was extremely organized, which was not what I expected from him. He had a whole wall dedicated just to shoes! I was mesmerized; how could anyone have this many clothes. Even when I was still with Brent, I barely had enough clothes to fill up a dresser. That thought reminded me...I needed to get my stuff from Brent sometime soon if he hasn't already thrown it away. How on earth was I going to do that?
"Penny for your thoughts?" Niall said, startling me. I had to stifle a scream, and I placed my hand on my chest.
"You scared the shit out of me!" I exclaimed. "How long have I been in here?"
"Long enough for me to come looking for you. I wanted to make sure you didn't get lost." He let out a small laugh and showed his beautiful teeth.
"I didn't mean to be nosy, I was just admiring the organization of your closet, and I guess I just got lost in thought."
"'S okay," he said and took a step closer to me."What were you thinking about?" His voice was little more than a whisper.
"You don't want to know," I said, hoping that would suffice. I didn't want to tell him. It was embarrassing.
"I do though," he responded. From the corner of my eye, I saw him raise his arm and touch a lock of my hair.
My heart rate skyrocketed, and my mind raced. What were his intentions? Were they pure? Here I was in his closet with him across the house from everyone else. I hoped he didn't have certain expectations.
I forced my mouth to move. "I was thinking how you have more clothes than I have ever owned. I only have a few shirts and pants, what I could grab when I left Brent." I stopped myself from describing that situation further. Niall shouldn't be burdened with my baggage.
"You mean he still has all your stuff?" he asked. I nodded. He took another step toward me, and he was so close I could smell his cologne. He whispered in my ear, "Well, love, that just won't do."
I turned to face him for the first time in his closet. His blue eyes were searching mine. I shouldn't have turned to him. I shouldn't have come here tonight. I just wanted to keep my distance. He didn't need to be involved with all of my mess. But his lips were on mine before I could stop him and he tasted like heaven.