String of Fate

Chapter Sixty One

"But your mother is probably going to kill me. You're an only child, after all. I'm taking her baby away. Plus, you're only sixteen. You have your life ahead of you." I rambled, worrying about what would happen to the two of us if we did get together. "You shouldn't be lumbered with a twenty seven year old like me. Also, what about our future? You probably have a bunch of plans that I would ruin."

"Calm down. You always worry over nonsense, don't you?" Max noted, taking my right hand in his left and using his right to push some hair out of my face, leaving his hand on my cheek. It was such a loving movement and I couldn't help but lean into his hand. It was crazy how quickly he comforted me. "Mum will be fine with us. She'll be happy that we're happy. As for the future, I have that sorted. When I graduate from school, I'm going to study business. Once my studies are over, I'll start working with you and mum in the florist. Then, when mum wants to retire, you and I will run the florist as husband and wife, because we'll be married by then, maybe with a couple of kids. It'll depend how long it'll take to get mum to stop working."

"You've planned it all out, haven't you?" I asked as he kissed my fingers, trying to distract me from the whole mess that I was thinking about, and worrying about. He was doing a very good job at calming me down, which actually kind of surprised me. I didn't think that I could get on so well with someone, yet here Max was, calming me down and helping me to relax. It was a strange sensation.

"Yes. I have." Max said simply, stroking my knuckles as he smiled at me. This was so comfortable that I didn't really know how to deal with the feelings. It was not what I was used to. "I've been thinking about it for a while, since I was thirteen, because I've always liked the idea of you being the one at the end of my string. I thought that it would be great if it was true, so I was really happy when you were at the end of my string today. But about the plans for the future, what do you think?"

"I think I'm falling in love." I admitted, smiling back at him. The two of us sat there for a moment as he registered what I had said. He seemed to be a bit surprised with my response to his rambling. I don't think that he had been expecting me to give that response to his question.

"With what? Me or the plan?" Max wondered, stuttering a little when he spoke. I think the stuttering was just due to the surprise of the whole thing.

"With you." I clarified, leaning forward to kiss him. It was such a sweet kiss that I didn't want to end. "But the plan is good too. I like it and it would mean that we get to be together forever. Right now, I'm liking the idea of us being together forever."

"I'm liking that too, not that I thought anything different would be better." He told me. "We need to tell my parents, and yours. Not only that, there's also our first date. I've been planning it, and I think that next weekend would be a good time to go. I plan for it to be a whole day kind of thing, so, I'll get my mother to give you the day off if you don't have any holidays."

"So, you want us to go out on a date next Saturday?" I asked, my hungover brain being a little bit confused by all his rambling. That was something that I was going to have to get used to if I was going to stay with him forever. Oh well, I would have time to get used to that. He nodded. "Okay. I'll come on a date with you on two conditions. Your mother has to let me have the whole day off and you can organise everything. If you want, I can drive, though."

"You driving does sound really good, if I'm being completely honest, but I will organise everything else for it. It's going to be great. You're going to love it." He answered, leaning over to kiss me. Then, I heard his stomach rumble and he broke the kiss, the two of us laughing. "We should probably go and tell my parents. Plus, they will make us breakfast. Come on."

"I feel like this might be a bad idea, but okay. First, can I borrow the bathroom?" I queried as the two of us got out of bed. I did have on one of his other t-shirts and a pair of shorts, and I noticed that he was wearing a pair of jogging bottoms and that was it. He nodded and pointed me in the direction of the bathroom, which I sneaked into while hearing movement downstairs. While in the bathroom, I checked my face and my hair in the mirror and was thankful that I didn't wear make-up, so, I just looked a little tired. My hair, on the other hand, had to deal with a run through of the fingers. Then, I snuck back into Max's room, finding that he was pulling on a t-shirt. "Right, I still look a mess, but I'm ready."

"You always look beautiful." He responded, taking my hand and heading downstairs. His parents were already in the kitchen, one of Max's uncles already sitting at the breakfast bar. "Morning, guys. What's for breakfast?"

"Oh, good morning. Happy birthday, Max. Have you got a string?" His mother asked, turning from the stove. She stopped when she noticed that Max was holding my hand. She was surprised for a moment, but then she smiled. "I should have known considering how obsessed you've been, Max. It would be lovely to have you in the family, Kelsey."