Gemma Styles - Blog Posts

Bunny and the Wine Nights at Gemma's

Gemma Styles has a very special place in Sophia’s heart.

Aside from her parents (the people who raised her), flowers, (her babies that give her the utmost happiness), and red velvet cupcakes (the love of her life as it seems), Gemma holds the remaining good part of Sophia’s heart.

They had met in university, the two sharing the same flat building. Thoughts of that same flat always brings an unwelcome shiver in Sophia’s spine upon remembering how it was filled with outrageously smart and stuck-up teenagers who seemed to have never experienced a good time.

Sophia met Gemma one early afternoon, sitting at the common rooms while sipping on some wine.

She was shocked to see wine being drank that early, but was more-so perplexed at seeing someone actually using the common rooms when Sophia had only been alone in the same area weeks prior, never seeing a soul who wanted to join her lounge-about.

Sophia had thought the rest of her flatmates in the building were always cooped up in their room, painstakingly glued to their computers watching the British economy move up and down as their extremely odd form of entertainment.

With just that perception in common, Gemma and Sophia had hit it off that same day when Gemma had sighed in total relief for finally meeting someone aside from brainiacs that made her feel stupid. It had been another shared feeling between the two, making their first interaction go on swimmingly. Plus, Sophia and Gemma share the same love for wine which the latter said ran in their family making Sophia simply part of it now.

So how can Gemma not have a special place in Sophia’s heart when she said the sweetest thing ever to her in just a day of meeting?

It’s further proven how Gemma Styles is a true woman after Sophia’s heart when she met and matched every effort Sophia had exerted to continue building on their friendship all throughout their hectic days in uni. It’s a testament to their will-power and genuine love for each other with how they remained friends despite their clear differences.

Straight-out the bat, Gemma is the most strong-minded and blunt human being Sophia has ever met in her whole existence on earth. Every single one of their friends who had met them as best friends already, would always question how someone as sweet as Sophia would be close to Gemma who was constantly viewed as the most outspoken and unforgivingly forward in their small friend group.

Well, opposites attract, right? And honestly, there is just as much bluntness in Sophia as there is sweetness in Gemma. It only shows between the both of them and their innate, personal, closeness. The pair don’t see the need to show and justify to others why the two of them just work as best friends, and that none of their questioning will break that special bond they have.

Besides, Sophia could assure you that Gemma would be the sweetest and cuddliest little kitten whenever Sophia’s sad. At the same time, Sophia would gladly be the most strong-minded and unapologetic blunt mother hen whenever Gemma does something stupid like getting herself drunk with four bottle of wine in one single night just because of an idiot ex-boyfriend.

Now Sophia’s sweet nature is honesty not one for swearing but screw that stupid piece of poopy-headed exes because no woman should feel like they’re not enough for some boy.

Clearly, Gemma and Sophia balance each other out in an impeccable fashion and find themselves in a continuous tight-knit friendship even after graduating.

Gemma also happens to be a God sent in Sophia’s life for she was the one who had told Sophia about the open space for renting under the building of Gemma’s growing design firm. Together, the pair built Sophia’s flower shop with her own best friend as her interior designer. The perks of having an interior designer of a best friend who has her own firm just above the top of her own shop is something Sophia often felt grateful about.

Now you’d probably think that Sophia and Gemma know everything about each other at this point in life as successful business women. Considering the fact that Sophia was the first one to figure out Gemma was seeing someone just from the bubbly change in her demeanor, Sophia believes Gemma and her have an excellent grasp on each other’s everything much to Gemma’s dismay of wanting a grand reveal for her now serious boyfriend, Michal.

He’s a good guy and a truly brilliant choice, in Sophia’s opinion.

What’s not good however is her realization that there are still lingering little things that she might not know about her best friend.

Like the fact that Gemma wants to set Sophia up with her younger brother.

That uncanny thought began on an ordinary day, Sophia had arrived bright and early in her flower shop harnessing some energy from the beautiful sunny morning to get a head start on their pending flower arrangements.

Not a lot of customers were present that early in the day as the shop had only opened, nor have Sophia’s three lovely employees arrived yet. Sophia contently basked in the silence of the shop as she felt happiness bloom in her chest being surrounded by the sweet aromas of her flower babies she was arranging into several bouquets.

At exactly nine AM, Sophia hears the bell ring which signaled someone’s arrival. Based on the little chuckles Sophia heard, it made her believe that there are two of them and not one.

“Well isn’t this quite an early morning for a lovely visitor?” Sophia said, smiling at both girls who stood in front of the counter.

“That’s what I was telling her boss,” Lena, one of Sophia’s employees said, making her way inside the shop to settle her things on a table, “I was honestly shocked Apple is alive at this early hour of the day. Doesn’t Gemma charge you up with electricity at this time so that you’re up all night later making a ruckus upstairs?”

Sophia tried to prevent a giggle spilling from her lips but Apple’s unamused face paired with a classic eye roll had no chance of fighting the giggles.

“As much as I’d like to favor you with your jesting Lena, it really is an ungodly hour for even anyone to be up this early.” Apple said tiredly, sipping on her cup of coffee like it’s the only thing that was sustaining her that moment.

“But you’re actually quite wrong,” Apple continued, resting her bag on the counter where Sophia had her unfinished bouquets spread about. “Gemma, my ever-hard working boss, is actually the one charging herself for the day and instead tasked me to come here and do her errands.

This time, Sophia does not even attempt to keep the laugh from leaving her lips. Too many amusing memories of waking-up a zombie-like sleeping Gemma is stored in Sophia’s mind to never not find it funny.

“That does sound a lot like Gemma.” Sophia chuckled fondly, “Well at least it does show that you are indeed an ever-understanding right hand in command, right Apple?”

Lena laughs from behind her boss while Gemma’s assistant only beamed with a small smile gracing her lips from the compliment.

“Yeah, I guess.” Apple shrugged almost bashfully, “But it just does not add up how my boss’ best friend,” she gestured to Sophia’s whole form, “is still bright and cheery at this time of the day, when my boss on the other hand sounded like she was dying when she called me this morning.”

“That’s because I got the better boss.” Lena popped up beside Sophia, teasing, “I got the kinder one out of the two.” which got the three ladies laughing.

“I may be kind,” Sophia regarded the two, “but I’m not naive for all this flowery compliments in return of asking something like an early closing this Friday so you lot can go out and party like irresponsible, wild animals or other requests in that line.” Sophia quirked a knowing eyebrow at Lena who only smiled sheepishly in reply.

Sophia turned her attention back on Apple who was now sticking her tongue out teasingly at her employee. Realizing that Sophia was smiling at her and waiting for whatever Gemma had instructed her to get, Apple snapped back into focus.

“Oh yeah! I was actually here to do Gemma’s errands, totally forgot, sorry.” Apple chuckled lightly, soothing her weary state by taking another sip of her liquid sunshine before rummaging in her purse for her phone and a small letter.

Apple then began to read on her phone the orders of flowers needed by later afternoon, as well as the other arrangements for another pick-up time. All those, Sophia diligently took note of on her work Ipad.

“Gemma also said something about ‘a bouquet of the special Friday night roses’ which I actually asked what that special is since I don’t think I’ve ever come across that in your shop. But she just replied with incoherent words that sounded like she was dying. But I would assume you already know what kind of special roses she’s asking for?”

Sophia hums in agreement, features etched with an amused glow for definitely knowing what those are as she typed it down on a separate order form.

“Is that all?” Sophia asked, giggling at the sleepy Apple who chugged the remains of her coffee.

Apple nodded her head in answer. Sophia made her way to leave the spot behind the counter and lead her friend out of the shop. She was about to wish her a good day ahead when Apple suddenly held her right arm, seemingly remembering something important.

“Bloody hell, I almost forgot.” Apple said with a little grimace, “This one's for you from my not-so-lovely-in-the-mornings boss.” and she handed Sophia the small letter she was holding earlier.

Before Sophia can even ask if she knew what it was for, Apple quickly rushed out of the flower shop while exclaiming her pleasantries and something about needing more caffeine in her system.

Feeling slightly bad for the unfortunate situations people that are not happy-early morning risers as her have to face, Sophia went ahead and returned behind the counter to open the letter.

It was sealed by Gemma’s signature stamp with the initials G.S in crimson red. As expected, the special Friday night roses will not be put to waste.

Dear Sophia Ford,

My ever sweet and kind best friend, my other half in life (don’t tell Michal), and the most beautiful flower in a field of multicolored roses, I am pleased to invite you for a very special Wine Nights at Gemma’s.

Now I know your pretty little head would be wondering why is it ‘special’, well it’s because it would only be you, myself (the wonderful host) and Michal. Again, I know your little smarty pants would say something in the lines of ‘What’s so special about that when we pretty much do that on a regular?’ well prepare to be outsmarted.

You see, there is a very special occasion coming soon that has made me assemble a special wine night this Friday for further discussion. Not to spoil anything, but I pretty much need you for something really important and special to me, thus I am inviting you to a noteworthy (and top secret, mind you) wine night.

Since you are my favorite person in life, you do not need to RSVP anything. I simply expect you at mu house at exactly 7:30 PM on Friday without any single second thoughts lingering in your mind.

Now prepare those special roses that I want for Friday. I only want the freshest of them all to grace my home.

And lastly, please bring an open mind this Friday; that’s way more essential than the bloody wine actually.

Love,

Gemma Styles

Your bestest girl pal for life! 💖

(P.S. Just to appease your soul, YES. There will be red velvet cupcakes present on the menu just for you.)

And that last line is literally the only thing Sophia needed to know before she’s booking her Friday night free from any other plans. Her love for red velvet cupcakes was unlocked due to Gemma Styles’ own recipe that Sophia has yet to find anything that rivaled it in any capacity. It’s simply the best, so Sophia would gladly attend Gemma’s special (odd) wine night that Friday.

When Friday came around, Sophia made the drive to Gemma’s in a no-brainer fashion. She pretty much memorized the way going there and could probably navigate it while asleep after countless times of visiting her best friend. Now though, Gemma has moved to the bigger house beside her old place when Michal and her became really serious and decided to move-in together.

Sophia hoped she could be lucky in that department too. That Gemma doesn’t have to memorize a new way of going to Sophia’s home because Sophia has just moved in with her beau at the house next door. The only problem is that her beau is actually non-existent, and the house beside her current flat building was already sold. Way to ruin a girl’s hopes, yeah?

Despite their often solo wine nights of just the three of them, Sophia is quite sure that there was something oddly different when she parked inside the couple’s gated house and did not see the lights of the pool patio to be on. They usually have their special wine nights lounging near the pool area enjoying the cool late night air. But this time around, it seemed like the little countertop bar at the couple’s kitchen would be the chosen destination.

Sophia walked to the front door which was surprisingly open already. Gemma standing behind it in a similar knitted cable jumper that Sophia was wearing.

“Hey love, good to have you tonight.” Gemma greeted her, giving Sophia their usual tight hug and kiss on the cheeks whenever they saw each other.

“Hello yourself.” Sophia returned, detangling from their hug. “Why are you being weird?” she asked straight-away after seeing Gemma’s unusual fidgeting of her hands and her odd manner of greeting. Mind you, they don’t do ‘good to have you tonight’ like some posh people who only see each other once every three months in fancy dinners.

The two of them are more like, ‘Hey love, get your pretty little bum inside and let’s flipping work these bottles of wine pretending we’re still young and hangovers are not real.’

“Huh? What are you saying?” Gemma replied in a tone of poor-concealed nerves, “I think you’re in need of wine because you’re the one being weird.” she dismissed with a small awkward laugh which made Sophia curve an eyebrow in question as she entered the house.

“Is your girl good?” Sophia asked Michal after he had greeted her with a hug, an amused smile painted on his face. “Or did she do something stupid again and that’s why she’s acting funny so I won’t notice?”

At that point, Gemma’s awkward laughter ringed even louder, leading the three of them to the surprisingly assembled dining table. Michal only offered Sophia a smirk, the one he does whenever he also thinks that his girlfriend is being quite crazy.

“Make yourself at home, Soph. You know that our home is just as much as your home too.” Gemma said in a rather rehearsed manner as Michal pulled out chairs for the two ladies.

There was no denying that Sophia began to be even more weirded out at the very strange energy Gemma was displaying, though decided to play along.

“Why that’s so sweet of you Gem. Mind if I help myself with dinner? Haven’t had one yet and I’m already quite peckish.” Sophia asked, offering her usual pearly whites of angelic innocence.

Sophia’s suspicion arose when she noticed Gemma exhale a breath for a tiny second, like she was relieved that Sophia wasn’t seeing behind her act and gestured towards the food.

“Oh definitely! Actually, I even made your favorite tuna steak and the red velvet cupcakes to go with it.” Gemma’s words of honesty that signify she’s the cook between the two of them does not wash-out the brewing inkling on her mind.

“Well, aren’t you the most thoughtful best friend ever?” Sophia said almost sarcastically as she went ahead and filled her plate with food. “You mind if I pour myself some wine?” she further asked while gesturing at the unopened bottle of red on the table,

Without even blinking, Gemma nodded her head frantically in a yes, her non-verbal answer enough to appalled Sophia in her seat.

“Gemma!” Sophia shrieked, completely astounded, “What the flicking furball is wrong with you?!”

The girl in question just dropped her mouth in shock, clearly caught in her dubious actions as Gemma tried to find back her words.

“W-what are you talking a-about?” Gemma stuttered before drinking (chugging more like) a whole glass of water.

“You don’t do that!” Sophia incredulously pointed out, “You don’t let me go ahead and devour the red velvet cupcakes without reprimanding me like some child whining for sugar. That's your exact words by the way.”

Michal laughed while Gemma remained speechless as Sophia continued on with an arched brow.

“And you never offer me the pleasantries crap that you did a while ago. You usually just drag me with you, talking about the new crystal you just bought while Michal just follows us looking lost.”

Gemma pretty much crumbed her own weird facade at Sophia’s outright interrogation.

“By the way, we never drink wine here at the dining table. You guys don’t even eat here.” Sophia pointed out, observing Gemma’s guilty face and Michal’s amused one. “Besides, you never let me pour my own wine at your own wine night, babe. Plus, you didn’t even ask for the special roses.”

Sophia took out the special roses from the little tote bag that she brought with her before standing up and placing it in the empty vase on the table.

Now you might be wondering what’s so special with these roses. Nothing really if you ask Sophia, it just so happens to be from the plot of roses that Gemma and her plant together at least every three months. Gemma always requests for these roses that she helped Sophia plant (although Gemma always takes full credit for nurturing them) and yup, Gemma was also responsible for calling it ‘special’ when they are just the same as the other roses Sophia had planted herself. But who was Sophia to burst Gemma’s bubble?

Gemma cleared her throat, can no longer escape the expectant look Sophia was throwing her way while the latter began slowly eating the feast on her plate. No matter how enlightening Gemma’s confession for her odd behavior might be, Sophia is not strong enough to resist the gorgeousness of her cupcake.

“I fucked that up, didn’t I?” Gemma asked no one in particular, chuckling sheepishly when the two others nodded enthusiastically in answer.

“Now Michal knows why you never made it to the annual uni Christmas play. You’re poop at acting.”

The three laugh at Sophia’s words of unfiltered honesty, the atmosphere in the dining room finally returning to their regular easy-going flow because it’s clear that Sophia isn’t mad at Gemma’s weird antics.

“I did warn her, believe me.” Michal said to Sophia, sparing a look at his embarrassed girlfriend. “I said that Soph would see right through what she calls full of fluffing crap and she might actually even start cussing if she finds out the reason you’re doing this for.”

Sophia’s interest piques at Michal’s words, brow arching at Gemma who’s eyes can’t meet her best friend’s back in return. But before Sophia can even question anything, Gemma rises from her seat and abruptly opens the discarded bottle of wine and generously pouring each of their glasses with the red liquid.

The three found themselves in their usual conversations. Gemma shares stories about the new high-rise buildings that have signed with her to be their sole interior designer for every unit, Michal being a vet and the new pets he had treated, and with Sophia sharing about her upcoming new arrangement techniques that she plans to try at her flower boutique.

Everything was flowing out smoothly, the three of them munched on their food (Sophia definitely took a detour to heaven with her first bite of Gemma’s red velvet cupcakes) and drank from their constant stream of wine. Laughs were shared with Michal and his misfortunate stories involving bunnies. Apparently, he chases about three hopping bunnies around his clinic, Gemma suggesting with a knowing smirk to hire Sophia part-time since she apparently has some ‘Snow White Voodoo’ thing going on that makes Sophia some sort of animal whisperer.

Sophia dismissed Gemma’s words with a chuckle, seeming to play it cool when in reality, Sophia is just waiting for her best friend to loosen-up some more before she begins to interrogate her once again. Sophia has her wits recharged and ready thanks to those scrumptious red velvet cupcakes that never fail to work in her favor.

By the time Sophia saw Gemma pouring her fourth glass of wine, she knew it was the perfect time to strike the question.

“So, what’s the real deal tonight?” Sophia asked, the current conversation taking to a halt, “I mean, why the bloody fluffball of going the lengths to arrange the dining table and inviting me to a ‘top secret’ wine night?”

As Sophia asked her questions, Gemma straight-away downs her entire glass filled with wine that was filled to the brim catching Sophia off-guard at her blatantly unusual action. The only time she’s seen Gemma drink that much in one go after three glasses already in, was when she was dealing with some serious misunderstanding with Michal. But that can’t be the case right now because Gemma’s boyfriend is completely laughing at her reckless move.

“You’re just getting bloody weirder by the second.” Sophia pointed out, tilting her own still half-way filled glass towards Gemma.

“That’s because I’m bloody nervous you twat!” Gemma suddenly exclaimed, her words ringing around the room making both Sophia and Michal almost choke on their drinks.

“Did you just call me a twat?!”

“Did you just call her a twat?!”

Michal and Sophia said at the same time, Gemma’s man with a tone of amusement, while Sophia’s voice was just plain appalled.

“Yes, that I did.” Gemma simply replied, pouring her fifth glass before focusing her undivided attention on Sophia, her unmistakable game face on making the latter quite concerned to be honest. “You know my family, right?”

Sophia almost felt offended on her seat. “Obviously! We’re flipping best girl pals, right?”

Michal still remains gleefully amused at Sophia’s reaction while Gemma facepalms her forehead like she didn’t mean to say it in that manner.

“Not what I intended to say, sorry babe.” Gemma quickly apologized, offering Sophia a small smile, albeit a nervous one.

If that doesn’t signal alarm bells, Sophia doesn’t know what more clues she needs before she starts panicking herself at whatever the furball Gemma is about to spring-out on her.

“Why are you getting nervous, Gems? It’s just me.” Sophia tried to deflect with a little chuckle.

“Yeah love, it’s just Soph.” Michal quips, the teasing tilt in his tone quite apparent as Gemma definitely did not find it funny at all.

“Shut it, you arse!” Gemma flips him the bird, making Sophia slightly comforted that there’s still that unabashed and blunt Gemma she has grown to love. “Remember in the letter, I said there is this upcoming special event?”

Sophia nodded her head in recognition, sipping on her third glass, “I do. Is that what’s getting you so panicky?”

Gemma does not provide a verbal response, instead giving Sophia a weird semblance of a smile that’s more of an uncomfortable grimace than a cheery one which Sophia has never been on the receiving end of before. Sophia looked to Michal alternatively to see if he could provide a better (frankly, less disturbing) answer.

“Kind of. It’s kind of because of that.” He answered, still not straight to the point for Sophia’s liking.

Sophia began to backtrack their conversation on the top of her head, trying to piece together something to better her understanding of her best friend’s unusual behavior. About a minute of her silence with the couple sipping - tensely for Gemma, and amused for Michal - on their wine, it clicked on her.

“Oh! Does the special event have something to do with your family, Gem?” A broad grin broke into Sophia’s face when Michal clapped his hand in confirmation, like she just answered that mathematical question from the final scene of Mean Girls.

“Bingo! You really are a smart one, Soph!” Michal complimented Sophia for some unknown reason before he turned his attention back on Gemma. “I feel like you’re stressing yourself over nothing, love. I think Soph might even figure out this special family event before you even gain the guts to just tell her.”

Sophia broke-out in boisterous laughter when Gemma replied to Michal by hitting him on the arm so strongly that it made him wince and cower in palpable fear when Gemma unrelentingly gave him eye daggers. Sophia swears they’re the most hilarious (and violent?) couple that she knew of.

“Gem, whatever it is babe, you know I’m always here ready to help.” Sophia assured, the sincerity in her tone successfully removed the nervous and jittery aura Gemma was still sporting, now being replaced with a smile of relief.

“Especially if it’s got anything to do with your family. I love Anne and Robin, you know that.”

Anne and Robin Twist are Gemma’s lovely parents. Sophia has come to learn that Robin, Gemma’s stepfather, was the closest thing anyone can go to being around a real Santa Claus. He was warm, loving, approachable, and just simply generous. Anne on the other hand, is Gemma’s older version, one that is fairly blunt, yet way more comfortable to show her sweet side compared to her daughter. Anne is a definite loving mother who goes beyond bounds for her children, Sophia can totally attest to that as Anne’s been like the second mum to her.

Sophia was able to meet them when they visited Gemma during their third year of university, the four of them had a lovely weekend exploring the city of London. After that, they were in constant communication and had found it a priority to meet each other every time Anne and Robin were in town, for they still preferred to live in Holmes Chapel up north. Sophia has yet to visit Gemma’s childhood home, but Anne and Robin have already made sure to give her an open invitation to their humble abode anytime she pleases to come.

“I know you do, and they love you a bunch too.” Gemma softly said, a glow of adoration present in her eyes. “That’s why I know you’re the perfect one for this.”

Sophia’s eyebrows slowly raised, unsure why her conventionally strong facade best friend is borderline getting emotional looking at that moment.

“Okay, so what exactly is this special event? A surprise for your parents, perhaps?” A tone of poorly-concealed excitement in Sophia’s voice, the couple chuckled at her reaction. “Holy cow! Are you buying them a rest house here in London and then we’re going to decorate it and surprise Anne and Robin?!”

Both Gemma and Michal straight-out laughed this time at Sophia’s exuberance, the latter avoided giving them a roll of her eyes because clearly, she was the only one fond of the idea of surprising and giving loved ones an extravagant treat.

“As much as I would love to do that and ask for your help, I d0n’t think I have enough money in my bank account to buy my parents a rest house here just yet. But hey, that’s on the bucket list of mine and you’ll be on my speed dial when that takes place.” Gemma said, that weird I’m-trying-to-smile-but-failing-miserably-with-a-grimace is back on once again.

Sophia honestly begins to get confused already as yet again, Gemma takes another big gulp of her wine like it’s simply water and not an alcoholic beverage. If Sophia was smart enough, she’s guessing Gemma is needing the liquid courage coming from the wine which is again, very very unlike her.

“Gem, just spill it already.” Sophia firmly said, knowing within herself that this exchange can go all night long and they’d all be too drunk to remember what the entire night was supposed to be for in the first place.

Gemma raised her pointer finger at Sophia as if to say ‘hold your horses woman’ before finishing her nth glass of red.

“You remember my brother, right? The one I always talk about but you still have not met?”

Again, Sophia almost felt offended. “Obviously! Bunny H.”

Just as Sophia uttered that, Michal bursted out in deafening laughter, strong enough that he almost dropped his glass on himself.

“Bunny H?” He repeated incredulously, “What the fuck? That’s the funniest thing I have heard all night!'' His continued laughter was infectious enough that in no time, Gemma and Sophia joined him.

“Well, thank you for finding amusement in me, Michal. But I’m pretty sure that’s what your girlfriend calls her brother anyway. That’s where a bloody pick it up from, you poopyhead.” Sophoa said, making sure to give Michal her a good-natured glare which the latter answered with his hands raised in surrender.

“Soph, I can assure you that he hates it when Gem calls him that.” Michal looked at Sophia with a visible smirk. “And, there is no way at all that he still looks like a bunny, unlike when he was younger. He’s a grown man now, Soph.”

Sophia just looked at Michal in perplexity when he started to wiggle his brows up and down, somehow suggestively. It made her feel much better though when Gemma once again hits Michal on the arm to stop.

“He’s still my baby brother who looks like an adorable bunny, and he will forever be no matter how much you guys grow your facial hair!” Gemma did not hold back on the force of her fists as she continued to smack a laughing Michal.

It didn’t make Sophia feel left out or some sort of third wheel like what others might expect. But it just made her confused on where the heck this bloody conversation was heading to? So Sophia busied herself by pouring her own fifth glass of wine as the seemingly married coupled kept their bickering going,

“So, what’s with bunny H?” Sophia asked before taking a sip. “Not joining the family rest house surprise then?”

Gemma looked at her with a look of complete confusion, like she didn’t have a single clue of what Sophia was saying. Yup, the wine was getting to her best friend now.

“Oh, I’m just setting both of you guys on a date.”

Gemma said it so casually, and as if Sophia already knew about it. It was so bizarre and so out of the blue that nothing was adding up in Sophia’s brain thus her reaction of pure shock: spitting her current mouthful of wine all over the wooden table.

Everything stops after that.

The couple had looked at Sophia with widened eyes of unadulterated astoundment.

Then everything begins again, hysterical laughter sprang in the air. Gemma laughed at Sophia’s obnoxious wine-stained outfit and her ruined table set-up, Michal in stitches at the way Gemma just blurted out the thing she was nervous about for the entire time in such a casual manner, and Sophia in her own doubled-over position because of the absurdity of the entire situation which she should have somehow clocked some time ago now.

Yes, Wine Nights at Gemma’s somehow always resulted in something wildly uncanny.

“Bloody fluffball, Gem! What has gotten into you?” Sophia asked as the three of them began to clean the mess she had accidentally caused, answering her own question sarcastically while Gemma helped her fruitlessly remove the dark stain on her dress, “Apparently something that makes you think you can set me up with your brother is what is.”

Gemma giggled unhelpfully, shrugging her shoulders like she also didn’t know the answer to the question while the three of them returned to their seats after making sure no wine is not in the confines of their wine glasses where it belongs.

“I’m just really certain in my gut that you’re going to be the perfect girl for my brother. You guys are so similar.”

“Before you say that, you actually do know that I barely know anything about this guy regardless if he’s your brother, babe. I don’t even know his name, only flipping bunny H cause you don’t want to tell me!” Sophia exclaimed which earned an amused chuckle from Michal, and a sheepish smile from her best friend.

It’s true, Sophia knows not even the bare minimum about Gemma’s younger brother. All she knows is that the man is a really busy bee who barely has time for his family yet alone to be introduced to her. Sophia has never questioned why the subject about him never got brought up whenever they had lunch with Anne and Robin, nor why Gemma was very persistent and adamant on not sharing his full name every time Sophia had asked.

Gemma’s excuse was that Sophia can’t know his full name nor see a picture of him because bunny H is a very private person who doesn’t like people snooping in his business. Sophia thought Gemma’s younger brother was being ridiculous for thinking that knowing his full name and getting familiar with how he looks is already an invasion of privacy.

Now that she’s faced with this situation though, maybe it was her best friend that was being ridiculous, and very much dubious that is.

“You didn’t really think I’d agree to this, right?”

“Why do you think I specifically shared this to you in Wine Nights at Gemma’s? Obviously, I know how you'll react based on all the blind dates I tried to set you up before.” Gemma replied, exasperation laced underneath her voice.

“Well based on the events tonight,” Michal chimed in, “looks like you didn’t even expect how you’ll react babe.” Michal teased Gemma, “I was certain you needed to loosen up with wine just telling Soph, and I was also expecting that Soph didn’t even need wine to answer you, love.”

That got Sophia cackling in her seat as Gemma once more narrowed her eyes at her boyfriend for being a very helpful voice towards her.

Tauntingly, Sophia asked, “Did you actually believe that you can also loosen me up with so much wine that I’d be agreeing to you in an instant?”

Gemma flipped her middle finger to Sophia’s face before gulping down her freshly refiled drink.

“Clearly not, I’m not that bloody stupid, alright.” Gemma defended, “It’s just that I’ve been thinking about this so much, setting the two of you up for years that it just crossed my mind that H is actually moving into his new place next week and I have yet to introduce you guys in person an-”

“For years?!” Sophia cuts Gemma off in an instant, a look of utter disbelief painted on her face. “You;ve been thinking of setting me up with bunny H for years?”

To Sophia’s horror, Gemma gives her the infamous ‘I’m guilty but you love me’ smile that she always used whenever she knew that Sophia was about to get it on with her. Sophia’s eyes shifted to her best friend’s boyfriend who was nodding his eagerly, mouthing inaudibly, ‘for years, Soph, years.’

Sophia scoffed at the growing absurdity of this wine night, not hesitating to pour herself another glass and proceeded to gulp half of it in one go. She finished the rest in slight irritation at the couple visibly chuckling at her apparent brewing stress that was no doubt caused by the other woman on the table.

“Babe, listen.” Gemma said, coming to sit beside Sophia, “I know I can be really crazy at times, but I’m telling you, I have never met anyone that would match you as much as bunny H.”

Sophia shivered, “Can we stop calling him bunny H? It’s kinda really bothering me now, learning you’ve been thinking of setting me up with him for god knows how long already.”

“Okay, just H then.” Gemma relented, “But I still won’t tell you his full name because you’ll definitely try to search him up on socials or something and I don’t want you to do that cause I want you to be surprised on what you see on you guys’ first date.”

This time, Sophia is the one who hits (just lightly, mind you) Gemma on the arm with how confident she sounds all of a sudden.

“And who said I’m going to a bloody furball date with him? I’m old enough and wise enough to disagree with you on this, Gem.”

“Sophiaaaaa..” Gemma dragged out her name in a whine, “My brother is your type to the T. I swear to fucking Christ, your type to the T!”

Sophia’s brows curved at Gemma’s explicit words, the whole idea still jumbled in her head making no sense at all on why Gemma suddenly became so desperate in setting Sophia up with her younger brother knowing how stubborn her best friend can be when it comes to the topic of relationships.

“Well, if he apparently is my type as you say,” Sophia tried to humor the clearly exhilarated Gemma, “then your brother is a rare one.” Sophia finished in a praise, the sides of Gemma’s lips lifted like she thought she was winning the argument.

“With that being said, why in the world does your brother not have a girl yet?”

“Because he acts like an old man!” Gemma exclaimed without abandon, “Always working for his future wife and family bullcrap that he doesn’t even have in the first place concerning that he has no love life to work for!”

Gemma was so worked-out from her sharing that Sophia did not even try to argue with her when Gemma suddenly took her wine glass from her own hands, gulping the remains on Sophia’s drink in one go.

“Look, you know I won’t ever bring you any trouble myself, and I’m telling you that my brother is no trouble. He’s just troubled and lonely even if he’s not saying it.” Gemma exhaled after her clear rant, expression more subdued after.

“You already know that he works for this bigshot in London and said boss is always in Paris so that’s where he’s mostly settled in. But last month, I got a call from him where he told me that he was quitting his job, fucking finally if you asked me, and he’s moving back permanently to London and spending more time here with me and occasionally with our parents. So you see, he’s also starting his own business at the same time, and you of all people know how stressful that can be, babe.”

Color Sophia confused once more, “A while ago you wanted me to go on a date with him, and then now you’re implying you want me to help him with his new business venture?”

Surprisingly, Gemma began to pour herself a glass of water, massaging her temples afterwards with Michal and Sophia also getting themselves some much needed hydration in their system.

“Not in that way, but yes.” Gemma replied, “I want someone to be with him constantly in his life, you know? I mean we’re not getting any younger and it’s not like I have no faith in him and his dating skills, but I just don’t want him to waste any more precious time and just bring him someone that’s perfect for him.”

Sophia held back a snort, “And that ‘perfect’ one happens to be me?”

Gemma answered Sophia’s expression of incredulity with her million-dollar smile, the one where guys like Michal go loco over, “Yes, you, love. You happen to be perfect for my brother.”

And that was it, Sophia couldn’t any longer control the snort of amusement that came out of her mouth, Michal chuckling on his seat at the way Gemma almost looked baffled at Sophia’s lack of confidence at what she was saying.

“I don’t know how to explain it to you properly,” Gemma persisted with unyielding might, "but I swear on my life that when you agree to go on this date and meet him, you’ll understand for yourself.”

Hearing the evident resoluteness at her best friend’s tone, Sophia composed herself with a huge breath, refilling her cup of water. “That’s a big one to swear, Gem. You might not even be alive anymore to witness this fantasy of yours in the works if you keep swearing on your bloody life.”

The weird tension in the room dissipated after that, the three once again sharing a laugh as they sobered-up from their earlier wine spree.

“Well, I guess I’d die for the both of you.” Gemma shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, “That’s how much my love for the both of you I have running in my blood.” she said with a cheeky wink, reaching to her side to give Sophia’s own cheek a peck.

Sophia had no qualms in returning her best friend’s affection, though her mind was still whirling in thought about everything that had been said tonight as she tried to make complete sense out of it all.

After a short while, Sophia spoke with unbridled conviction.

“I love you, Gem, so much. You’re the sister I’ve never had. But it’s just not making complete sense to me, and I promise I actually really thought about it. I’m certain that I’m 95% sure it’s still a no from me.”

In hindsight, the smile of determination that showers off Gemma's face, should have alerted Sophia on the current plan her best friend was brewing in her headstrong mind.

Though Sophia was more amused than anything when Gemma had replied with yet again, a very weighty promise.

“I see, I’m always up for a challenge, Sophia.” Gemma smirked proudly like Sophia hadn’t already straight-out disagreed with her proposal. “So I swear on my bloody future children’s life that you’re going to be their aunt once they’re born.”

That had been a very monumental utterance to proclaim, but it’s really not the first time Gemma had said something just as equally crazy. That’s why in all honesty, Sophia was not suspecting anything dubious when Gemma visited her flower shop the Monday of the brand new week.

Gemma arrived bright and early in the morning with her usual cup of tea in hand, and a little cup holder on the other side with four other drinks.

Sophia hummed, “Hmm, finally done tormenting your assistant, I see.” Sophia’s remark graces her with a regular Gemma Styles’ eye roll whenever her best friend finds the audacity to tease her.

“Just because she likes you better, does not mean you can disrespect her real boss.” Gemma huffed jokingly. Giving Sophia a hug and a kiss on her cheek upon getting near her.

Gemma then proceeded to hand Sophia her hot cocoa, calling her other three employees while handing them the remaining drinks on the cup holder.

“Bloody hell, boss S,” Kit, Sophia’s other employee, gives her a smirk while taking a big sip from her drink. “I don’t want to be rude or anything but, I think you have to step-up your game if you don’t want us taking Apple’s job.”

Gemma and the other two girls share a laugh together as Sophia gives Kit a meaningful glare, the small smile forming on her face giving away that she was mostly just joking.

“Up my game, like buy my employees ten quid drinks every morning but in turn, let them go crazy until ten at night with a lot of work? Wonder if I should bring Apple now and say there’s an opening at my shop, though she’s still probably asleep because you know, working till ten at night with a wanker boss at that.”

Everyone giggled behind their morning drinks, Gemma was on the brink of spitting hers in feign shock.

“I cannot believe you just called me a wanker.” Gemma had gasped.

Sophia smirked smugly, “That’s for calling me a twat last Friday.”

In true Gemma Styles fashion, she rolled her eyes once more that Sophia is truly afraid her eyes might get stuck in that upward turn.

“Oh please, can we get over Friday night already?” Gemma asked, even moving her hand to dismiss the topic.

Sophia tried to not look suspicious at her best friend’s actions, but to Gemma’s credit, she had not been giving Sophia any signs for her to worry since Friday night. Not once did Gemma bring the topic up over the weekend. Thinking about it, that whole night seemed like a bizarre dream on its own.

Before Sophia can overthink Gemma’s actions, the latter abruptly placed Sophia’s thoughts on a hold and asked for the flower arrangements that Apple pre-ordered last week for her.

“Someone picking it up later?” Sophia asked from her position at her desk where some of the arrangements were placed.

“Nope, I’m picking them up right now.” Gemma replied with a beaming smile, Sophia won’t deny the quirk of her eyebrow in slight question.

“Oh? These flowers are important then, if you yourself are picking it up,” Sophia glanced at the round wall clock, “at 8:24 in the morning…”

It was quite clear that Gemma chose to also dismiss the skeptical tone of Sophia’s voice, replying with an easy and unconcerned manner.

“Well, you can say that. But it’s really not a matter for your pretty little head to worry about. Actually, your girls would probably be the ones doing that while you’re away for a bit because you’re coming with me.”

Now that’s suspicious.

With a frown painted on Sophia’s face, she crossed her arms across her chest at what she had heard.

“Pardon? You want me to come with you?”

“Yeah. And not want, you are coming with me and with these lush arrangements. You’re really so good at your job babe, I’m beyond impressed.”

Before Sophia could even seek what was going on, Gemma walked past the counter where Sophia was stationed, picking up some of the arrangements herself. The woman even had the audacity to tell Sophia’s girls to do their job well and take care of Sophia’s flower babies while their boss was away to join her.

“And she won’t be back until after lunch.” Gemma then looked at Sophia expectantly, “Now would you hurry up Soph, and remove your bloody apron. Wouldn’t want that soiled garment on my pristine car seats.”

“Excuse me?!” Sophia huffed out at Gemma’s implication of her slightly (very, but no one important is confirming) messy nature only to be laughed at by her best friend who was already heading outside the shop to her car.

Well, I guess I really have no choice now, do I? Sophia thought reluctantly.

Thus, with one last reminders to her employees - who she also told to pray for her soul in case Gemma wanted to murder her out of the blue - Sophia removed her apron (pristinely clean, thank you very much) half-heartedly and fetched her bag as she walked outside her floristry to join Gemma in her car.

“You have a lot of explaining to do, Styles.” Sophia said in a familiar tone of exasperation at Gemma’s giddy face as she buckled her seatbelt on.

“Oh come on!” Gemma chuckled, “When are you not in the mood for Gemma Styles’ Infamous Acts of Spontaneity?”

“I don’t know? Always?”

To Sophia’s dismay, Gemma just guffawed at her stony reply. Gemma always does whenever she pulls Sophia for one of her reckless life decisions that somehow invariably occurs with Sophia by her side. How nice, right?

Sophia allowed Gemma to drive them along in silence, content with listening to the faint music coming from the radio.

Sophia has learned that during these specific times of Gemma spontaneity, it’s wise to not question what’s happening in an instant and just wait for Gemma to spill. If not, Gemma would rant on and on, all ride long on how boring Sophia was becoming. Sophia is really not too keen on that for it would only be a further reminder of her lacking social life to be honest.

Intrigue rose within Sophia when she noticed them entering a private, gated community. It looked quite similar to Gemma and Michal’s village although this one seemed bigger with only a few houses per street.

Very much on the verge of freeing her shut mouth and demanding an explanation, Sophia’s hackles are raised even higher the moment they stop in front of a big green gate. Somehow, Gemma knew the keycode for the gate to unlock, a frown ingrained on Sophia’s face as Gemma drove her car to park in front of a beautiful, and clearly brand-new looking home.

Sophia couldn’t hold it any longer.

“Where in the world are we? And don’t flipping frog crap at me or I’m calling your mum right now.” to signify how serious Sophia was, she even brought out her phone to show Gemma that Anne was on her speed dial.

“And since when did you have my mum on speed dial? Are you planning to snitch on me or something?” Gemma asked more amusedly than annoyed.

“Oh, don’t you dare change the topic, little miss troublemaker. Now tell me who’s house this is or I’m really pressing this button.”

Gemma tried to stare Sophia off with her hard green orbs, which seriously, she should know by now that Sophia is completely immune from her steely gaze that usually makes anyone else cower in defeat. When Gemma quickly realized that she won’t be having her way on this one, Gemma huffed out an exaggerated breath the same time a grin creeped on her cherry red painted lips.

“We’re currently at my baby brother’s house.”

Sophia swore a bucket of cold water was thrown over her entire body, shocked and stupefied is to say the least on how she was currently feeling.

“We’re in bunny H’s house?! What the fluffing furball are we doing here?!” Sophia whisper-shouted as if said brother would actually hear them.

This resulted in a laughing Gemma, the woman was audibly delighted and found this entire crisis ordeal of Sophia such a fun source of entertainment. Before Sophia can even think of ways on how to magically disappear from that very moment, Gemma relieves Sophia from her palpable turmoil.

“Soph, would you relax, love? Bunny H isn’t here, well not here yet at least. He’ll officially be moving next week, but right now he’s still in Paris sorting out things from his work. I wish he could have called it quits earlier to be honest.” Gemma’s clear distaste for her brother’s work is evident in her tone.

Sophia exhales a breath in relief, feeling saved by God from the mere doom of her fate just seconds ago. “Haven’t we already discussed to stop calling your brother bunny H?”

Gemma gave her a smug look that’s also not lost in her voice. “If I’m not mistaken - which I rarely am, mind you - you were the one who said bunny H before I did.”

Sophia felt warmth traveling up to her cheekbones, a significant and hard to miss sign that she was indeed blushing.

“Aww, look at you,” Gemma cooed, reaching over the console to pinch Sophia’s flushed cheek. “Already hot and bothered even without bunny H being here yet.”

Flustered, Sophia replied indignantly, “Stop calling him that!” as she placed both of her hands on her flaming cheeks.

Gemma just continued to cackle, the evil best friend of Sophia just goes down her car while instructing Sophia to help her bring some of the arrangements inside the house like Sophia didn’t at all radiate the energy that she wants to be anywhere but here.

Still ignoring Sophia’s qualms, they made their way inside as Gemma explained to Sophia that she was the unpaid interior designer of ‘H.S’ which is what the two have agreed on calling her unnamed younger brother. By the looks of the entryway, the house is brand-new just as Sophia had first thought.

It was a big home to say the least, Sophia instantly noticing how Gemma made it look really homey, as if it were just a bigger version of her and Michal’s place. This home had more of a modern and minimal style compared to Gemma’s which was filled with a lot of eclectic knickknacks and various crystal ornaments.

“This is such a spacious house,” Sophia noted, Gemma and her stopping at the once again quite huge and chef equipped kitchen. “Are you sure your brother is going to live alone?”

“He is. My brother won’t be stupid enough to bring a girl over to live with him without telling me or mum and Robin. I’d shave his head if he actually did that.” Gemma replied, complete with a furious pinch on her forehead just imagining it.

“I guess that’s good to hear that my baby flowers are going to be here to accompany him.” Sophia said rather fondly, helping Gemma place some of the flower arrangements on the huge countertop.

“Or, you can just agree to the date and live with him here to personally keep him company.” Gemma wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

“Hmm..” Sophia hums in faux consideration, “I bet he’d fancy my £110 preserved tulips and daisies better than a high maintenance florist when he already happens to have a high maintenance sister to begin with.”

Sophia’s jest earned a mixture of a laugh and an exasperated groan from her best friend.

“Sophiaaaa..” Gemma dragged her name in a whining tone, Sophia chuckling at her dramatics as they placed the last of the other arrangements in the living room.

“What?”

Instead of answering verbally, Gemma all out bounced herself down on the most likely never been used gray couches.

“Oh shit, that’s comfy!” Gemma remarked positively, “Remind me to order a bouquet for this couch company to thank them for providing for my firm. And you should probably add a few special sunflowers or something, might make them give me a free couch of theirs.”

Sophia snorted at Gemma’s little cheap cake remark as she sat herself down beside the woman. Seriously, it’s not like Gemma can’t afford a fancy couch to begin with.

“Imagine living here with my brother and these heavenly, comfortable couches?” Gemma began to think out loud with a little dreamy tint placed in her words. “Oh! Better yet, imagine having heavenly, cosmic sex her-”

“GEMMA ANNE STYLES!” Sophia’s crimson red face shouted, frankly appalled and disturbed at her best friend’s indecent thoughts this early on a Monday morning.

Being the unforgivingly blunt little minx that she is, Gemma just cackled rambunctiously at Sophia’s apparent discomfort. Clearly, it’s not weird for her to picture her best friend in a highly intimate scenario with her younger brother.

“Leave it to you on being disturbed about couch sex talk. To be honest, it’s really underrated. The amount of positions you guy-”

“OH MY BLOODY BLOOD! Can you stop your flipping crude words already?!”

Gemma just doubled in laughter, bending herself in half on the couch as Sophia’s face continuously grew a shade darker of red. Gemma knows how her crude words can usually be overwhelming for Sophia, and yet she loves getting a reaction from her either way.

“Gosh you’re adorable!” Gemma gushed despite Sophia’s attempt of an annoyed glare towards her, “This is why you’re so perfect for H.”

Sophia replied sarcastically, “Why? Cause he doesn’t find couch sex any appealing?”

Gemma’s grin is rather bright for someone who just got scoffed.

“He’s just not that type of guy, you know? I mean, not like I know his sexual preference or what not cause that’s seriously just disgusting and weird if I do. But he’s just not that type of guy who gives such a big deal about intercourse. Quite honestly, he turn just like you whenever I talk about sex. It’s really rather cute how the both of you turn all red and bothered while nagging me to stop talking.”

Sophia felt a slight relief after hearing that, for no apparent reason, obviously. She now at least has an insight on H.S about that particular matter, not like it really has any relevant value. Sex is yet too intimate of a topic to even associate with him in any form.

“Whatever, Gem.” Sophia shrugged, “still not going on that date with him.” she smiled evenly at a now pouting Gemma.

“It’s just one night! What can you lose?”

“Actually, the correct question is: what am I to gain?”

Gemma just looked at Sophia like she’s just lost her head.

“I don’t know? Like a bloody loving and amazing boyfriend, perhaps? If you haven’t noticed, you’ve been single and lonely for god knows how long. You don’t trust online dating nor even like to party or mingle around, so how do you expect to meet someone then?”

Sophia’s jaw dropped to the floor at all these words coming from Gemma. Sophia’s not offended in any light, it’s just that there’s a silent agreement between the two of them to not mention nor verbally acknowledge her bluntly lack of a love life. It’s a conversation they both know won’t end well.

Unsure of whether this might head south all too quickly, Sophia decided to say more than ask. “Before you even think of diving really deep into this conversation, let me just touch the surface light, shall I.”

Sophia did not wait for any reply before she’s back on it, “The fact that I am a self-proclaimed clingy, co-dependent, and borderline possessive lovesick easily jealous puppy, is already a fair and blaring warning for your brother. Or anyone who wants to date me for that matter.”

Not only did Gemma look at her like she had lost her mind, but she has now also looked at Sophia like she had just lost all her wits and limbs all together.

“How could all those be a red flag? The only guys, or may I say boys that would think that way are fucking wanking arseholes of twats who are too immature for their own good. And you better believe me when I say that my brother is fucking far from being that. I would have literally disowned him as anyone related to me if he thinks those traits you’ve just mentioned are all but negative things. Those traits of yours are that of a bloody loyal and loving person.”

Those were the moments that made Sophia think how unique Gemma truly is. Vastly outspoken, efficiently eloquent and blunt. Though it still renders her speechless whenever Gemma talks so heatedly about something, no doubt much more when it’s a lecture about Sophia’s poorly dating life.

“Look,” Gemma said after a few minutes of silence after her weighty speech. She reached for Sophia’s hand to hold it down her lap in a comforting touch. “I get it, all these fears and negative comments placed on you by previous lovers and all that shit. I understand that it's taken a toll on you because clearly, you haven’t met any guy that has treated you with respect and that unconditional love every human deserves. But, that doesn’t mean you should close yourself off to other more deserving guys out there who are also looking for what you need. The world is already abundant with hate and fear, you wouldn't want to add more to that, yeah?”

Sophia almost wanted to shed a tear at Gemma’s already heart-warming speech, and here she goes trying to guilt trip Sophia with the concept of world peace.

Instead of replying, Sophia glared at Gemma’s resurgence of her ‘I’m-guilty-but-you-love-me’ smile to show her that Sophia’s not buying the ‘date my brother so world peace can progress’ crap she was trying to sell here.

“Fine!” Gemma relented all of a sudden, removing her hold on Sophia’s hand to cross her arms above her chest. “Considering you’re so alike to my brother, for sure he’s going to throw a way worse fit than you have been doing when he learns about my genius plans. I won’t set you guys up on a date anymore.”

Sophia might actually start crying now as a smile of victory breaks into her face. Upon seeing such a gleeful response, Gemma pointed her finger at Sophia who’s supposedly doing a dance of victory on her head is halted.

“However, that doesn’t mean you’d get away with meeting him. This Friday, my place and same time. Wine Nights at Gemma’s Special Bunny H Edition.”

Sophia thinks that should be better than that date, right?

*~*~*

Working as a head chef for Gordon Ramsay always had its perks and its disadvantages.

Advantages can be earning a highly generous amount of money from doing what you love. Harry gets to travel first class around the world just to do what he loves to do the most: consuming, learning, and making more food.

Disadvantages would be that Harry’s a very busy lad, one who has seldom time to spare for his family and the fact that he doesn’t really get to focus on anything besides his work.

Considering that Harry’s only 22 years old, most people would likely say that he should just continue to flourish in his job, to learn and grow more as an individual before worrying about other things besides those.

You see, that’s what Harry’s mindset is to begin with. Get everything ready and prepared whether that entails maturing himself or growing his financial resources before he stops being the head chef of one of the culinary legends of the entire world and begins to settle down. And when he’s accomplished all that, everything would be perfect: starting his own business, and having his own family to build it with.

Now it took Harry a good wake-up call in the form of his older sister, Gemma, to see that he could perfectly achieve all those right now.

Gemma’s only a year older than Harry, and having a call in the middle of a boring meeting in Paris is all it took for Harry to question his current life decisions. Gemma had rang him about being dead-set on buying a home with her boyfriend Michal, just after two years of starting her own design firm.

If she can do what she loves on her own and have someone that she loves much more at such an early age, what can’t I strive to have that too?

Obviously it wasn’t just that phone call that suddenly altered his entire life plan, Harry also had to consult with his mum and Robin if he was thinking on the right path and if he was being reasonable. Knowing that his mum was a literal older version of his sister (albeit much more savage if you ask him), Anne definitely made sure to put it in Harry’s head that he was a right twat for only realizing it now that he should stop being such a workaholic and start to focus on the greater things that matter.

“At this rate, you can buy your future girl the entire Selfridges for all she cares! So, you bloody better quit your job now and settle back down in London if you don’t want all your hard earnings to be put to waste, you lovely wanker.”

Yup, leave it to Anne Twist to call her son lovely and a wanker in the same sentence. Though all in all, it was the right words that Harry absolutely needed to hear to get his life into a new and better perspective.

Surprisingly, everything went smoothly with this new route of his. Harry officially landed on England soil early this morning, and had just finished his final work-related thing with Gordon just a few hours ago. He can now finally breath in relief as he’s currently sitting on an Uber that’s heading to his newly bought home.

Harry was about to take a much needed nap considering he just also finished a swarm of calls from his builders for his upcoming restaurant that’s already on the works. It felt as if he had just literally closed his eyes for a second when his sister decided to have other plans and made it her mission to ring Harry in that instant.

Harry does not try to disguise his annoyance upon answering the call. “Why hello my dear sister, why does it seem like you always fancy ringing me at the most unreasonable hours?”

“Actually, it’s not my bloody problem that you decided to come here earlier than planned.” Gemma bit back with the same air of annoyance. “Weren’t you supposed to arrive this Thursday? If I’m not mistaken, it’s just Monday today, little bro.”

Gemma’s usual sassiness definitely does not fail in waking Harry up a bit.

“First of all, why am I even surprised that mum told you I was arriving days earlier? And second, is it such a crime to leave earlier than planned and be more productive? Because if I reckon correctly, I am currently in the process of starting my own restaurant of some sorts here in London. Thirdly, you are correct. It is a Monday and I’d be concerned if your paranoid self forgot about this thing called a calendar, everyone has one in their mobile devices if that’s any help.”

Harry swears he can actually picture Gemma’s angry face, with steam leaving her nose and ears like the cartoon they watched in the telly when they were younger. Thankfully, it was only Gemma’s groan of vexation that she gave Harry.

“God, I wonder how anyone would survive your smartass attitude to be honest. You’re worse than me really, and everyone already does not like it when I talk.”

Harry laughed at that. “I mean, I am one of a kind. Rare, some might even say.”

Gemma’s indignant groan only rises in octave as Harry’s practiced ears heard her quiet hiss of ‘cocky narcissistic bastard’ on the other end of the line.

More amused at her reaction than anything, Harry chuckled and had finally asked why Gemma called before she took more time off his impending nap.

“I’m just wondering, since you’ve arrived earlier than initially planned, do you mind if I set your date with my lovely best girl pal on Wednesday around 7:30 in the evening?” Gemma all but said casually, Harry’s eyes almost bugging out of its sockets just like in the same children’s program they frequently watched before.

“Cause I figured you’d like to pick her up at around 6:30, then probably a stopover or some shit cause you’re a romantic weirdo and that would take another 30 minu-”

“Gemma Anne Styles, d0n’t you even dare think of doing that exact same shit you’ve just told me if you know what’s good for you.” Harry sternly interrupted his older sister without any ounce of remorse. “I’m so bloody tired of having this conversation with you again and again! How many times do I have to verbally tell you that you’re not fucking setting me up with your lovely best girl pal. No offense to her, but she’s some sort of crazy wanker if she agrees to your delusional and poorly planned date. Besides, I bet you already tortured that girl enough being as she’s been your best friend since you two were in uni. But what I’m really trying to say, is I’ll gladly disown you as my sister if you so wish to continue with your actions and-”

“HOLY MOTHERFUCKING BLOODY MARY AND CHRIST! Would you shut it already?! I’m just kidding, okay?”

The gallons of pure relief that washes over Harry, made him feel like no nap is needed to make him feel this relief and rested from the antics of his annoyingly, pain in the arse, persistent sister. Christ, Gemma’s been pushing Harry to do this blind date since last week. It started subtly with hints in the beginning, then it escalated to full on detailed calls and texts just a few days later.

“You should have just said you didn’t want to go on the date because it’s too soon to find your soulmate type of romantic bullshit you say.” Gemma carried on to insult Harry’s romantic principles. “You really didn’t have to blatantly disrespect our relationship as siblings. It’s nice to hear you even have thoughts of disowning me, clearly you’re more of a drama queen than my lovely best friend. She just straight out told me she’s not going, better learn from her, Harold.”

Harry rolled his eyes at his sister’s dramatics regardless if she just proclaimed she wasn’t one for it.

“I guess it’s good to hear that she’s apparently the more sensible between you two.” Harry chuckled at his own clever jab, knowing well enough that his sister is definitely the type who would fancy a blind date with some stranger. It’s really great to hear that Gemma has not influenced her best friend in that realm.

“Oh would you stop it already,” Gemma scoffed, “I already had an earful from her earlier today upon my brilliant plans of getting her to agree.”

Harry let out a full-on guffawing loud laugh at that. If this girl can take down his sister and Gemma also earned an ‘earful’ from her, then this girl must be really different from Gemma as most of her other friends are just as loud as her making it impossible for anyone to lower her notches.

“Ohh..” Harry muttered in intrigue, “I think I might already like her Gem, obviously not in a romantic way as you’re most likely thinking right now you delusional twat. It’s more of I think I’d fancy her to be my partner in annoying you.”

“Whatever, you just wait and see for more of your similarities this Friday.”

Harry’s giddy behavior stopped right there.

“What?! Didn’t you just say-”

“OKAY!” Gemma did nothing but just screamed at Harry making the latter wince with his phone inching away from his poor ear. “Before you get your knickers in a twist Harold, just because I called off the date, doesn’t mean I don’t want you guys to meet.”

Gemma’s voice considerably softened. “She’s still my best friend from uni, H. You should at least get to know her considering she’ll be with me almost all of my free time. So, I’m inviting you this Friday, together with some of my other close friends to Wine Nights at Gemma’s 7:30 sharp, and don’t even think of bailing on me.”

As much as Harry has never fancied the idea of being set up on a date, Gemma was still correct that it was only rational for him to get to know this best friend of hers considering she’d probably be one of the few people Harry would know in London aside from his colleagues. Better have a familiar face in his new life in the city.

“Sure. Wouldn’t want to miss my first ever invitation at the highly prestigious Wine Nights at Gemma’s. How could I?” Harry’s obvious flattery elicits a laugh from both siblings.

Harry has heard a lot of good things from said wine nights. The fact it has an official name shows some importance to it. Plus, Harry has felt enough jealousy at the fun it seems to bring from all of Gemma’s Instagram posts about it.

“That’s good to hear.” the smile on Gemma’s voice rings clear at the end of the line. “Before I let you go, just a heads up, I left a very special set of surprises at your place.”

Harry instantly groaned at that, he hated it when Gemma went to his home without telling him. The evil older sibling that she is, Gemma only laughed at Harry’s clear distaste for her actions.

“Actually, it's perfect that you’re arriving tonight. I bet you’d genuinely really like it. But anyway, Michal’s waiting for me to start our movie night so I better head off. Love you, H!”

Before Harry can even complain how it really wasn’t a bright idea of his to have given her the code to both his gate and front door, Gemma left him hanging. Not only that, envious too that she’s having a movie night with her boyfriend while Harry’s going to be stuck alone at home, and worse, has to get his Wifi connection installed before he can even watch some Netflix.

Finding no sense to act petulant about such misfortunes, Harry occupied himself the remaining ride home thinking about Gemma’s surprise. Upon arriving at his new home, Harry certainly did not picture the six beautifully arranged assortment of preserved flowers scattered on both his living room and kitchen to be his sister’s little welcoming treat.

A beaming smile graced Harry's lips when he also noticed a tin of his favorite matcha on the marbled kitchen countertop placed on top of one of Gemma’s famous stamped letters.

Dear H,

I hope you loved these beautiful (and expensive) flower arrangements from yours truly. If it even matters to you, my lovely best friend helped me make this possible.

I know you wouldn’t really have the balls to tell me this verbally, but I also made sure to buy you your favorite brand of matcha and supplied you with a big mug in your cupboards to use. I know you’d feel lonely on your first night at such a big house, I hope these little things have provided you some comfort, little bro.

Don’t worry, if you play your cards right, I might just buy your future girl’s favorite beverage too so she can join you on your late night Netflix shenanigans.

But since that’s yet to happen because you so politely declined my offer as resident (and CERTIFIED) cupid, just enjoy your night alone and probably ponder about sending your sweet sister some flower arrangements in return? It wouldn’t be polite if she already works for you free of charge and you don’t even return the pleasant favor by dropping her some simple flowers.

Anyway, love you lots, bunny H!

Yours truly,

Gemma Styles 💘

The best older sister & cupid in all of London

P.S. There’s a business card inside the envelope where I WANT the flowers specifically from. Good luck and thank me later 😉

Wasn’t that letter sweet? Harry thought the same thing until his older sister showed her true bossy colors by ‘requesting’ Harry to buy her some ‘simple’ flowers. Besides, as deviously clever as Gemma thinks she is, Harry can see right through her schemes with crystal clear eyes.

Harry knows pretty close to nothing about Gemma’s best friend, except for the fact that she’s held the poor girl captive for how many years now as Harry’s certain no person would willingly be Gemma Styles’ best friend without some coercion happening. The other fact that Harry knows is said best friend is a florist. How can he not know about that when Gemma insisted on calling her ‘sunflower’ every time Harry asked what her real name was. Thankfully, Harry learned early on to just stop asking.

Harry does not bother looking at the business card tucked safely inside his sister’s envelope, he shakes his head and disposes of it in the bin while imagining in his head what Gemma’s real plan was. It would obviously go around the lines of an innocently oblivious Harry arriving at some flower shop in central London, coincidentally meets the owner, strikes up conversation with her, and then Harry and her magically fall in love together. So when Harry delivers the flowers Gemma has requested, low and behold, ‘oh, the owner is my best girl pal! Harry, it was meant to be!’

“Meant to be my ass.” Harry muttered to himself. As someone who’s not the biggest fan of romance movies no matter how much of a natural romantic flare he has, it’s no surprise that Harry does not end up watching The Notebook that night nor follow his sister’s twisted plan of a flower shop meet-cute.

Instead, Harry found himself at a Waitrose near his half-way finished restaurant after getting inspired from an episode of The Great British Bake-Off he had ended up watching last night. Gemma wanted flowers, but Harry was more in the mood of baking her some red velvet cupcakes. Not only will it serve him good brother points, but it would also instill in Gemma that his argument still stands strong: Harry has the best red velvet cupcake recipe and her excuse for a special recipe does not even compare.

With that will in mind, Harry carried on filling his trolley with all the ingredients he needed from salt, to flour, and to cocoa powder. By the time he reached the section for cupcake holders, Harry was examining the contents of his trolley, feeling as if he was missing something integral.

“Red!” Harry facepalmed himself. “Dummy, how can you forget the food coloring?”

Before anyone can question the man with his hair on a bun talking to himself in aisle eight, Harry quickly makes his way back to the baking bits where he thinks the food coloring is located. He finds it without any worries, mind laser-focused on the task that he doesn’t notice the other person that’s also on the same mission as him.

One moment, Harry had his arms outstretched to reach the bottle of red food coloring on the grocery shelf. The next moment, Harry was colliding with an entire body of a little person who he didn’t realize was also aiming to reach for the same thing as him.

“Oh shit!” Harry cursed, one hand grasping the bottle of coloring tightly, while the other was steadying the petite woman who he had accidentally hit.

“Oh my god, are you okay?” Harry checked in clear worry, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there.”

The girl’s head was turned downwards and away from Harry’s vision, hands covered in sweater paws were gently rubbing the side of her body that Harry had accidentally collided with.

“Holy furball, that hurt.” the girl had mumbled, Harry’s worrisome self was alerted.

On autopilot, Harry was reaching for the girl himself, hand reaching out to hold her probably bruised arm. “Shit, do you want me to take you to the A&E? Actually, maybe I should just take you to the A&E just to make sur-”

Blue eyes stared back at Harry.

The prettiest, cerulean blue Harry had ever been blessed to see. It literally took the words out of Harry’s lips when the girl had finally looked at him on the face.

Harry does not know what his face currently looked like, all he knew is that whatever his face was showing, made the girl’s beautiful blue orbs widen even farther like the most adorable babydoll eyes.

“Oh.” the girl said before an embarrassed pout formed on her pink lips. “There’s no need for that, I’m just a really clumsy person in general so I’m already used to it. Oh! I’m also so sorry for hitting you. I swear I didn’t do it on purpose.”

Blue babydoll eyes turned rounder, cotton candy pink bottom lip protruded even farther.

And oh, Harry was screwed in every angle of that word.

He’s literally in the presence of the person that’s straight-out of his loveliest dreams. Harry knows nothing about this saddened girl in her cream sweater and tight little skirt in front of him but he’s pretty sure she’s the woman he did all those long nights and mornings for making food and saving every pound for.

“No.” Harry quickly said after his state of stupor. “It’s alright, you don’t need to apologize. It was all my fault and you can’t say otherwise.”

It was a definitive statement, one that garnered him a puzzled expression from the pouting girl who was probably used to getting blamed by people because of her self-proclaimed clumsy nature. Well Harry won’t be like those twats to such a wonderful girl who he wants to have a good ending to their meet-cute because that’s totally what’s happening right now.

So Harry gave her a comforting smile instead. “No worries, truly. I was the one in the wrong for not minding my surroundings, but I promise I won’t do it again to you or for anyone else here in this Waitrose for that matter.”

Harry wasn’t trying to be funny, but the angelic giggle the girl let out was rather something he was inclined to hear on repeat.

With a grin, Harry placed his hand forward in greeting. “I’m Harry, by the way.”

“Sophia.” she had said while returning Harry’s handshake pleasantly.

“Well it’s nice to meet you, Sophia.” Harry already loved how the name easily rolled-off his tongue. “Although I would have wished I had met you on better terms without my oblivious self almost colliding with your body down to the germy grocery floor.”

The dig on himself was worth it if only for the giggle Sophia had once again graced him with.

“It was an accident, though.” Sophia had kindly defended. “So I don’t think you should be mean to yourself about it.”

Harry shrugged playfully, “I’d still want to re-do our first interaction if I could.”

“Well that’s not possible so let’s just forget about it and move on.”

But Harry doesn’t want any of those when it comes to Sophia.

He doesn’t know what Sophia’s plans are besides the indication of her equally filled trolley just beside her. Though there’s no way Harry will let her checkout from this Waitrose without him securing any future plans with her.

“What are you shopping for this lovely morning, Sophia?”

The evident want for their conversation to be sustained brought an elated tug at Sophia’s lips. No matter how minute the detail, Harry feels his hopes surge forward at the indication that Sophia also didn’t want their interaction to end at this baking aisle.

“Oh, I actually stopped by here to get some bits for spontaneous dessert baking for my lunch.”

Aren’t they a match made in heaven already?

“Are you serious?” Harry couldn’t help but smirk at her, “I’m also here to do the exact same thing!”

Delighted surprise glowed on Sophia’s face. “Really? That’s insane!”

Harry didn’t want to ruin his chances and opened his smart mouth to say that it’s not really that of a surprise considering they met at the baking aisle. Seeing Sophia’s eyes filled with wonderment at such a simple coincidence was something he wanted to keep being the reason for.

“What are you planning to make, miss star baker?” Harry cheekily wiggled his eyebrows that made Sophia’s beam brighter.

“Red velvet cupcakes!” Sophia excitedly squealed, making Harry’s heart grow fonder for the girl especially when she even clapped her hands a bit in pure elation.

“I was about to grab some red food coloring when you accidentally bumped into me.” Sophia continued, eyes moving back to the grocery shelf only to see that there were no longer any bottles of red food coloring available.

From how quick Sophia had turned to an excited puppy upon telling Harry she was going to bake some red velvet cupcakes, it was just as swiftly that she had turned to a sad puppy upon realizing it couldn’t be possible without the integral part of the dish missing.

Harry swore his heartstrings were pulled cruelly when Sophia proceeded to pout at him, cerulean blues turning glassy. “Harry, there’s no more red food coloring. How can I bake my red velvet babies then?”

He doesn’t know what it is, but Harry has only met Sophia just a few minutes back and just one dejected look from her has Harry wanting to fix and make everything better just to see that happy glow painted back on Sophia’s adorable face.

If this wasn’t a sign from the universe that it was the right choice Harry began settling down in London to get his priorities in life back on track, he doesn’t know what type of push the universe will need to do to his arse when this sacred opportunity is already being handed to him with the stars fucking aligning in front of his own eyes.

Harry tried to give a small smile to a near-tears Sophia when it felt like such an impossible task to do so. “Would it be crazier if I said I was also here to get ingredients for red velvet cupcakes, and I happen to have gotten the last bottle of the red food coloring?”

Harry waited for the words to register in the still kicked-puppy looking Sophia, her cute mouth went agape the moment it did.

“What?” Sophia muttered, dumfounded.

Harry tried his best to reel in the giggles with how cute he’s finding Sophia right that moment. “Yeah, I was here to bake someone some red velvet cupcakes and I was about to checkout and forget about the most important ingredient of all. So I came back for that, and then bumped into you, and now we’re apparently in this parallel universe situation. Isn’t that really crazy?”

“Really, crazy.” Sophia repeated with a dazed smile.

Harry still thinks she is very adorable when he begins to ask, “Since there’s only one bottle left, fancy changing your prior plans to join me at my restaurant instead?”

Blue irises widened in surprise, “What?” Sophia squawked which shouldn't be attractive but it was to Harry because how can anything Sophia do be anything but?

“I think it would be a right shame if I’m the only one who gets to bake some cupcakes when I have an entire professional kitchen under my disposal where I can easily invite you in.”

It’s a very straight forward request, one Harry won’t even suggest if he was already talking to someone weeks in. His kitchen is a very sacred space for Harry, one he doesn’t let others that easily in without finding it in himself to completely trust that someone. Call it a reckless move or one directed from a poorly conceived chance encounter from a romance film, but Harry just feels it in his intuition that it was the right thing to ask.

Sophia looked at him with a tint of uncertainty, “Are you being serious? I don’t think I can impose on you like that just for some cupcakes.”

Harry shook his head lightly, “No, you’re not imposing. I’m actually dead serious about inviting you over to my kitchen. Besides, this request is not only for the sake of any cupcake, it’s for red velvet cupcakes.”

Something about the mention of the specific dessert had gotten Sophia hooked once again in some sort of trance. Harry himself is transfixed at the way the girl had instantly lit up from within like Sophia was just presented with the exact arrangement of numbers to win the lottery and she is determined to take her shot at winning it.

It took barely a second for Sophia to flash Harry with her own winning smile, timidly nodding her head in agreement at the latter’s offer. It seemed like Harry had also won his chance at love at this point early on and that fact only continued to solidify in his head the longer he spent time with Sophia.

Conversations flowed easily between the two from the time they were at the checkout counter talking about their start of the day with Sophia getting the last piece of croissant at her favorite local bakery to Harry sharing his first morning at his new home. Their chatter naturally took a turn to Harry’s new life in London as Sophia excitedly suggested things he needed to see and experience in the city while the two of them loaded their baking goodies in Harry’s Range Rover.

Apparently, Sophia’s flower shop was just around the corner from the grocery so she decided to not take her own car and walked the way instead. It was a highly interesting fact to know that she was a florist and Harry found himself being more engrossed than what he would normally be.

Majority of their short car ride was filled with Harry asking numerous questions to Sophia about anything flora. He quickly learned the innate joy it brings out of the girl with just the simple question of what flowers grow best in spring time or if the meaning behind the color of flowers truly matters when one is purchasing them.

The dimple on Harry’s cheek remained a permanent fixture on his face as Sophia answered all his questions in a joyful manner, dainty hands moving animatedly at her every mention of her ‘flower babies’ which is probably one of the most adorable things Harry has ever heard in his entire existence.

It’s a true shame that Harry couldn’t just purchase every color of roses available to show Sophia how sure he is that he’s on the right route of falling in love with her, nor have the ability to just grab Sophia’s little hand mid-talk to see if their palms do fit seamlessly together like Harry pictures two puzzle pieces connecting to create the perfect link.

Ultimately, Harry wanted to start littering Sophia’s stunning face with adoring kisses every time she said the word baby for all the flower plots she was growing and fondly telling Harry about.

All the best things in life don’t come that easily though, and Harry is well aware of that as he settled with giving Sophia all the attention he can whilst driving them safely. Her soft smiles are easily returned when Harry feels nothing but enamored at every little thing that Sophia had blessed to tell him. It’s not a normal occurrence for Harry to converse with someone so passionate about their career and it’s the first time he’s learnt that he finds it actually rather attractive.

By the time Harry has parked his car at the front of his restaurant in the making, Sophia has just finished telling him about the two dozens of intricate bouquets she and her team had finished earlier today. The deciding factor which made her determine that it was only fair to close the shop before lunch so her hard working employees will get their much needed rest.

Someone who’s passionate about their occupation combined with the fact that they are also giving keen attention to the well-being of their workers? Sign Harry fucking in!

“Oh wow,” Sophia let out when Harry turned off the engine, “We’re here already? That was a fast ride.”

Harry smirked, “What can I say? One can’t really tell the time that passed when they’re in the presence of excellent company.”

Sophia’s eyes narrowed, Harry’s cocky words no doubt pulling the side of her lips in amusement regardless if he denies it to his face.

“If I remember correctly,” Sophia hummed in defiance, “I was the only one talking the entire ride so how can you say you’re excellent company when you didn’t even offer me the same courtesy of getting to know you?”

“That’s fair.” Harry chuckled, “But it’s also fair to give me a second chance of proving to you that I’m an immaculate company to have as I tour you inside my upcoming restaurant?”

The excitement in Sophia’s eyes is palpable upon the information, it’s as if she’s completely forgotten where Harry was taking her in the first place.

“So you’re a chef then?” Sophia asked as they made their way out of the car, Harry insisting on carrying all the grocery bags.

“Yeah, I think in a nutshell that’s what I am.” Harry replied, motioning with his hands for her to lead the way to the front door.

“What does that mean?” Sophia asked while walking, turning her head back to look at Harry which caused her to almost trip. “Oops.”

“Careful, lovely.” Harry worriedly instructed, the endearment easily falling from his lips without his consent. But instead of worrying about the girl’s reaction to his natural show of affection, Harry made his way to stand beside Sophia and help her up the stairs going to the front door with his free hand placed on the curve of her waist to make sure the clumsy girl does not fall.

“Sorry.” Sophia whispered, the quietness of her tone catching Harry’s eyes just as the same time he noticed the clear pinkness glowing on the top of her cheeks.

Harry himself is shining inside from making this pretty person blush just from a simple endearment. That’s a really good thing to remember then, that Sophia evidently likes pet names the same way Harry naturally loves spewing them to people he cares for. Isn’t that really quite convenient?

“No need to apologize.” Harry easily appeased her as he opened the door for the both of them to enter. “I completely understand why you wanted to ask a question bearing in mind that I truly am such a character one should know about that’s worth tripping for.”

The answering laugh from Sophia is all Harry needed to hear to feel appeased himself that the girl truly didn’t feel bad or embarrassed for almost tripping in front of him.

“Are you really this self-conceited?” Sophia asked, this time without the fear in Harry, that she might trip on her feet once more as Harry continued to glue himself by her side, guiding her in the very cluttered and half-built dining area of his restaurant.

“Not really, I say it’s more about having enough self-confidence and not about me being truly arrogant.” Harry honesty replied, finding no time to provide Sophia with flirty banter when he sees the way most of the builders are looking at the latter.

Harry felt the slight simmering irritation in his stomach, not liking for one bit how the builders he had hired literally stopped their work just to give Sophia a once over with their eyes. It’s disgusting knowing where their nasty minds can lead to. It’s no surprise that the urge to protect was unleashed from Harry, considerably pulling Sophia closer to him by gently placing her directly to his front while he wrapped both his arms protectively across her stomach, grocery bags dangling painfully on his wrist forgotten.

Harry felt the effect of their sudden change in proximity in Sophia’s body language as she stiffened her back at their first close touch. Harry didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable around him but her safety from the foul prying eyes these men are giving Sophia is Harry’s top priority as he quickly led Sophia to the protection of his kitchen.

Thinking Sophia did not appreciate Harry’s brash decision of essentially back-hugging her on their way to the kitchen, Harry quickly removed himself from being plastered from the petite woman’s back and discarded their baking goodies on the steel countertop. He was unsure if he was meant to apologize for compromising Sophia’s personal space or what but his worries were easily diminished when Sophia herself gravitated back to him.

Harry tried his best to not let his mind wander with rose-tinted glasses on the implication of Sophia standing far too closely by his side as she helped him to properly dispense their ingredients with her careful fingers treating the bag of flour and box of eggs with delicate care. They’re so close to one another that not only can Harry feel the soft material of Sophia’s fluffy sweater sliding against the side of his arm, but the girl’s floral perfume is wafted in Harry’s nostrils like a constant wisp of fresh summertime air.

They’re standing too close to each other that one wrong move, Harry’s hip can hit Sophia’s own which can result with the latter tumbling down on the spotless kitchen floors. In Harry’s humble opinion, it was only a precautionary measure when his arm snaked its way back to the curve of the small of Sophia’s back with his hand finding purchase on the dip of her waist. It’s all about ensuring Sophia’s safety from falling over, Harry does not want that to happen is all.

Sophia seemed to also share the same sentiments with Harry as she cozied her way up Harry’s melting heart with her sweater paws softly clutching the end of Harry’s shirt while gladly accepting Harry’s hold around her as she relaxed her body on his.

Sophia raised her head to look at Harry as she spoke, “So, you’re telling me you’re just a ‘chef in a nutshell’ when this beautiful kitchen is enough to tell me that you actually are one. This kitchen is clearly made for only a professional chef. ”

Harry chuckled at Sophia’s observation, trying to quell his smugness. “You like my kitchen, huh? I do say I am quite proud of it.”

It was a no brainer for Harry that the first section of his restaurant that must be done first is his kitchen. Not only is it the place where Harry can feel like completely himself as he cooked to all of his heart’s desire, but it’s the only place where he knows he truly feels a sense of belongingness. England will always be his home, but for someone who’s traveled most of his adult life, that feeling of home and having a home base has always been a missing factor in Harry’s chosen career path. It’s the familiarity of the kitchen that has been the constant one in Harry’s life. Harry knew it would make him feel loads better with this new big milestone in his journey if he had a fully equipped kitchen where he can just be.

It’s just the cherry on top that someone special to his eyes can also appreciate his comfort space.

“It truly is a marvelous kitchen, Harry.” Sophia repeated kindly with nothing but sincerity in both her voice and irises. “And it doesn’t really do anything with your attempt at being coy with me when I already know in the short time I’ve come to know you that you are nothing but a confident man. Why is being a chef suddenly stopping you from talking to me then?”

Well isn’t Sophia a smart one? “It’s because I’m kind of wary that I might actually sound like a cocky arsehole when I say what my career of being a chef truly entails.”

It seemed to be the right answer to further intrigue Sophia. “Now you’re just putting me in a cliffhanger. You don’t do that to your friends, Harry!”

Friends? Harry doesn’t know if he should be rejoicing about that or not. He hoped that their closeness emits some sort of love cocoon so that Sophia would also feel that attraction Harry is strongly harboring for her.

“It’s not even that big of a deal.” Harry said, already retrieving some bowls and measuring cups from the drawers he personally organized with Sophia still glued to his every move.

“It totally is if you haven’t even told me what you actually do for a living that enabled you to build something so beautiful.”

“I like how you think that I built this kitchen myself. It’s a real ego-booster, lovely.”

The instant pinking of Sophia’s cheek was an undeniable win on Harry’s side. Harry chuckled in slight surprise when Sophia went a step further and rubbed her cheek on the sleeve of his shirt, trying to hide her blushing mess on Harry’s bicep.

“Stop making me blush and stop changing the topic.” Sophia called him about making Harry chuckle deeper.

“Well stop turning all blushy and cute then!” Harry countered, laughing by now at Sophia’s reaction as the latter made a physical show of removing Harry’s hold on her as she grumbled her way transferring the contents of their ingredients in their own separate bowls.

Sophia wasn’t done with showing her displeasure at Harry though as he warned him. “I’m not going to allow you to join me to bake red velvet babies if you don’t start being honest with me right now.”

If Harry wasn’t enamored at everything Sophia, he would definitely have pulled a viscous Gordon Ramsay-esque cursing fit for someone technically disrespecting Harry in his own kitchen. Gatekeeping Harry from cooking is a very big sin in his books, which apparently has an exception from adorable people who are having a hard time folding their sweater paws so as to not get dirty by the cocoa powder.

Harry is nothing but endeared as he makes his way to help the struggling Sophia.

“Let me help you there, lovely.”

Sophia pouted at him, “Fine, but don’t bloody think you’re already in my good books.”

Her attempt at a menacing stare was just as intimidating as the fluffy cat video Harry saw on his phone late last night when said cat had gotten their water fountain turned off. But unlike the video he saw, Harry tried his best not to coo this time around or else Sophia might actually order Harry to get out of the kitchen. His kitchen or not, Harry would probably follow Sophia’s orders without any questions.

“If I tell you that I actually used to work with Gordon Ramsay for the majority of my adult life, would that be enough incentive to be back in your good graces?”

Sophia finished transferring the last egg in a bowl right before she almost dropped one after hearing what Harry had just said.

“You’re a chef for Gordon Ramsay?” Sophia rapidly asked, body rigid and alert.

“Up until last night I was.” Harry shrugged, “And for complete honesty, I really no longer am employed by him considering we’re in the restaurant I’m getting built.”

Harry ultimately frowned at Sophia who started to squeal in excitement, little paws grabbing Harry’s bicep in a thrilled squeeze.

“Why in the blooming world did you want to keep this awesome information from me?” Sophia avidly babbled.

Harry looked down at her in confusion. “Awesome? What’s awesome about what I said?”

“That you work for fluffing Gordon Ramsay!” Sophia replied in a ‘duh’ tone, undertones of eagerness present. “He’s like the most magical proponent of cooking and so blooming hilarious! I’d probably be peeing my pants if I were in your position who needs to be constantly in his presence.”

Typically, Harry is quite accustomed to these types of surprised reactions upon learning who Harry works for. Key word: typically.

It’s a completely different scenario when Harry is faced with someone that’s both exhibiting a reaction of surprise, glee-fullness, and ending their sentence with a dreamy sigh. A dreamy sigh?! Since when did his previous boss deserve that type of magical retort?

Harry felt the silhouette of the green monster of jealousy awakening within him. He prides himself for not being the jealous one in a relationship, always having utmost trust in his partners for that to even be an issue. Not that Sophia’s in a relationship with him, but it’s genuinely the first time he’s seen someone react this radiantly about such a mundane thing about him, about Gordon fucking Ramsay, that old man, really?!

Alright, Harry can be honest and say that he’s most definitely feeling the simmering of jealousy because he really fancies Sophia and here she is close to waxing lyrical about his old boss. Of all the people he’d encounter to get his dire love life back on track, it’s got to be someone from his past. And he’s not talking about an ex partner who he can just disregard as unimportant old news. Harry bets Sophia watches Ramsay on the regular, how can he be old news for her?

“He’s not that special, really.” Harry shrugged, tampering down his annoyance at even picturing that smug, teasing face of his previous boss which he often gives Harry whenever one of their line cooks gets ‘distracted’ by Harry’s luscious long curls.

“How can you say that?” Sophia gasped, “Surely we’re talking about the same Gordon Ramsay here.”

“I’m sure.” and Harry doesn’t want to divulge further than that. “He’s just loud and demanding is what it is. I’m pretty certain you can also comprehend that just from watching him on the telly.”

Sophia only narrowed her eyes at Harry for his dismissive tone. “You’re right, but that’s only a small part of why Gordon Ramsay is such a magnificent chef. Don’t you guys say it’s never good to be quiet in the kitchen?”

“Yeah, but Gordon’s just overbearingly loud. Trust me, he needs his executive chefs like myself to get him to calm down most of the time or else his kitchen would literally be on fire already with how much of a cruel devil he can be with the brigade.”

Harry said that statement as to scare Sophia, not make her stop on her tracks once more and give Harry moony eyes.

“Gosh, I’m not one for cursing or getting cursed at but, I’d even personally ask Gordon Ramsay to tell me the F word just to feel like I’m part of Hell’s Kitchen.”

“What the fuck?” Harry’s eyes widen, not missing the cheeky glint in Sophia’s cerulean boys.

“I said a cursing Gordon Ramsay, not you.”

Unintentionally, that last two words of Sophia’s tap directly on Harry’s growing jealousy.

“Can you stop saying his name?” Harry found himself asking sternly, not able to stop his mouth from blabbering even when Sophia visibly stiffened at his words. “You’ve said his name in your last five sentences while talking to me. Do you like him or something?”

The question is out in the open before Harry can even think better of it. He feels the embarrassment settle on the tips of his ears, eyes falling to the floor just waiting for Sophia’s painful reply as he moves to give both of them some distance. He feels like such an inexperienced wanker for getting jealous that easily.

Thinking that he should just probably apologize before Sophia inevitably rejects him, the latter closed the distance Harry previously gave them. She resumed her position in Harry’s close proximity, Harry’s hyperawareness indicating that Sophia’s much closer to him than before with the side of their bodies flushed together, fingertips resting on the kitchen counter with barely a sliver of space left before they’re touching.

“No, I don’t like him like that.” Sophia said in clarity, whispering her next words in the quiet of the room. “Why would you even think that?”

Harry shrugged, feeling Sophia’s curious stare at his side profile. “I don’t know? You just kept singing him praises so what was I supposed to think?”

Harry was still not returning Sophia’s gaze, though he can feel the incredulity in her stare.

“That I’ve watched the guy a bunch of times on the telly and I just find him so talented in his craft but not because I fancy him? What else was I supposed to talk with you about when all I know is that you’re generally a friendly guy who’s easy to be with that’s apparently a chef but does not want to expound on it further? Harry, what was I supposed to say?”

Now Harry feels downright foolish. “I’m sorry.” Harry finally returned Sophia’s gaze. “You’re right, I just wasn’t being a proper company like I promised and completely read your words the wrong way. I’m really sorry, love. Clearly it’s been a really long while since I’ve made a new human connection. I’m proper shit at it.”

Gone was the jealousy in Harry, replaced by a feeling of shortcoming at the pit of his stomach, lips painted with a self-deprecating smile.

“Hey, don’t say things like that about yourself.” Sophia frowned, dainty fingers now touching the spaces between Harry’s own, giving him a feather-light touch enough to diminish his negative aura.

“You might have made it difficult for me to think of any conversation starters that just aren't annoying small talk, but you’re not an awful company, Harry. Far from what you’re saying, actually. My best friend and I have sadly met a handful of those awful companies, and trust me, you’re not a poopyhead like them.”

That startled a laugh out of Harry. “Excuse me, did you just say, poopyhead?”

Despite the roll of eyes she gave in answer, Sophia still had a fond grin sitting pretty on her lips. “I’m not an advocate for cuss words, so I say stuff like those as a substitute. It’s not my fault they sound funny.”

Harry unintentionally snorted, “More like ridiculous.”

“Heyy!” Sophia whined as Harry found himself wrapping his arm back around Sophia’s body, pulling her pouting face on his strong hold like second nature. “You’re not making this easier for yourself. Don’t think that I’m already allowing you to help me bake my red velvet babies.”

“Our red velvet babies.” Harry cheekily retorted, smirk back on his face like he just didn’t lose faith on his own flirting skills just seconds ago. Now isn’t Sophia the magical one? Able to easily get Harry out of his untimely, self-deprecating funk?

“Only mine.” Sophia bit back. Even though her head is tilted upwards all adorably, Harry can still see the determination clear as day on her face.

“Ours, lovely. We’re both in my kitchen so it’s bound to be our red velvet babies.”

“Not if I kick you out, though.”

And again, how is Harry not going to allow her to do that?

Harry settled with an easy, carefree smile. “Alright, if that’s what you want. But, you have to say it to my face first.”

Harry might not have enough faith on his relationship building skills, but he’s quite certain that Sophia is the opposite. The girl’s too kind and lovely to be able to kick a new friend out of his own space.

Sophia looked conflicted for a second, blue orbs searching Harry’s face if he was kidding or not. Harry wasn’t and when Sophia realized that hard truth, she visibly softened in Harry’s arms.

“No, I can’t do that.” She confessed, “I might burn down your brand new kitchen if I was left alone here with my own baking skills, or lack thereof.”

Sophia didn’t say the last bit in a light of embarrassment like most people would do when they learn Harry is a chef and they want to impress him. Ironically, it’s Harry who wants to impress Sophia now after learning that new and highly beneficial fact about the girl.

“Good thing I’m a chef then, yeah?” Harry asked with newfound determination springing in his veins. “Now why don’t I start showing you how to make our red velvet babies while you tell me why you love them so much?”

Sophia didn’t say otherwise nor corrected Harry that it was still her red velvet babies. It’s such a silly little thing but it honestly made Harry feel really giddy as he helped Sophia make the cupcake batter like it’s something he’s doing again for the first time. He felt alive, in the most calm and serene way possible. Sophia’s rapt attention and gentle movements like a breath of fresh air for Harry. It’s been awhile since he’s felt the extreme need in him to share his special place with someone and to want them to have the best time with him out of it.

Sophia for her part seemed as content as Harry to be in the kitchen, voice soft and light as she shared with Harry her innate love for red velvet cupcakes while religiously following Harry’s gentle instructions on how to sift her dry ingredients. Harry grew more keen to teach Sophia his own red velvet cupcake recipe after learning that Sophia leaves and breathes the specific recipe of her best friend.

As a professional chef, he didn’t understand why people like Sophia and his sister Gemma could ever think that he doesn’t have the ability to change their opinion of their favorite dish. Sophia literally scoffed at him after suggesting the idea, endorsing that his recipe is approved by her beloved Gordon Ramsay.

“I don’t care.” Sophia stated simply, “I can’t betray my favorite red velvet babies just like that.”

“You haven’t even tried mine!” Harry protested good naturedly.

If Sophia didn’t look so angelic while she smiled up at Harry, he would have thrown a proper cocky fit. Sadly, it looked as if Harry would let the girl get away and stomp down on his ego all she wanted.

Harry can’t be mad at anything though, especially when Sophia was naturally returning all of Harry’s soft touches. Might it be Harry’s hand at the small of her back as he guided Sophia nearer to the edge of the countertop, Sophia squeezing his bicep to get his attention after he demonstrated how to crack an egg pouting that she wasn’t that unknowledgeable in cooking, Harry finding himself reaching over to wipe Sophia’s face with tender fingers after the girl clumsily turned on the mixing bowl while it was overflowing with their dry ingredients, and Sophia returning the favor after she had accidentally spilled some of the red food coloring on Harry’s hands.

They were in the middle of portioning their batter into its separate cupcake holders with Harry taking the lead and Sophia cleaning the edges as a final touch, when the latter asked a specific question.

“So what’s the occasion that made you want to bake cupcakes today? It’s for a special someone, huh?”

That alerted Harry, hands stopping their movements as he tilted his head to look directly at Sophia. He doesn’t know where the question came from so Harry couldn’t judge if Sophia avoiding his eyes meant anything.

He was unsure so he answered with another question. “What do you mean?”

“I mean..” Sophia began, trailing off looking as if she was carefully trying to select her next words. Harry doesn’t know if he should be nervous or what. “I mean that when we met earlier, you said you were there to buy ingredients for red velvet cupcakes. Cupcakes that you were going to bake for someone.”

Oh. Oh.

Sophia essentially had just asked him if she was seeing someone and Harry doesn’t know why he felt shy rather than smug.

He felt the apples of his cheeks turn warmer, “Uh nope. Not baking for someone cause I don’t necessarily have a someone to begin with.”

“Oh.” Sophia muttered, a tone of surprise swimming in just that one word before she’s rambling. “I am so sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed because that’s awfully rude of anyone. I’m truly sorry, it isn’t my place to ask anything about that matter. I should have just let you tell me if you have only wanted of course, instead of running my bloody fluffball of a tongue. If you want, you can totally have all the red velvet cupcakes to yourself and-”

Harry couldn't help but interrupt Sophia’s adorable rambling with a deep melodious laugh, nose scrunching at Sophia’s flustered state.

“Fucking hell, you’re so cute.”

It’s such an honest statement that Harry didn’t have any sense of control to even prevent it, and didn't have the heart to curse himself when the situation turned even more cliché when Sophia and him locked eyes after he spoke, both of them with wide eyes and cherry red cheeks.

After a minute, the two were giggling like idiots.

“I can’t believe you just asked if I was dating someone so randomly.” Harry teased, both of them returning to their task at hand.

“I said I was sorry.” Sophia mumbled embarrassedly, forehead dropping on Harry’s shoulder as the latter continued to chuckle in delight.

“You don’t really have anything to be sorry for, but I think it’s only fair that I’m offered the same opportunity to ask the same thing.”

Harry felt the way Sophia caught her breath with her head remaining nestled comfortably at the dip of his neck and shoulder. He already loves how innately tactile Sophia is.

“No someone.” Sophia quietly replied, Harry almost missing it only for the fact that he honestly felt her words engraving it’s way on skin making him feel warm and gooey at the information.

“Good.” Harry found himself replying, attuned to Sophia’s smile as the girl wordlessly nuzzled her button nose in Harry’s neck even further.

And that’s how they finished arranging their red velvet cupcakes. Not with Sophia clumsily dropping the cupcake molds even before it reaches the oven, nor was it with Harry fighting his way to prove to Sophia that his recipe is way superior than anything she’s tasted before after offering the kind girl the first taste of their red velvet babies.

No, that’s not what happened.

Harry was simply content eating his cupcake on the right hand, left hand rasped tightly by the girl from the baking aisle.

*~*~*

“Babe, can you please sit down with me and relax?”

That should have made Gemma stop from pacing their living room, but it’s probably the fifth time her lovely boyfriend has said the same thing to her albeit with different words. The point still remained though: Gemma needs to relax ASAP.

“I am relaxed, what are you talking about?!” Gemma all but snarled in the quiet of their freshly cleaned space all decked-out and ready for the night’s special festivities.

“Yes you’re relaxed and you definitely did just not scream at me.” Michal replied with an air of sarcasm which Gemma believed she deserved as she paused her movements.

“I’m sorry, love. I don’t mean to be difficult, I’m just getting really nervous about tonight.”

It’s the first time Gemma admitted it out loud, typically a stubborn woman who doesn’t want to seem she doesn’t have everything under control. Michal, being her amazing boyfriend who's used to every mood she could be in, slowly stood-up from his position on their couch to stand beside Gemma and hold her hands in his.

“I understand that the fear of not being the perfect host tonight is looming over you especially since it’s H’s first time to join us in your infamous wine night. But what I don’t get is why you’re this bothered by it; he’s just brother, love. Harry would be the last one to genuinely talk shit about you that goes beyond siblings teasing each other.”

Gemma controlled the groan of frustration trying to break free from her. “Babe, you don’t understand.”

Michal, the ever patient, “Then help me try to understand so I can help you calm down.”

And this is why Gemma bought a house with him. The man has the ability to let her pride down so easily around him and admit that not everything is a task she can handle alone.

Ironically, it’s somewhere between those lines on why her best friend canceled on her with just a day’s notice. Gemma glared at just the thought of it as she bounced herself on the couch to appease her boyfriend.

“Ugh!” Gemma groaned, fingers coming-up to rub her temples. “I just feel it in my gut that something bad is bound to happen tonight. Not only did Soph cancel on such a special night, but H is also bringing some girl with him that he barely even knows. Wine Nights at Gemma’s is such a prestigious occasion and my baby brother is inviting someone who he hasn’t even spent a week with to know yet! Tell me how all that doesn’t sound so disastrous?”

Saying it out loud was both relieving to the tensions that grew in Gemma’s veins, but also bloody terrifying how her fears suddenly sounded far too real now.

Gemma blamed it all at the first phone call she received from Harry early afternoon yesterday. A phone call that truly made Gemma almost threw her phone against her office wall after hearing what his brother was planning.

“Did you seriously just say what I thought you did?” Gemma clarified, phone clutched tight on her ear, feeling the slowly growing alarm within her.

“Yes, Gemma.” Harry simply replied, all calm and collected on the other line as he continued with the words that threw Gemma in the middle of a hysterical fit.

“She’s my person, Gem. She’s the type of girl you put a ring on.”

“What the fuck are you on about?” Gemma hissed, completely caught-off guard. “I didn’t even know you’ve met anyone in your first week back in London, and now you’re thinking of fucking proposing already? What the fuck happened to you in the past three days?!”

The next hour that transpired was one of the most bizzare moments in Gemma’s whole existence. Not only was she startled that Harry actually talked to her for that long over the phone, gone was his usual slow drawl replaced instead by an up-beat, excited step on his voice. The most surprising and downright concerning thing about all of it is that Harry wore Gemma’s ears off with all the stories of his past few days concerning this stranger of a girl her brother has met on the baking aisle of Waitrose.

“In the baking aisle, are you bloody serious now?” Gemma’s face twisted unfavorably at how Harry sighed almost dreamily in confirmation.

“And you wouldn’t believe how in that moment alone, the universe already manifested in front of my eyes how perfect we are for each other!”

Universe..manifest? Since when did her brother start speaking Gemma’s language of crystals, manifestations, and the power of the universe? If she could, Gemma would have reached across the line of her phone to shake her brother’s shoulders and ask where the fuck did he hide her real brother who doesn’t speak in flowery words let alone about love!

Gemma wasn’t privileged enough to have that opportunity with Harry going off with the end of his story that included red velvet cupcakes and this entire baking sequence complete with innocent, wandering touches that ultimately ended with the two of them eating their baked cupcakes while cuddled together already talking about new plans to do.

Harry gushed that it was the most unique and cutest meet-cute ever. Gemma made sure to burst his bubble and said it was the cliché shit Harry himself hated in romance films.

“Why does it sound like you’re not being happy for me?” Harry asked, the unmistakable tone of creeping sadness evident.

Gemma sighed, not wanting to be that type of sister who becomes overbearing and overprotective of their brother when it comes to romantic partners. Gemma always prided herself for being an open-minded woman who gives people chances no matter how undeserving they are sometimes.

“H, you have to understand that my hesitancy in rejoicing with you only stems from the fact that these all just sound so crazy.”

“Crazy? In which part of me finally meeting the girl I want to pursue and spend my life with in the near future is insane?”

Gemma groaned, keeping-in her smartarse retort already at the tip of her tongue. “That sentence alone sounds bloody bizarre to me, Haz! I’m truly ecstatic for you that you easily found a connection with someone considering mum and I have been telling you to settle down for ages already. But, we didn’t tell you to do all that in one go. You’re ready to marry someone you’ve only met for three days, that doesn’t sound so safe and wise coming from your sister who’s the more reckless one between the Styles siblings. I don’t want you to take my crown on that, H.”

Relief slowly washed the expanding panic in her system when Harry broke into a laugh after Gemma’s honest speech. It only lasted for a while though because Harry decided to open his big mouth and continue his earlier crazy narrative despite Gemma’s wishes.

“Gem, call me crazy all you want but fucking sue me if love hadn’t changed my perspective in life! I don’t give a bloody care if I’ve only known my person for barely a week, she’s my person, Gem. That’s enough rationality for me to want to go to the nearest Cartier boutique and fucking drop on one knee! Besides, I think you’re underestimating your little brother’s game. The last few days with her were all spent with me wooing her, let me tell you all about it.”

Wooing? Did her brother seriously just say that?

No answers were needed for such a stupid question when Gemma proceeded to be on the special screening of Harry Styles’ one man show of wooing splendor. Mind you, Gemma didn’t even sign up for this, Harry quite literally dragged her ears off once more as he vividly retold his past few dates.

Instead of saying that it’s quite excessive to have three consecutive dates in the first week of meeting, Gemma deserves a clap on the back for holding back her tongue as she complimented Harry’s choice of making a six-tier red velvet cake for a movie night at the girl’s place.

Talk about a bloody extra wooer.

“It was our second date, well technically the first one but I’d like to say our meet-cute was our perfect first date.” Harry said in that same tone of excitement that had never left his voice since the moment Gemma picked-up her phone.

“So I wanted to make a lasting impression that I truly value whatever she tells me. It made absolute sense that I baked her a cake, and not just any cake, Gems. But a red velvet cake! My person loves red velvet, she adores it so much that she even has red velvet cupcakes shaped pillows! Isn’t that adorable, Gem?”

Adorable? More like pretty obsessed. Besides, Gemma already knows someone who’s also obsessed with anything red velvet. If she knew Harry would be so tickled about a person that is so into red velvet, then Gemma would have said that fact about Sophia from the get-go. Her best friend lives and breathes red velvet, too bad Harry had already ruined any chances to see that.

It was clear that Harry only had her eyes on this girl. He pretty much gushed to Gemma that in their movie night, he couldn’t offer any drop of concentration in the Harry Potter film they were watching. Voldemort was rising back from the dead and there Harry was, eyes more fascinated at the girl’s side profile all throughout the movie. Gemma might have not faulted her brother there for a fetus Voldemort is nothing but creepy, except that Harry continued his story by saying that the moment Cedric Diggory died, was also the moment he decided to kiss his person.

Gemma was appalled. “Seriously? In that moment of the film? You couldn’t even keep it in your mouth until the movie ended and instead stuck your tongue down the poor girl’s throat at the most unromantic part of the film? Actually, why in the world are you two watching Harry Potter on a movie date? I taught you better than that, Harold.”

“I wanted to save her from the dreadful part of the movie, Gemma.” Harry exclaimed, like it made perfect sense. “I wanted to replace the bad memory of Cedric Diggory dying with the magical moment of our first kiss. And just so you know, I did not give her a french kiss. I’m a gentleman, Gemma. It’s all about gentle lips and innocent nips.”

Gemma would rather talk about anything but kissing with her brother so she had no choice but to prompt Harry about their third date. Best believe Harry turned to the topic change like a puppy chasing a stick.

“We had a lovely picnic at Hyde Park where we watched the sunset go down.” Harry released a dreamy sigh afterwards, “It’s not the first time I prepared food for someone, or either is it the first instance I was able to watch the sunset disappear with someone I care about. But Gemma, that afternoon was the most surreal experience of my existence. I felt so content just being able to sit there on the picnic blanket, cuddled with her. I felt so vibrant that I was able to hold her against me, to have my fingers interlocked with hers, that I was able to just angle my head slightly and be able to reach her lips whenever I wanted to. I’ve never felt this happy in awhile.”

Now that’s something; Gemma has never heard her little brother talk in such light. It was so new to Gemma’s ears that it was successful enough to stow her worries about the girl away for a minute and instead be genuinely thrilled for her brother about meeting someone that makes him feel happy.

It was because of this mood that Gemma didn’t have it in her to question Harry’s decision of having her wine night as their third date. At that moment, she felt more honored than anything. And come today, she’s on the brink of full on panic.

“Babe, I’m quite certain that nothing of disastrous proportions will happen tonight.” Michal assured Gemma in the present, “H won’t bring just anyone to meet you, so we just have to trust his word that the girl is really special for him.”

“That’s easier said than done.” Gemma groaned.

“I know,” Michal sympathized like the caring boyfriend that he is. “But I’m going to be here the entire night to help you calm down when you need it.”

Gemma doesn’t want to sound mean but she knows Michal’s used to her frankness by now. “You’re not that good at calming me down, love. Only Soph can completely bring me out of my panicked state. And too fucking bad she can’t make it tonight.”

Gemma can’t help but feel bitter, especially now recalling the phone call she got that same night after Harry had turned her afternoon in a complete 360 degree turn.

Gemma was in the right mood to rant to her best friend about bunny H’s craziness when she saw Sophia calling on her phone after her dinner that night. Who would have thought that Sophia only added to the loco of her brother.

“You’re not coming?!” Gemma screeched in greeting when Sophia opened their call saying her plans have changed for Friday night, meaning she can’t make it to the special Wine Nights at Gemma’s. How preposterous?

“Yes, that’s just what I said.” The sigh that followed Sophia’s confirmation conveyed her personal dislike for bringing this news to her best friend. Gemma at least felt a little bit comforted that Sophia was quite remorseful for her news unlike someone’s brother.

Gemma let out a sigh of her own, more for her own thinning patience in life than anything else. “For the love of everything holy, will you tell me what the heck has taken place for you to bail on me this Friday? You know how special this wine night is going to be for me, love.”

“I know,” Sophia reaffirmed softly, “and I’m truly sorry that I have to skip it. I swear, once you meet my sweeter-than-Ramsay chef, you’ll be completely on my side. I can’t just say no to our fourth date cause he might think I’m not being serious about him or something.”

If it was possible, the world stopped to a screeching halt when Sophia’s words came barreling in Gemma’s already jumbled and frazzled brain.

“Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” Is what Gemma screeched in reply, heart truly racing at the onslaught of things that she’s learning about today. “What is it with everyone in my life today deciding to fucking turn my axis with curveballs that are bound to make be bloody crazy! Do you want to send me to the A&E or something?!”

Gemma knew she was overreacting, but she can’t help to just let it all out when her single brother from days ago is now writing his own meet-cute romance movie even though he despises every single one that Gemma made him watch, and now her best friend for life is suddenly telling Gemma she’s practically ditching her wine night for a boy, specifically, with her sweeter-than-Ramsay chef.

Gemma’s frustration is justified (and brewing panic), thank you very much. Good thing Sophia is the only person who can successfully calm Gemma down with the gentle tone of her voice alone.

“Hey, calm down, everything’s alright.” Sophia’s soft voice allowed Gemma to release the breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “No one wants to send anyone to the A&E, babe. I might have impulsively sprung a big news to you, and I’m sorry for that. But we should all just relax, it’s not that much of a big deal.”

That made Gemma release a laugh of pure disbelief. “Not a big deal? You literally just informed me that you now have a man that rather competes with your favorite tv chef mogul. Sorry for freaking the fuck out, but weren’t you just single last Friday?”

The sarcasm in Gemma’s tone only slightly makes her feel bad for giving her best friend some of it. Besides, Sophia herself knows she deserves it knowing how blunt Gemma can be.

“Well, a lot can happen in one week.” was Sophia’s sad excuse of a reply.

Gemma snorted, “Yeah, a lot can happen in a week that’s worth more than just your lousy reply. Come on, Soph. How can you not tell me this right after you realized the dick that you found was that good?”

“Gemma!” Sophia squawked, “We haven’t had sex yet, bloody furball! We’ve just met this week and been on three dates. It was so out of the blue and new that I genuinely didn’t even think of telling you this early on.”

“And yet you’re telling me right now, mind you, that you’re also dumping me over this recent dick you found. Should I be offended?”

“Can we stop referring to him as a dick?” Sophia sighed in apparent exasperation, making Gemma smirk at eliciting a reaction out of her.

“Actually, I wasn’t calling this mystery man of yours a dick like in a mean way. It’s more like, I’m referring to his actual junk and your relation to it.”

Gemma believed that stupid utterance was worth it for the way Sophia had actually groaned in pure agony at the end of the line. Gemma can picture her best friend looking all flushed and uncomfortable from her crass words.

“This isn’t about getting laid, Gems.”

“The frustration in your tone begs to differ. Maybe you do need to get acquainted with mystery man’s dick already.”

“Gemma Styles!” The laughter that bubbled in Sophia’s indignant exclamation of her full name made Gemma trust that her best friend is not annoyed at her apparent teasing remarks. It’s what Sophia deserved for keeping this vital information from her.

“Alright, I’ll stop.” Gemma chuckled, “Be thankful that you’re only getting my crude teasing as punishment for breaking out best girl pal code.”

“What code are you talking about?”

Now it was Gemma’s turn to let out an exasperated sigh. “Our best girl pal code of: ‘I’ll solemnly tell my best friend about any dick I found. May it be the dick that would whisk me away to my happily ever after, or the dick that can bring me to cloud nine just for a night.’

Sophia chuckled, Gemma clearly picturing her shaking her head. “I can never forget such fluffing stupid code if it existed, I can assure you that. But babe, seriously though, I’m sorry for having to rush this news to you, over the phone no less! If I wasn’t just so nervous about our next date, I would have gotten to plan and meet you over dinner or something. But that’s out of the picture now, and I’m meeting his sister tomorrow already and I don’t want to mess up.”

If Sophia was known to be the one that can successfully calm Gemma down, it’s only a perfect fit like everything in their friendship that Gemma is also capable of returning the favor. So that’s what she did, easing comforting words to Sophia’s ear that enabled her flustered best friend to slowly untangle her worried thoughts.

“I just want to be the perfect girl for him, you know?” Sophia shared in full sincerity, “He’s so different from all the men I’ve met before, Gems. Different in the best way possible in the way that he’s managed to remove my fears about commitment and the idea of depending on someone.”

That made Gemma whistle in interest. “Now that’s a big feat. And he’s managed to do that in barely a full week?”

“Yes.” Sophia’s single confirmation was also laced with a tone of surprise like that Gemma is feeling. “I barely know him but he makes me want to try. To try and explore this undeniable connection we’ve stumbled upon. He’s so fluffing sweet, Gems, takes everything I tell him to heart. He makes me feel so warm with just a single glance, his soft touch makes me feel alive. I haven’t something this strong, and so natural with anyone.”

Sophia’s words were raw and completely honest, successfully making Gemma’s own heart warm at the growing bliss she feels for her best friend. If there was anyone in Gemma’s life that deserves all the love in the world, that’s Sophia. Self-less, solicitous, sweet, Sophia. She’s the triple S deal here and any guy with a real heart can detect that.

And as Sophia continued to share her cavity-inducing sweet recollections of her past few days, Gemma is slowly getting the glaring hint that this mystery chef man is one of the few sensible men living who knew they hit the goldmine with only the first glimpse of Sophia’s blushing cheeks. Gemma doesn’t know if she should feel relieved that Sophia seemed to have met her perfect match, or absolutely devastated that her best friend and brother are on the same path of love exploration but not with each other.

“Well there goes my aspiring cupid career.” Gemma sighed in slight defeat after Sophia told her that her mystery man chef is taking her to his sister’s dinner party that’s why Sophia had to ditch her.

Sophia chuckled. “Babe, I’m sure your brother H would still appreciate your help on the love department, or something.”

“Yeah, or something.” Gemma snorted. “Would you believe it if I told you that he actually called me first than you, but said the exact same things you just told me.”

A few beats pass with silence on both ends of the line before Gemma thinks Sophia had finally digested her words.

“Holy fluffball! Are you for real?” Sophia said in surprise, which Gemma isn’t sure if she’s happy or annoyed about.

“So fucking serious.” Gemma deadpanned, “Just like you, met a girl sometime this week and spent the remaining going on dates with her. And knowing how truly perfect you two are for each other, it’s not a surprise that just like you again, he didn’t want to tell me the name of the unlucky people you’ve both captivated in the fear that I’d search their socials and act all psycho-loco.”

Sophia replied with a loud laugh, the audacity of that woman. “Wouldn’t blame your brother one bit.”

“Oh you cheeky bugger. Or should I say, cheeky fucker? Since you need to get it on with this mystery chef man of yours when I can seriously feel the sexual frustration all the way from here.”

“I’m really going to hang-up on you if you don’t stop talking about intercourse.”

“Oh my god, you really need to get laid if you can’t even say the word sex without being in the brink of planning to maul your chef man.”

“Gemma!” Sophia hissed in a laugh with her, “No one is going to maul anyone, get your head out of the gutter for the love of christ.”

“Excuse me, you’re the one who acted all territorial on the man when a few women were checking him out on your guy’s park date. The fact that he even verbally affirmed you that he likes your possessiveness and even made sure to lock you on his lap to even further deliver the message, all bloody screams extreme, flammable, sexual tensions.”

“I shouldn’t have told you that bit.”

Amen to that. If Sophia thinks she can get away from Gemma’s unrelenting teasing words about her new-found lovelife, then she’s completely got it coming for her. Not only is it payback time for all the times Sophia has done the exact same thing to her when Michal and Gemma were only starting their relationship, but it’s also a stepping stone for Gemma to corrupt Sophia to become more of a sexy vixen who’s comfortable with her body. God knows she’ll combust herself in sexual frustration if the next stories she hears from Sophia are about her and just making out under the stars with sweet chef man.

And now that Gemma thinks about it as she lets the simmering panic for her wine night to cool down, Sophia better have some spicy deets to share to her after flourishingly leaving Gemma in her own devices to meet her brother’s new beau.

Speaking of which, the resounding doorbell in her house makes Gemma certain that she had just summoned the bunny herself.

“Should I get that first while you calm down here?” Michal asked, the ever considerate one.

“I think we should do it together, rip off the band aid style.”

Michal smirked at Gemma’s growing bravery. “Of course, the only style Gemma Styles knows how to rock.”

Accepting Michal’s waiting hands, Gemma stood up beside her corny boyfriend as she tried to channel every bit of valor she could get before she faced the inevitable whirlwind couple waiting for them at the end of the door.

Too bad she didn’t prepare well enough for the most loco surprise of her life that no band aid can ever mend.

*~*~*

“Baby, relax, will you?”

Sophia’s wandering nervous thoughts were placed to a halt when she felt Harry’s large hand finding purchase on the meat of her bare thigh as he reached across the console of his car while driving. The sweet gesture, if anything, only increased Sophia’s heightened nervousness at meeting Harry’s sister and her longtime boyfriend at their home.

Ever since her phone call from Gemma last night, Sophia had been on the edge being hyper aware of Harry’s soft touches analyzing if there’s an actually sexual tension between the two of them. The answer was apparently plain and simple because the moment Harry picked her up for their date looking so fluffing good in his floral suit, Sophia felt the caress of his long curly locks hitting her cheeks as he kissed her in greeting all the way to her core.

So not only is she nervous that she might embarrass herself in front of Harry’s sister due to her clumsiness, but now Sophia also needs to keep herself in-check all night long before she inevitably mounts on Harry’s lap and staking her claim on his neck in front of his sister and all her other friends. Thank you for that, Gemma Styles.

“I am relaxed.” Sophia softly replied, folding her hand with his in a vain attempt to not direct herself Harry’s hand to linger upwards than just the expanse of her thigh.

“I may have only taken you to three dates so far, but lovely, I take quite an offense that you think I’m not able to detect your nervous tells. Actually, you make it easy for me cause you do it a lot around me.”

“Oh here’s Mr. Cocky gracing me with his presence again.” Sophia chuckled in sarcasm, Harry giving their connected hands with a squeeze.

“C for confidence, baby. Don’t go mistaking it. Besides, you do that exact same pouting lips and furrowed brows combo like right now when we watched Goblet of Fire and you were preparing for Robert Patinson’s death.”

Actually, Sophia was nervous during that time because she was discreetly looking at Harry from her peripheral vision trying to keep her cool from attacking him with kisses. The unknowing innocent man was cuddled close to Sophia with his eyes trained on the laptop screen, seemingly engrossed with his kissable pink lips that are in-between the pads of his thumb and index finger. Sophia was nervy because she’s never felt that unyielding urge to kiss someone, the fact that it would be their first kiss too screams volumes. Thank everything holy though that Harry was the one who made the first move with all his gentle kisses or else, Sophia would have traumatized him if she pounced on him with tongue and teeth from the get-go.

“Or that time on our third date when you did the same signs cause you were nervous what people in the park would think when they saw the two of us with you straddling my waist like an adorable baby koala.”

Also known as the possessive Sophia slip-up which was a rather beneficial occurrence than that of a disaster. Sophia honestly thought that the moment she hissed like a flipping cat to the fifth woman who gave Harry the full head to toe sweep like it totally didn’t look like the two of them were on a date (cue the picnic set-up and interlocked hands, ehem!) Harry would not want to do anything with her anymore.

Who wants a possessive girl on the third date, anyway? The previous Gordon Ramsay protege beside her apparently, who proceeded to tell her: ‘I live for women who get territorial about me’ like it was the most appropriate answer to give. For Harry maybe it was, but for Sophia? That verbal confirmation which answered all her relationship concerns from the past, only made her nervous that there might be a fat chance that the wetness that pooled on her panties as a result from Harry’s honest words would leave a stain on Harry’s jeans when the latter didn’t give her any opportunity to escape the confines of his stronghold with her stuck on his lap.

“Oh! The best example would be after our first ever date. You cannot deny that you were pouting at me with the crumbs of our red velvet babies coating your plump lips with furrowed brows looking all nervous that I won’t ask you for another date.”

Now that one was spot on. “Can you blame me though? I didn’t even know us baking that afternoon was a date in the first place.”

“Of course it was,” Harry argued like all the times Sophia questioned it, “I never bring anyone, let alone girls, to my kitchen without it being a special situation which in our case, was a date. Also, I’m not a stupid twat that would let the girl of my dreams get away from me when I already caught you at the baking aisle.”

“You’re being cheesy again.” Sophia mumbled, rolling her eyes at the grinning driving man despite the resurgence of the pink flush on her cheeks.

“Doesn’t matter.” Harry shrugged and gave Sophia the smirk she’s definitely slowly falling in love with. “It made you forget about whatever was making you nervous, and look, we’re literally in my sister’s subdivision and you didn’t even bat an eye.”

That made Sophia take a sharp breath. “Way to remind me again then! I told you to tell me when we’re near so I can fix my makeup before we meet her.”

Harry just laughed at Sophia’s misfortune as the latter scrambled to find her compact and other makeup essential in her tiny bag to retouch.

“Because I told you, there’s no need for that. You already look more gorgeous than anyone there tonight, including my sister.”

“Harry!” Sophia chastised, giving Harry a side-glare in the middle of applying a layer of gloss. “You can’t say stuff like that or your sister would kick the two of us out. I want her to like me, alright?”

That now earned Sophia a glare as Harry replied in full conviction, “Baby, my sister’s going to like you because you’re an amazing person inside and out. She’s not blind to kind people, and if she suddenly decided to not like you for whatever insane reason, it wouldn’t matter to me. I’m the one pursuing you to be constant in my life, not her.”

Sophia almost ruined her skirt by dropping an open tube of lip gloss to it, thank bloody furball she caught it by mere seconds. “Again, you can’t just say things like that!”

“Things like what?” Harry had the audacity to laugh even louder as he suddenly turned the engine off his car. It was only the moment that Sophia realized the two of them were actually already in their destination and here she was, on the brink of extreme panic by not being completely prepared yet.

With still an open-lid tube of lip gloss raised on one hand, Sophia looked at an amused Harry with wide eyes. “We’re at your sister’s place already?” she whispered like said sister would actually hear her fear.

“Yup.” Harry nodded as cool as a breeze as his big hands reached for the gloss on Sophia’s hands. “Now, didn’t I also tell you that it would only be pointless to apply more gloss when we’re going to be drinking wine all night. Besides, I’d be snogging you too and I don’t want to eat gloss, thank you very much.”

At that point, Sophia had her jaw drop to the floor of the car as she sat unmoving on the passenger seat. “I don’t think I could do this.”

“Sure you can.” Harry easily replied, returning the closed lip gloss in Sophia’s bag all the while unaware of the burning turmoil Sophia was facing. “I don’t think I have to repeat it again and again that it’s only dinner with my sister and her boyfriend and friends. It’ll just make you nervous if I say it all like that.”

How can Sophia tell Harry that not only is she nervous about gaining his sister’s acceptance over dinner but that too of her own desire to snog Harry senseless after he made that comment without sounding like a delusional (and horny..) person?

Before Sophia could ask for help from the gods, Harry took it upon his own hands and seemed to move at the speed of light in Sophia’s static position and the next thing she knew, Harry was already opening her door for her like the chivalrous man she’s grown to know in the past few days. No matter how much her brain is telling her to start panicking in a serious fashion, one look at Harry’s dimples makes her want to fight otherwise.

Holy fluffball, those two craters are lethal to her heart.

Harry proceeded to bend down and place a soft pec on Sophia’s slightly parted lips, leaving a gentle bite to her plump bottom flesh before their connection was separated.

“You’re ready.” Harry affirmed rather than asked. Usually, Sophia is annoyed with people who are straight out bossy and telling her what to do without her consent. But in that moment, Sophia was rather turned-on at Harry’s assertiveness more than anything else.

Sophia found herself nodding her head cause apparently her body is a traitor who’s easily susceptible to dimples and pure confidence. And speaking of a betrayal, everything in Sophia seemed to have forgotten all her pressing worries just from minutes ago as Harry successfully led her out of the safety of his vehicle. Blaming it further on Harry’s hypnotizing touch around her waist, Sophia literally had not looked around her surroundings to even have a clue of what Harry’s sister’s place looked like.

Harry just flashed her a comforting smile before he rang the doorbell, giving Sophia no time to chicken out.

“You’re amazing,” Harry suddenly told her, further pulling Sophia in the blanket of his sweet eyes.

“You’re amazing.” Sophia couldn’t help but argue plainly when her English vocabulary seemed to be missing somewhere between Harry’s honey-dripping words and her easily hooked body and soul.

Harry chuckled, “Baby, don’t start an argument you can’t win, especially when my sister’s seconds away from ruining our flirting moment.”

His odd bluntness made Sophia laugh, all bright and loud that she didn’t hear the first ring of a highly familiar voice opening the door. To say Sophia almost broke her neck from turning it so fast to take a look at the culprit of that sound, was a complete understatement. The fact that Sophia’s head was still connected to her neck, allowed her the perfect opportunity to scream her lungs out in pure horror at seeing the last person she could ever expect at the end of that door.

“What the fuck?!” Gemma Styles screeched, all pairs of eyes exchanging between her and a screaming Sophia.

“WHAT THE FUCK?!” Sophia said back without thinking, totally past any coherent thought.

Since swearing is so against Sophia’s whole being, both Gemma and Michal were stunned into their place at the open door with their jaws slacked open. The same thing can’t be said with Sophia’s date beside her whose arm had considerably tightened his hold around her midsection.

“What the fuck is happening?” Harry said in the most steely voice known to earth that takes no room for any bull poop. His usually soft radiating green orbs have turned cold and hard as it locked its gaze on Gemma. “Did you pull your illegal ninja shit again so you could get intel on who I was dating?”

“Illegal ninja crap?” Sophia repeated in shock with her eyes looking at a gaping Gemma. “What in the world is he talking about?!”

“Nothing!” Gemma dismissed quickly, “He’s talking about nothing!” Gemma returned Harry’s hard eyes in a freakishly twin-like manner. “What did I say about accusing me of being a nosy shit?”

“Cause you're a nosy shit! It completely explains why you know my date!” Harry let out loudly before saying the last thing anyone would ever think he would say. “If you’re clearly telling the truth now, don’t tell me Sophia was the girl you tried to mess with back in your experimenting uni days that warranted her getting cursed tonight. Don’t you dare think I forgot about the girl you fucked and ended up getting disappointed cause you couldn’t get her to orgasm; it’s not her fault or Sophia’s fault for that matter for your lousy skills.”

“You fucked a girl without telling me?” Sophia found herself saying, borderline insulted to a flushing red Gemma who was sending death glares at Harry. “How could you not tell me that?! I could have helped you practice so that poor girl could have had a good time!”

The words were out of her mouth before Sophia could even have a semblance of care and thought at the words she said. Michal laughed rambunctiously with his body bent in half at the sheer volumes of it, while Gemma and Harry had just looked at Sophia like she lost the plot.

She might as well have when she retreated back in her mind regarding her previous statement.

“Now what the fuck is really happening?” Harry asked in total confusion, boggled eyes searching for answers from anyone. Sophia was just in the same boat to be honest.

Thankfully Gemma stepped in before any mayhem could have taken place. But, just like Sophia’s earlier regrets about not thinking before speaking, maybe she spoke too soon about being grateful that someone could finally give her answers. Gemma’s red painted lips are twisted upwards in the most smug grin Sophia has seen on her best friend; it screamed trouble from miles away.

“Well, would you look at that!” the woman that was slowly turning to the evil witch to Sophia’s eyes cackled, “I guess I am a super cupid and all!”

“What are you talking about?” Harry asked once more as realization slowly dawned its way inside Sophia (if slowly resembled a bucket of ice water pouring down on her) as Gemma continued to pierce the two of them with that cruel knowing look.

“Oh jesus.” Sophia muttered when Michal’s confirming nod thrown her way could have been any indication. Sophia was once more on the brink of cursing when the man beside her had only expressed his confusion again.

It’s no surprise that his blunt and impatient sister took reign once more. “Haz, your person is my Sophia too.”

The ever hard headed replied, “No, she isn’t. She’s mine.”

Everyone else totally did not do a facepalm at his possessive remark.

“I’m not saying she’s my romantic soulmate, you twat!” Gemma chastised. “What I mean is she’s my Sophia from uni.”

It was hard to watch the exchange unfold when Harry dumbly repeated, “Sophia from uni…like your best friend you’ve been trying to set me up with?”

Gemma didn’t even have to reply verbally, just a single raise of her perfectly sculpted brow with that gloating tint to her irises had directly hit Sophia and Harry’s utter stupidity straight in the head bursting it into pieces.

The next thing Sophia knew, Harry jumped out of his hold on her. He looked at Sophia with eyes as big as saucers, that gorgeous mouth opening then closing in barely a second, clearly lost for words to say. “You’re sunflower…” is what he settled for bringing momentary confusion to Sophia.

It clicked quickly to her though, eyes moving sideways to give Gemma an amused face. “Sunflower? You couldn’t have set my alias to my favorite flower? Well at least it wasn’t as ridiculous as what you gave him.”

That made Harry more verbal, “What did she tell you to call me?”

Sophia was no way near apologetic at the well pleased look she gave him in return, “Bunny H.”

“Bunny H?!” Harry exclaimed in near hysterics, the calm and composed (and cocky?) chef Sophia was beginning to warm up real good to was suddenly gone. “Can you have honestly given me a much more ridiculous name, Gemma?”

“I thought it was cute!” Gemma defended in laughter.

“I said you wouldn’t like it.” Michal assured Harry who was slowly coming back to his usual collected self starting with returning to Sophia’s orbit with his securing arm wrapping itself around her once more.

“I certainly like you more now mate than my sister.”

Gemma scoffed, “I’m not offended if that’s what you think.”

“Sure you’re not.” Harry easily affirmed, “You just had my girl tell you that she’s game to practice bedroom skills if you ever want to hit on another girl. I don’t think anyone would be easily offended at anything after having that once in a lifetime offer.”

Would it be possible to leave these guffawing idiots and head straight back home? Sophia thinks no amount of wine she would drink tonight will be enough to suffice the burning embarrassment she gained due to her blabbering tendency.

“Aww, baby, I’m just messing with you.” Harry softly assured Sophia who conveniently molded herself into Harry’s front, hiding her flushing face inside the lapels of his floral suit.

“Aren’t the two of you adorable?” Gemma cooed, making Harry snicker, “See? If the two of you have taken your respective head out of your arses and agreed to my credible cupid ways much sooner, the two of you won’t just be calling each other baby, you’d already have babies of your own by now.”

“Who said that too isn’t far from now?”

Harry’s cheeky reply made Gemma gasp audibly, Sophia craning her neck to look at her best friend while remaining comfortably nestled on Harry’s torso.

“Don’t you even joke about that.” Gemma said in a serious fashion before catching Sophia’s rolling eyes that seemed to make her remember something. “Oh! Why am I even getting concerned when someone here is clearly not getting any action when all I see in their aura is sexual frustrations.”

Sophia doesn’t know if she should feel offended, or grateful that the people dear to her know her too well (too too well) when every single pair of eyes gazed down at her as if Gemma called her out which she should have just done if this was the result.

Sophia decided to draw the line there. “I’m not going to talk about sex with any of you when I’ve already done enough damaged on my own.” She fought her traitor body and used all of her strength to detach from Harry’s warm frame.

“Can I have the wine now even if I didn’t bring your special roses?”

Finding out that Harry’s sister is actually her best friend, Sophia’s earlier nerves and qualms about meeting such an important figure in the life of the boy she’s dating was quickly flushed in the drain. Feeling completely in her element, Sophia accepted Gemma’s open arm as the two ladies linked their hold together, walking inside the couple’s house like every single Friday night.

Except this time, Michal isn’t the only one third wheeling the best girl pals as they conversed about Sophia’s newfound love life. Instead, Harry was the new member of the Wine Nights at Gemma’s, acting as the official fourth wheel of the Gemma x Sophia supremacy.

“This is how it’s going to be now, huh?” Sophia heard Harry ask Michal as the two boys trailed after them.

“Yup.” was Michal’s resounding reply, “You unknowingly just signed-up to share your girl with your sister.”

“Well fuck me, yeah?”

Is it sadistic for Sophia to think it was everything she wanted?

Gemma stopped walking by the time they reached the kitchen, addressing the two boys.

“If I hear any of you complaining about Soph and I’s eternal love for each other, I won’t second guess myself by throwing your share of wine on your idiot faces.”

Yup, Sophia wouldn’t have it either way.

SNEAK PEEK: Bunny and the Wine Nights at Gemma's

Because it's Bunny's 28th today, here's a little sneak peek on my upcoming work! 💞

*~*~*

Gemma Styles has a very special place in Sophia’s heart.

Aside from her parents (the people who raised her), flowers, (her babies that give her the utmost happiness), and red velvet cupcakes (the love of her life as it seems), Gemma holds the remaining good part of Sophia’s heart.

They had met in university, the two sharing the same flat building. Thoughts of that same flat always brings an unwelcome shiver in Sophia’s spine upon remembering how it was filled with outrageously smart and stuck-up teenagers who seemed to have never experienced a good time.

Sophia met Gemma one early afternoon, sitting at the common rooms while sipping on some wine.

She was shocked to see wine being drank that early, but was more-so perplexed at seeing someone actually using the common rooms when Sophia had only been alone in the same area weeks prior, never seeing a soul who wanted to join her lounge-about.

Sophia had thought the rest of her flatmates in the building were always cooped up in their room, painstakingly glued to their computers watching the British economy move up and down as their extremely odd form of entertainment.

With just that perception in common, Gemma and Sophia had hit it off that same day when Gemma had sighed in total relief for finally meeting someone aside from brainiacs that made her feel stupid. It had been another shared feeling between the two, making their first interaction go on swimmingly. Plus, Sophia and Gemma share the same love for wine which the latter said ran in their family making Sophia part of it now.

So how can Gemma not have a special place in Sophia’s heart when she said the sweetest thing ever to her in just a day of meeting?

It’s further proven how Gemma Styles is a true woman after Sophia’s heart when she met and matched every effort Sophia had exerted to continue building on their friendship all throughout their hectic days in uni. It’s a testament to their will-power and genuine love for each other with how they remained friends despite their clear differences.

Straight-out the bat, Gemma is the most strong-minded and blunt human being Sophia has ever met in her whole existence on earth. Every single one of their friends who had met them as best friends already, would always question how someone as sweet as Sophia would be close to Gemma who was constantly viewed as the most outspoken and unforgivingly forward in their small friend group.

Well, opposites attract, right? And honestly, there is just as much bluntness in Sophia as there is sweetness in Gemma. It only shows between the both of them and their innate, personal, closeness. The pair don’t see the need to show and justify to others why the two of them just work as best friends, and that none of their questioning will break that special bond they have.

Besides, Sophia could assure you that Gemma would be the sweetest and cuddliest little kitten whenever Sophia’s sad. At the same time, Sophia would gladly be the most strong-minded and unapologetic blunt mother hen whenever Gemma does something stupid like getting herself drunk with four bottle of wine in one single night just because of an idiot ex-boyfriend.

Now Sophia’s sweet nature is honesty not one for swearing but screw that stupid piece of poopy-headed exes because no woman should feel like they’re not enough for some boy.

Clearly, Gemma and Sophia balance each other out in an impeccable fashion and find themselves in a continuous tight-knit friendship even after graduating.

Gemma also happens to be a God sent in Sophia’s life for she was the one who had told Sophia about the open space for renting under the building of Gemma’s growing design firm. Together, the pair built Sophia’s flower shop with her own best friend as her interior designer. The perks of having an interior designer of a best friend who has her own firm just above the top of her own shop is something Sophia often felt grateful about.

Now you’d probably think that Sophia and Gemma know everything about each other at this point in life as successful business women. Considering the fact that Sophia was the first one to figure out Gemma was seeing someone just from the bubbly change in her demeanor, Sophia believes Gemma and her have an excellent grasp on each other’s everything much to Gemma’s dismay of wanting a grand reveal for her now serious boyfriend, Michal.

He’s a good guy and a truly brilliant choice, in Sophia’s opinion.

What’s not good however is her realization that there are still lingering little things that she might not know about her best friend.

Like the fact that Gemma wants to set Sophia up with her younger brother.

The remaining part of the fic comes sometime this February 🙈