JAMIE AND I HAD been together for seven months now, and the only question constantly floating through my mind is simple. How did I get so lucky?

I was still waiting for something to tell me he wasn't perfect, because so far he had been.

After what I'd told him about Archie, and with him surprising me beautifully with arranging for my parents to come up on Christmas and New Year, I don't know what I've done to deserve him. Some days I feel like I'm dreaming. Archie had told me I deserved someone who could give me the world, but I never expected to find a guy who had done that. And continues to do so every day.

Since New Year, the two of us have been inseparable. On weekdays, because my house is closer to both campus and Black Flag, Jamie stays. On weekends, we go back to Rob's house. And even though we spend so much time together, I know there is still so much for me to learn about him. And with the summer coming up fast, with Jamie doing an internship at a firm in London, I was finally going to see the only side of him I hadn't seen yet. I was very excited.

The thought of Jamie in a t-shirt and chino shorts was enough to send me into a frenzy. But a crisp suit every day? Well, that was enough to send delicious shivers up my spine, making me not care it was beyond too early to wake him up. I try to resist, but after a few minutes, I can't help but tickle my fingers down his chest.

He stays still for a minute, letting me enjoy my exploring, but soon he stirs, pulling me closer as his grip tightens on my hip as my fingers go lower and lower.

He sighs in appreciation as I slip my hand into his shorts, but he spoils my fun by pulling my hand away, linking our fingers.

"You're up early..." he whispers, turning me around as he kisses the back of my neck.

"I was about to help you with that actually," I joke, twisting around in his arms, kissing him soundly as I roll on top of him.

He snorts attractively through our kiss, making our teeth hit together and we both flinch apart.

"You seem to be in good spirits this morning," he says, rubbing his mouth.

I shrug as best I can, leaning forward to kiss his jaw. "I can't seem to get enough of you these days, that's all."

"Me neither, babe."

He checks his watch quickly and I giggle when he groans, before rolling us over, pressing me into the mattress, pushing his hips up into mine, causing friction to ignite something in me.

I bite my lip as he moves against me again.

"But seeing as we're both... up..." he whispers into my ear, reaching between us, pulling my pyjama shorts down.

***

LATER THAT WEEK, I'M sitting at my usual booth at Black Flag, waiting for Jamie to finish.

I'm half way through Jane Eyre again, probably for the hundredth time, but I always read it at this time of year, so I don't want to break a habit now. Today is Jamie's last shift before we head back to London in a couple of days, so I thought I'd come and surprise him. Although at this point, me being here isn't really much of a surprise anymore, because I'm always here.

"Hey beautiful!"

I look up after hearing Jamie's voice from my left. He's still in his work shirt, but he isn't wearing his apron, so it looks like he has finally finished. He's been saying 'five more minutes' for the last hour, and I can see that his bright blue eyes look tired, but the smile on his face is still dazzling, as always.

I budge up on the bench I'm on and wrap my arms around his middle as he sits down. He kisses the top of my head before tipping my chin up gently.

"You okay?" he asks, kissing my lips lightly.

I nod. "Yep. Just tired." I yawn on cue and he laughs.

"Oh, you're tired, are you?" He narrows his eyes and pokes my side, making me flinch. "You've had fuck all to do the last two days!"

I laugh as he continues to tickle me.

"We need to get you a job here."

Since meeting his family at Christmas, I don't really understand why he works here. I mean I do understand. He loves it. But seeing him so natural with his friends and the customers makes me feel like he may not be meant to sit behind a desk his whole life like he wants. Part of me thinks he only does this because it pisses his dad off.

In any case, the only nights I don't see him are the ones where he works the late shift. He does come back to mine sometimes afterwards, but he always feels bad for waking me up to let him in. But as those few nights are the ones I miss him the most, I thought I'd try my luck at getting a job here too. I'd see him more, not to mention I love this bar, and I can't say no to earning a bit of extra money. I still planned to go travelling after I finished university, before I started in the world of full-time employment, and with the presents I bought at Christmas for all Jamie's family, I depleted my savings quite a bit.

"You about ready?" I ask.

"Nearly," he nods. "Rob just wants to say a few words before everyone goes off for holidays, as he's closing for two weeks." He kisses my nose before my shoulders slump. Rob is famous for his long speeches. "You don't have to stay though," he adds, even though he knows I will. "I can just come and get you after?"

"Nah it's okay," I shake my head. "I don't mind. I'm just getting to my favourite part anyway." I wave my book at him. "Wait, did you say he was closing?"

"Yep, just for the remodel. All starts on Friday."

"Friday? Wow, that came around quick. And Rob is happy to have you back next year then?"

He snorts before kissing my nose. "Perks of being related to the boss I suppose. He's stuck with me."

I laugh. He loves Rob really, and Rob loves having him there.

"Hey, what's the plan about getting down to London?" he asks, changing the subject.

"My car's probably not going to start," I chuckle, "but I figured we would drive?" I hadn't really driven it since we got back in January.

"I'm sure it will," he assures me, shaking his head.

I roll my eyes. "And when does your placement actually start again?" I ask with a smile. "If it doesn't start straight away, I thought maybe we'd go and see my mum and Mark on the way back, see little Ellie. Maybe stay for a few days?" I suggest. "I'm sure they wouldn't mind." Ellie had been born in February, and I bet she's double the size of when I saw her at Easter, as she'll be four months old now.

As soon as I mention Ellie, Jamie's face falls and the brightness leaves his eyes. It's back a few seconds later, but he shrugs noncommittally and looks off at the bar, not wanting to look me in the eye. "I suppose we could?"

He catches me looking at him with a frown and he changes his expression, but I can't help but think this is a side of him he hadn't showed me... and one I won't necessarily like. And now that I was thinking about it, this wasn't the first time he'd acted that way when I suggested anything to do with Ellie. When we went down to London at Easter, before our holiday to Croatia, he always found an excuse to absent himself whenever Ellie was around, and opted out completely when Millie and I drove up there to see her. He never held her, and his jaw was always tight when she was crying. It was a little odd, but it wasn't something I wanted, nor needed to think about now, so I decide to change the subject.

"Oh hey, Rob is calling you," I nod with my head towards him.

"Ah okay." He kisses my head and stands to join the others so I go back to my book, trying to ignore that pit in the bottom of my stomach.

"Tess?" he calls and I turn. "He wants you here too."

I frown but close my book and go to join him, slotting myself underneath his arm, standing next to Jamie's best friend Ethan. Now that I'm this close to him, I realise he must have been in the kitchen today because he smells heavenly; a mixture of bread, oranges and his oaky scent I love so much.

"So as you know, we're closing for a couple of weeks," Rob starts, looking around the room at his staff. "But to show my appreciation, those of you who are scheduled on shifts for the next fortnight will still be get paid for what hours you're working."

I open my mouth in surprise and smile as people look at each other around the room.

"How does that sound?"

A sea of grateful nods and cheers ring out from everyone and Rob smiles. Everybody thanks him, and I'm so amazed by what he's doing. Most owners would just close and that would be that. It just shows how great of a boss Rob truly is.

"Now in other news... A couple of you are leaving us over the summer and beyond, so I just wanted to say a big thank you to them. We never forget here at Black Flag, so I want to say good luck to Lorna, Bobby and Rich... Lorna and Bobby to start their new family and Rich to go and travel the world. You'll be missed here at Black Flag, that's for sure."

I look up at Jamie. "Lorna and Bobby are together?"

He nods at me, making a face as if it was amazing I didn't know that. I suppose now that I was seeing it, Bobby's arm around Lorna and Lorna's hand in his back pocket, it made sense.

"And lastly, we'll have a couple of new joiners coming in the new terrm in September." His gaze turns to me. "Well, one's not really a new joiner, given she's here most days."

As Rob's eyes move to me, all eyes in the room turn to me and my cheeks blaze at the attention.

"Figured I may as well pay you to be here, Tessa," he jokes, and everybody laughs.

"Since when did you apply?" Jamie asks quietly, grinning at me.

"Couple of weeks ago," I shrug and turn my head to Rob and smile. "I guess I got the job then?" I'd actually applied nearly a month ago, but had given up hope.

"Best not put her and Jamie on the same shift, boss," Ethan chirps next to me and both Jamie and I shove him sideways.

"Noted!" Rob laughs. "Tess, I'll bring you up to speed with everything when you start with us, but welcome to the team," he says before addressing everybody else again. "But until then, some of you I'll see in a couple of weeks, others I will see you when you get back. Have a lovely holiday everyone," he announces and gestures with his arms, everyone cheering. He claps a few times before making his way over to Jamie and me.

"Are you okay to start in September?" he asks.

I nod and smile. "Yeah, that sounds great. Thank you, Rob."

"Cool. I'm sure we'll be able to find at least one willing volunteer to show you the ropes," he jokes, nudging Jamie's shoulder.

"I'm sure I could be up for that," Jamie answers.

I look up at him and he has a huge grin on his face, a beautiful sparkle in his eyes. I love seeing him this happy.

"Hey, erm, you won't miss us tonight, will you?" He asks, tightening his arm around me.

"Not one bit. You two kids have fun," he says, patting Jamie's shoulder and kissing my cheek before walking off to his office.

"So you and me here next year?" Jamie says.

"Seems so!"

He leans down and kisses me, holding my cheek and stroking his thumb over it.

"You ready to go?" he asks softly when he pulls away, leaving me reeling and gasping for air.

All I can do is nod as he smirks at me, walking away to grab his stuff.