Sara's POV:

Another episode of Criminal Minds played across the television while Harry and I lay tangled together on the couch.

At least, I was watching it.

Harry was pretending.

I glanced over at him.

His eyes were technically pointed toward the television, but the slightly vacant expression on his face told me he had absolutely no idea what was happening.

"You have no clue who the killer is, do you?"

Harry's eyes remained on the screen.

"Of course I do."

"Who is it?"

He paused.

"The suspicious one."

I laughed.

"They're all suspicious! That's literally the point of the show."

"Exactly. See? I'm following."

"You're such a liar."

Harry smiled but didn't bother defending himself.

I shifted onto my side and rested my head against his shoulder, placing my right hand against his bare chest.

This was honestly my favorite kind of day.

No plans.

No crowds.

No photographers.

Just Harry, me, and several hours of fictional serial killers.

My fingertips absentmindedly began tracing the tattoos scattered across his chest. I'd seen them countless times by now, but I still found myself studying them whenever we were lying together.

Some were serious.

Some had stories behind them.

Others were completely ridiculous.

Very Harry.

My fingers eventually moved toward one I didn't recognize.

I frowned.

"Wait."

"Hmm?"

"What the heck is this?"

Harry looked down at where my finger was resting.

"What?"

"This."

I traced the design again.

"You mean you don't recognize it?"

I lifted my head.

"Am I supposed to?"

Harry's lips curved into a smile.

That smile immediately made me suspicious.

"Apparently."

I studied the tattoo again.

Nothing.

I looked back at him.

"Nope."

"Really?"

"Harry, just tell me."

He laughed and caught my hand before intertwining our fingers. His other arm wrapped around my back, pulling me closer.

"This," he said, glancing down at the tattoo, "is the logo for the Beachwood Cafe."

I blinked.

"The Beachwood Cafe?"

"The place with the best coffee in Los Angeles."

"That is highly debatable."

"It's not."

"It absolutely is."

Harry ignored me.

"But that's not really why I got it."

My teasing smile faded slightly.

"What do you mean?"

His thumb brushed slowly across the back of my hand.

"It's also the place where I met this girl for the first time."

I knew exactly where he was going now.

Still, I decided to play along.

"Oh?"

"Mhm."

"And who was this girl?"

Harry pretended to think about it.

"Ooh, let's see..."

I rolled my eyes.

"She's this gorgeous brunette."

"Sounds annoying already."

"Extremely."

I gasped.

Harry laughed and tightened his arm around me before I could move away.

"She has these incredibly soft lips..."

His eyes dropped toward my mouth.

"...a rockin' hot body—"

"Harry!"

"What? I'm describing her."

"Poorly."

"I think I'm doing quite well."

I tried to keep a straight face.

"And?"

"And she has this style that makes everyone turn around and look whenever she walks into a room."

My smile softened.

Harry's expression did too.

"And," he continued more quietly, "I happened to meet her for the first time while getting coffee."

I looked back down at the tattoo.

Suddenly, the little design meant something completely different.

"You got a tattoo of the place where we met?"

"Maybe."

"Harry."

"Yes."

I stared at him.

"That's..."

I couldn't even think of the right word.

Sweet?

Romantic?

Ridiculous?

Probably all three.

"You actually remembered the logo?"

"Of course I did."

My heart did that stupid little flutter it always seemed to do whenever Harry unexpectedly became sentimental.

I tried covering it with humor.

"So you permanently tattooed a coffee shop onto your body because of me?"

"Well, when you say it like that, it sounds weird."

"It is weird."

"Would you prefer I have your face tattooed on my chest?"

"Absolutely not."

"Your name?"

"No."

"A giant portrait?"

"Harry!"

He laughed.

"Alright, alright."

I looked at the tattoo one more time before smiling.

"I love it."

His expression softened.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Harry reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Good."

He leaned toward me.

I met him halfway.

Our lips pressed together, soft at first before the kiss deepened. My fingers slid into his hair as his arm tightened around my waist, pulling me against him.

When we finally separated, both of us were slightly breathless.

Harry rested his forehead against mine.

For once, there was no joke.

No teasing smile.

Just Harry looking at me.

"I love you, Sara."

Three words.

Simple.

Quiet.

And somehow they still made my entire chest feel warm every single time he said them.

I smiled and brushed my nose against his.

"I love you too."

A scream suddenly came from the television.

We both looked toward it.

Apparently, sometime during our conversation, we'd missed half the episode.

Harry stared at the screen.

"So... that's the killer?"

I burst out laughing.

"You are hopeless."

***

Jiselle's POV:

Work had absolutely no respect for personal time.

I had planned on having a quiet afternoon.

Instead, I was sitting at the kitchen counter with my laptop open, paperwork scattered around me, my glasses sliding down my nose, and a problem that had apparently become an emergency approximately thirty minutes ago.

I scribbled another note onto the page beside me.

The front door opened.

"I'm home!" Liam called.

"Kitchen!"

I continued working until I heard him approaching.

Then he stopped.

I looked up.

Liam was standing there with a massive box in his arms.

A massive box with a bright red bow tied around it.

I slowly lowered my pen.

"What the heck is that?"

Liam smiled.

"This is for you."

I removed my glasses.

"For me?"

"Yep."

He carefully placed the box on the floor.

I stood from my chair.

There was something about his expression I didn't trust.

At all.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like you know something I don't."

"I usually know lots of things you don't."

"That's debatable."

I cautiously approached the box.

"What did you do?"

"Nothing."

"Liam."

"It's a present!"

"That's exactly what someone says before something terrible happens."

He laughed.

I looked down at the box.

It was large enough to contain almost anything.

"I don't know if I should be excited or concerned."

"Excited."

"Is something going to jump out at me?"

"No."

I reached toward the bow.

The box moved.

I screamed and jumped backward.

"Liam!"

He immediately started laughing.

"That is not funny!"

I pointed accusingly at the box.

"What the hell is in there?"

Liam was practically doubled over now.

"If that is a reptile of any kind, I swear your ass is sleeping outside tonight."

"It's not a reptile."

"Snake?"

"No."

"Lizard?"

"No."

"Something with scales?"

"Jiselle!"

"I'm serious!"

"I promise there are no reptiles in the box."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Then you open it."

"It's your present."

The box moved again.

I took another step backward.

"No."

"Open it!"

"If something bites me, I'm breaking up with you."

"Fair."

I stared at him.

"That answer wasn't reassuring."

He laughed again.

Finally, curiosity won.

I slowly approached the box and crouched beside it.

"Okay..."

I untied the red bow.

Nothing happened.

Good.

I placed both hands against the lid.

"Liam, I swear—"

"Just open it."

I slowly lifted the lid.

Something moved inside.

Then a tiny head popped into view.

I froze.

Two oversized paws appeared against the side of the box.

Then I saw the floppy ears.

The huge curious eyes.

And the little tail wagging behind him.

My mouth fell open.

"Oh my God!"

The puppy looked up at me.

"Liam!"

I immediately reached into the box.

"You didn't!"

I carefully lifted the puppy into my arms.

He was all paws and ears and loose puppy skin, squirming excitedly against my chest before immediately trying to lick my chin.

"Oh my God. Hi!"

I completely forgot about work.

Actually, I completely forgot about everything.

I sat down on the floor with him.

"Look at you!"

His tail wouldn't stop moving.

My heart melted instantly.

Liam sat beside me, looking far too pleased with himself.

"You like him?"

"Do I like him?"

The puppy licked my face.

I laughed and hugged him closer.

"Liam, I love him!"

"Good."

"You bought me a puppy!"

"I did."

"A Great Dane!"

"Also correct."

I looked down at the little dog in my arms.

Well...

Little for now.

His paws were already enormous.

"He's perfect."

Liam reached over and scratched behind the puppy's ear.

"So what are you gonna name him?"

That part was easy.

"Topolino."

Liam stopped petting him.

He looked at me.

Then at the puppy.

Then back at me.

"Topolino?"

"Yes."

"What kind of name is Topolino?"

I shoved his shoulder.

"Don't insult my son."

"Your son?"

I held the puppy protectively.

"Yes."

"I bought him thirty seconds ago and I've already been replaced."

"Correct."

Liam shook his head.

"So what does Topolino mean?"

"It's Italian."

"I gathered that."

"It means 'little mouse.'"

Liam stared at the Great Dane puppy.

Then at me.

"Little mouse."

"Yes."

"You do realize that's a Great Dane?"

"I am aware."

"And you do know what happens to Great Danes when they grow up?"

"They become Great Danes."

"They become horses, Jiselle."

I laughed.

"That's exactly why the name is perfect!"

"You're naming a dog that's going to weigh more than some people 'little mouse.'"

"Exactly."

Liam looked down at the puppy.

"Mate, I'm sorry. I tried."

"Don't listen to him, Topolino."

The puppy tilted his head.

My heart nearly exploded.

"Oh my God, Liam, look at him!"

"I'm looking."

"He's so cute!"

"You said that already."

"Because he is!"

I kissed the top of Topolino's head.

Then something occurred to me.

I slowly looked toward Liam.

His smile disappeared.

"What?"

"Who is going to walk him?"

"We are."

"Who is going to train him?"

"We are."

"Who is cleaning up after him?"

Liam paused.

"We are?"

I narrowed my eyes.

"Good answer."

He laughed and leaned closer.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"For the dog?"

"For knowing exactly what would make me stop working."

"That wasn't intentional."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, maybe a little."

I smiled and kissed him softly.

"Thank you for Topolino."

"You're welcome."

The puppy immediately pushed his head between us.

Liam pulled back.

"Seriously?"

I burst out laughing.

Topolino licked Liam's chin.

"See? He loves you too."

Liam wiped his face.

"Brilliant."

I hugged the puppy closer.

Work could wait.

I had a little mouse to take care of.

A little mouse who was eventually going to weigh more than a hundred pounds.

But Liam didn't need to remind me of that.

***

Lyndsey's POV:

"Niall, I don't think I'm doing this right!"

My golf club hit the ground.

Again.

The ball remained exactly where it had been.

Again.

I stared down at it.

"You have got to be kidding me."

From somewhere behind me, Niall started laughing.

I spun around.

"Don't."

He immediately tried hiding his smile.

"I'm not doing anything."

"You're laughing at me."

"No, I'm not."

"You absolutely are!"

Niall walked toward me, still smiling.

"I told you golf takes practice."

"I've been practicing!"

"You've been doing this for twenty minutes."

"Exactly. I should be good by now."

He laughed.

I pointed the club at him.

"You're lucky you're cute."

"I've been told."

I turned back toward the stupid little white ball sitting innocently on the grass.

I hated it.

Who invented golf anyway?

Hit a tiny ball with a stick, walk after it, and then hit it again.

Brilliant.

"I give up."

"No, you don't."

"I absolutely do."

Niall stepped beside me.

"Come on. One more."

"I can't even hit the ball."

"Because you're thinking too much."

"I have to think! There are seventeen different things I'm supposed to be doing with my arms."

"There are not seventeen."

"It feels like seventeen."

Niall took the club from me.

"Alright. Watch."

He demonstrated another swing.

Naturally, it looked effortless.

"See?"

"No."

He sighed.

"You're impossible."

"And yet here you are."

He handed the club back.

"Get in your stance."

I reluctantly turned toward the ball.

"Fine."

I spread my feet about shoulder-width apart and positioned myself the way he'd taught me. My right hand rested beneath my left on the grip.

"Like this?"

"Almost."

I waited for him to correct me.

Instead, I suddenly felt him behind me.

Very close behind me.

My entire body went still.

Niall reached around and placed his hands over mine.

"Oh."

"What?"

"Nothing."

I could practically hear the smile in his voice.

"Focus, Lyndsey."

"I am focused."

"On golf?"

I didn't answer.

He laughed softly near my ear.

That definitely wasn't helping.

Niall adjusted my grip.

"Relax your hands."

"They are relaxed."

"No, they're not."

"Well, somebody is standing extremely close to me."

"Would you like me to move?"

"No."

The answer came out far too quickly.

Niall chuckled.

"Thought so."

I rolled my eyes even though he couldn't see me.

"Just teach me how to hit the stupid ball."

"Alright."

His hands remained over mine as he guided the club backward.

"Don't try to kill it."

"I wasn't."

"You were attacking the ground five minutes ago."

"The ground started it."

Niall laughed.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

He guided my arms forward.

The club connected perfectly.

Thwack.

The ball flew through the air.

My eyes widened.

"Oh my God!"

I watched it land farther down the course.

"I did it!"

"We did it."

I turned around excitedly.

"Did you see that?"

"I was literally attached to you."

"Oh. Right."

Niall laughed.

"How did that feel?"

"Better."

"Do you see the difference now?"

I looked at him.

Then at the ball.

Then back at him.

I absolutely understood what he'd taught me.

But there was another option.

I smiled innocently.

"No."

Niall raised an eyebrow.

"No?"

"I still don't understand."

"You don't?"

"Nope."

His eyes narrowed as he realized exactly what I was doing.

"Maybe you should show me again."

A slow smile appeared on his face.

"Oh, you need another lesson?"

"I think so."

Niall stepped toward me.

I didn't move.

He came closer.

And closer.

Until our noses were barely touching.

Suddenly, I couldn't remember anything about golf.

Not my stance.

Not my grip.

Not even where the ball had landed.

"We could always go find somewhere a little less public," he whispered.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Mr. Horan."

"What?"

"Are you suggesting we abandon our golf lesson?"

"I think we've established you're a very difficult student."

"And what exactly are you planning to teach me somewhere private?"

Niall grinned.

I placed my hand against his chest.

"You know I'm not that kind of girl."

"Of course not."

"But..."

His eyebrows rose.

"I might know a good place to make out."

Niall's grin widened.

"Now that sounds like a much better sport."

I laughed and pushed him backward.

"We're finishing the hole first."

His face fell.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Lyndsey!"

"If I suffered through twenty minutes of this ridiculous game, you're going to watch me finish."

Niall shook his head.

"You're cruel."

I turned around and started walking toward my golf ball.

"Come on, Horan!"

He followed after me.

"You know you're walking toward the wrong ball, right?"

I stopped.

I looked down.

There was a golf ball near my feet.

"That's not mine?"

"No."

I slowly turned around.

Niall was standing several yards behind me, desperately trying not to laugh.

"Don't you dare."

He lost it.

I pointed my golf club at him.

"Niall!"

He laughed even harder.

I couldn't help it.

Eventually, I started laughing too.

Maybe I wasn't going to become a golfer anytime soon.

But I was beginning to understand why Niall liked bringing me along.