Foreign Affair ›› n.h. mature

One Hundred

Niall Horan

Bear's woofs roared through the house as Patrick wailed.

"Niall," Liv said from her side of the bed. I could tell a lecture was coming. "Why did you get that dog?"

"You love him," I tried to defend.

"I do but he's kept the boys up all week with his howling."

"That's just because it's been storming. He doesn't do it normally."

"It's supposed to storm for three more days."

She's very irritable right now as none of us have slept much the last week. She's also working on starting her own website for political columns. Some different publication hired her part time but then it wasn't exactly as part time as they promised her it would be. She didn't like that and it kind of pissed her off the way they led her to believe it would be part time but then would lecture her for not doing enough. So without actually doing so, she basically gave them the finger and decided to show them.

It's awesome and I'm happy for her but if this damn dog doesn't stop howling all night, Liv's going to lose her mind.

"I'll go talk to Patrick."

"I'll come with," she said as she followed me out of bed.

"Hey, buddy." I pushed his hair back and tried to comfort him. "Is Bear keeping you up?"

He nodded. "I gonna go tell him, Bear, be quiet!"

"Do you think that will work?" I tried not to laugh at my adorable son.

"Yeah." He eagerly nodded with his arms angrily crossed.

"We'll try, sweetie." Liv smiled at him. "You try your best to sleep."

"Bear, be quiet," he repeated.

"We'll pass the message along." I couldn't prevent my laugh. "Love you, buddy."

"Love you, Daddy."

Once we left I turned to Liv. "They get that sassy arm crossing thing from you, ya know."

"Shut up." But she laughed so I knew she agreed.

...

Olivia Horan

I was mostly asleep when I heard the rattle of our bedroom door handle followed by the creak of the door.

"Daddy?" It sounded like Andrew's voice, just above a whisper. His little feet padded on the carpet as he came further into our room. "Daddy?" Drew repeated.

"Yeah?" Niall answered him, sounding half asleep himself. "What's wrong, Buddy?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing? Okay. Well is there anything you want to talk about?" I felt the bed move as Niall sat up. Drew didn't respond that I could hear. "Drew, are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm scared for my game," he admitted real quietly. My heart felt like it was being squeezed when I heard his soft voice break a little. I don't want him to be nervous! Soccer should be nothing but fun for him.