18. Henry

Bright and early, I arrive at Ben's house and instead of letting myself in like I usually would, I ring the bell. There is Zara to consider now, and she might not appreciate random alphas popping up in her face without warning.

The door swings open, and Ben, hair still tousled from sleep, gives me that look that says, ‘too bloody early for socialising'. But he steps aside to let me in, shaking his head with a mock frown. "You could have just walked in, you know."

"Yeah, but then I'd miss the opportunity to see your charming ‘I've just woken up face'," I jest, stepping past him into the familiar warmth of the house.

He rolls his eyes, but I catch the twitch of his lips fighting a smile. "Coffee?" he grumbles, already heading towards the kitchen.

Following him through, I sit at the island while he goes about making two mugs of steaming coffee. The silence between us is comfortable; we've known each other long enough that words aren't always necessary.

As he hands me a mug, I decide it's time to broach the subject that's really brought me here at this ungodly hour. "So," I begin, taking a slow sip to gather my thoughts. "How are things with Liam?"

Ben glares at me. "I know you two got together and concocted this plan. I bet it was your idea, and he went along with it."

"No clue what you're talking about," I murmur with a soft smile.

Ben's expression goes less hard. "Sure you don't." He takes a long gulp of his coffee, his gaze lingering on the mug as if it holds the secret to the universe or, more likely, just enough caffeine to kickstart his day. "You know," he starts slowly, "having Zara around is not what I expected."

"What did you expect?" I ask, genuinely curious.

He shrugs, a half-smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I don't know—awkwardness, tiptoeing around each other? But she's a natural fit. Mia adores her."

I nod, sipping my coffee. "Glad she's working out."

Ben sighs, lost in thought. "Yeah," he says after a pause. "It's nice having someone else in the house who gives a damn."

There's a vulnerability in Ben's voice that hits me right in the gut. He's my best mate and seeing him struggle has been tough. "Yeah. I'm still going through the statements, but with Liam here, things should ease up a bit?" I pose it as a question because I will deny all knowledge that we set Ben up. I'm sure Liam will as well.

Before he can answer, there's the soft padding of feet on the stairs, and we both turn to see Zara entering the kitchen. Her hair is tousled from sleep, and her eyes are bright with that morning freshness that makes her look almost ethereal in the soft light filtering through. She is a looker, and her scent is as enticing as this steaming mug of coffee that's still too hot for me to drink.

Ben's face lights up in a way that's both subtle and completely obvious at the same time. "Morning, Zara," he says, his voice smoother than I've heard it in a long time.

"Good morning," Zara replies, her voice soft, almost musical. She glances over at me and offers a polite smile. "Henry, right?"

"That's me," I say with a chuckle. "The early bird who apparently loves to torture Ben with unsociable hours."

She laughs. It's a genuine, melodic sound, and for a moment, I fall under her spell. There's something about her that just makes you want to stick around and listen for a little longer.

She moves to the kettle, filling it before switching it on, and then turns back to us. "Anyone for tea?" Her offer is as warm as the jumper she's got on, oversized and beige.

"Got coffee, but thanks." I'm curious about her. Liam is completely infatuated with her, and Ben has his head up his ass, so maybe it's up to me to be the clear-headed one and assess this situation with my analytical mind.

Ben nods in agreement with me, yet his eyes linger on Zara as she moves around the kitchen. There's an ease to her actions, a confidence in the way she handles herself that's both refreshing and a tad intimidating. "I'm good with coffee too," he says, but I can tell he's appreciating more than just her offer of tea.

Zara catches his gaze and grins, a playful light in her eyes. "Suit yourselves," she replies before fetching a mug from the cupboard.

I watch the interaction between them, intrigued by the dynamic that's emerging. Zara seems to fit seamlessly into the rhythm of this household, bringing with her a spark that was sorely missing since she left Ben high and dry.

As Zara busies herself with her tea, I decide it's as good a time as any to engage her in some conversation. "So, Zara," I start casually, "how are you finding everything? Settling in alright?"

She turns to me, her smile unwavering as she nods. "Yeah, it's lovely here. Ben's been great, and Mia's an absolute angel."

"Good," I murmur. "You like the Lake District?"

She nods. "It's gorgeous here. The air is so clean and fresh, and the views are absolutely stunning. I can't wait to go walking."

Ben clears his throat. "Well, the weekend is all yours, so, you know."

She smiles and nods. "I'm looking forward to it."

I take another sip of my coffee, appreciating the warmth that spreads through me as I observe this new dynamic with a fascination that is bordering on obsessive. Seeing Ben's world brighten up with Zara in it, is something that makes me happy that my friend appears to be pulling himself out of the darkness he plunged into.

There's movement behind us, and I turn to see Liam padding into the kitchen, yawning and stretching his arms above his head. His hair is dishevelled, and he's got that ‘just rolled out of bed' look that somehow suits him.

"Morning," Liam grumbles, scrubbing a hand over his face before noticing Zara and instantly brightening.

"Morning," Zara echoes back to him, her smile growing wider as she greets Liam.

Liam crosses the room for his own mug, and the air subtly shifts with his presence. He's like an additional burst of energy, even though he's clearly in need of a caffeine injection. "How's everyone doing this fine morning?" he asks as he leans against the counter, eyes still heavy with sleep but glinting with interest. "Bit early, innit, Henry?"

"Just thought I'd stop by. See how everyone is getting on," I murmur, hiding my smile behind my mug. Oh, this is fun. The three of them have zero clue what it looks like to an outsider. Liam is practically drooling all over Zara while she pointedly ignores him, and Ben is trying his best not to be a grouchy fucker in front of the nanny.

It's fucking glorious to sit here and watch them at it, none of them knowing what to do next.

"So, I'll go and get showered, and Liam, you can go after me," Zara blurts out after a weird pause where only I seemed to be enjoying myself.

"Or we could double up, save water." Liam gives me a bright smile.

"Fuck off," Ben grits out, but even that doesn't have the usual oomph behind it. More like it's an automatic reaction.

Zara laughs, shaking her head, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Nice try, but I think I'll manage on my own," she quips, her tone light-hearted.

Liam winks at her, unfazed. "Can't blame a bloke for trying. But alright, I'll queue for the shower like a civilised human being."

I marvel at their back-and-forth. It's like a sitcom in here. Sarcasm and banter flying around the kitchen—it's a stark contrast to the dull mornings we used to have before Zara blew in like a breath of fresh air.

As Zara exits towards the shower, Ben turns his attention back to his coffee, taking a deep swig, as if it's some sort of elixir that can calm his rattled nerves. Liam's gaze lingers on her retreating form before he snaps back to reality with a sheepish grin.

"Well, this has been fun," I say, standing up and placing my empty mug in the sink. "I'll leave you all to it."

With a round of goodbyes that's as warm as the steaming mug I've just abandoned, I head out of the kitchen, leaving the others to their own devices. I've got a feeling they'll need a bit of space to navigate this new dynamic, and I can't wait to see how it plays out.