No Strings Attached

Chapter Nine

“You’ll be good today, won’t you? Daddy doesn’t need to worry? You’ll be a good girl for Ha – erm, Uncle Harry?” 

She blinked, processing his words. Then she scrunched her nose and gave him a toothy smile. 

“Rosie good!” 

Love burst through every fiber of his being, love for the little girl balanced on his lap with a lopsided bow in her messy bed hair and a proud, lilting grin to match. He grabbed her by the waist as he flung himself upward, swinging her around like a flailing bird, one that couldn’t help but titter in excitement. For several minutes they played like that in the center of the living room, circling round and round until they were both spent from laughter and dizziness. 

Louis prepared quickly for work, finding it was easier to carry out the rest of his morning once he was assured that Rosie would be okay in Harry’s care. She had almost drifted completely to sleep on the couch when the clock struck eleven and a light knock came at the door right on cue. 

He scooped Rosie into his arms and found that she suddenly looked very apprehensive as they approached the front door. 

“It’ll be alright, bug. Isn’t that right?” 

She nodded, though he noticed that her grip on his collar had tightened somewhat. 

When he opened the door, he found Harry leaning against the doorframe. Louis couldn’t help but notice how fit Harry looked just then, wearing a rather tight black shirt with his jeans and a gray beanie from which a few stray curls fell against his forehead. He smiled nervously at the father and daughter pair. 

“Hi Rosie,” he greeted, voice light and sweet. 

Louis felt Rosie as she climbed a little higher against his torso, tugging slightly at the hair on the back of his head. His gaze fell expectantly onto his young daughter and he soothingly stroked the wisps of dark brown hair he found there. Her eyes never left Harry’s. 

“Ro…” Louis said slowly, encouraging her by bouncing her softly. “Bug? This is Harry. He said ‘hi.’ Do you think you could say ‘hi’ back?” 

Harry glanced quickly from Rosie to Louis, as if wordlessly seeking help. But Louis gave him a calming look that told him to be patient. Rosie was taking her time. 

And then after a few moments, “…Hi.” 

The younger boy sighed in relief, and Louis couldn’t help but slump his shoulders in concurrence. Even Rosie had slackened the grip on his collar. 

“I heard…” Harry began before rummaging through the messenger bag saddled at his waist. “…that you like donuts? Is that right?” Moments later, he pulled out a brown paper bag and offered it to Rosie, whose eyes lit up in recognition. 

“Donut?” she breathed. 

He laughed gently and opened the bag so she could see the pink frosted pastry inside. “Yeah, a donut! This is yours, if you’d like.” 

Louis momentarily lost balance when Rosie attempted to detach herself from his grip and surge toward Harry, who seemed slightly taken aback by the sudden movement. She reached her arms out to the taller boy, her fists opening and closing much to their amusement. 

Harry’s eyes flicked to Louis’, as if asking for permission. The older boy only nodded as he handed off the rambunctious toddler, who immediately grabbed at Harry’s shirt and clung to his neck. He lurched forward a little, not quite used to the heaviness of this smaller person in his arms, but he adjusted quickly and held her upright so that he could get a good look at her.