Try.

Chapter 27: I'm Empty, I Know

He very much kept to himself and seemed to like it that way, because that was more comfortable. He seemed to only like being in small groups, and he avoided the mass of paparazzi after games, probably due to the crowding.

I placed my hand over his, and he looked at me with an unreadable expression.

"Are you okay?" I asked softly. He gave me a subtle side-smile and nodded.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

The party went on, and there were a few speakers that talked about the Jaguars season and the hopeful future they dreamed of. The World Series was nearly in their grasp and the anticipation of playing against the Rockets was eating away at everyone.

After the dinner, they began playing more music and allowed people to dance and mingle. Harry desperately wanted to leave, and I nodded.

"Okay," I said as I grabbed my clutch from the table. "Do you want to say goodbye to anyone?"

He shook his head with a somber look. "I really just want to go home, babe."

I didn't even need to respond; I knew he wasn't happy being here, and I didn't think twice before heading towards the door. We nodded and smiled at people as we passed, but unfortunately, Adrienne was standing by the bar as we neared the exit. She turned to Harry and said, "Leaving so soon?"

I noticed Harry take a subtle step away, and he stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Yeah, I'm not feeling the greatest." He lied.

"Oh," she said as the bartender handed her a martini. "Well, I hope you feel better. It was really good seeing you again."

"Yeah, you too." He muttered, and nodded his head to her before nearly dragging me out the door. The valet brought our car around and we soon left, and I had to tell Harry to slow down and pay attention to his lead foot.

"I'm sorry," he said as we slowed to a stop at a red light. "I just really didn't want to be there anymore."

"I know, I know." I said. Not only did Alex's presence annoy him, but the added stress of his ex-girlfriend didn't help either. And to top it all off, she just had to be Alex's date. Surprisingly, she didn't say anything to really upset Harry — besides speaking in general — so I had to agree with him on not really having a reason to dislike her, other than the way she treated him before me.

"Don't let her fool you." He said, as if reading my mind. "She seems nice and then she just pulls the rug out from under you."

"Sounds like Alex." I muttered, and Harry let out a small mix of a chuckle and a scoff as we continued driving.

"They're perfect together. Their egos balance each other out."

I smiled as I watched him make somewhat light of the situation. I reached over and patted his leg, saying, "The past is over and gone, Harry. She doesn't deserve your time with the way she treated you."

"I know," he sighed as we pulled into his driveway. "It's not like I want to always remember her, but it's hard to forget a piece of your past that did so much damage."

He sat quietly and stared at the wheel, looking as if a million things were running through his mind. "I just wish I had a clean slate."

I frowned and turned to face him. "What do you mean?"

He leaned his head back against the seat and turned his head slightly towards me, but didn't make eye contact. "I wish I hadn't dated them. I would probably have such a better outlook on life if I had met you first."

I felt my heart flutter at his words, and I bit my lip to keep from smiling like an idiot. "Well, we learn from our mistakes, don't we?"

He looked up at me and pursed his lips. I reached over and took his hand in mine, saying, "It's over now. As long as you don't go out of your way to interact with her, you shouldn't have a problem."

"I think the bigger worry is that she'll go out of her way to interact with me." He mumbled as he looked away from me. I licked my lips and felt my heart sink a little. I didn't want to think about her coming between us. I was trying really hard to get Harry to be more open with me, more vulnerable, since Adrienne is one of the main reasons — if not the only — to why he's not an open book anymore. I didn't want her ruining it for me.

We eventually left the car and changed out of our formal wear. I slipped on a pair of Harry's plaid pajama pants that I had to tie extremely tight at the waist so they wouldn't fall down my legs, and a Stevie Nicks t-shirt.

"I'm sorry I made you leave so early," Harry said after I took my hair down from the bun. He sat down on his bed, sulking as he leaned his elbows on his knees. "It just — it made me far too uncomfortable. I only go to those things if Coach makes me, otherwise I avoid them."

I nodded and walked over to his side, sitting down on the bed as I listened to him.

"I just hate that people ask so many questions at those things," he groaned. "I don't like dancing or galas or dressing up — and I thought, maybe it would be easier if you were with me. . . it kind of was. . . but not as easy as I wanted it to be. . ."

I placed my hand on his upper arm, squeezing his toned bicep gently as I said, "Harry, I'm just happy you went to the event; it was to honor your team and your season, you deserve that recognition. And I don't mind that we left early. The only thing left was dancing and eating snacks. I'd rather just come home and take off my bra and just lounge around with you."

He smiled and nodded as he turned his head slightly to look at me. "I like when you take off your bra too."

I chuckled and playfully smacked his arm, to which he quickly grabbed my wrist and pushed me down on the bed. I squealed and he crawled on top of me, pushing me against the sheets with his hips. He attacked my neck with kisses and I squirmed under him as I giggled.

He then pulled away and stared at me longingly with those mesmerizing green eyes, and I said, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

He shrugged and smiled softly, deepening the dimple in his cheek. "You're doing things to me, Viv. I'm becoming head over heels for you. . . and I can't stop myself."

I paused, watching his eyes flicker back and forth from my eyes to my lips. I slowly reached up and brushed my hand through his hair, and he gently leaned into my touch. Part of me wasn't sorry that he was falling for me; I was thrilled. But I knew how hard it was for him to open up and it was probably terrifying to feel this vulnerable with me.

"I don't expect you to open up right away," I said quietly. "Baby steps, remember?"

He let out a small breath through his nose as he smiled, and leaned down to gently kiss my lips. "Do you think we could just sit on the couch and watch a movie tonight?"

"I'd love that." I smiled, and he nudged his nose with mine.

"Should we just search romantic comedies on Netflix and see what we find?"

*

see what i did there aha i hate me too x