Rosie
"Are you ever gonna tell me where you're taking me?" I press my palms flat against the silky material, smoothing out my dress on my thighs.
We've been in the car for a while now, just driving from one side of London to the other. Harry never told me where our date would take place, he just told me to put on a dress and not dare wear heels — hence why I'm in my Converse. I have a leather jacket on top since it's a bit chilly outside.
Harry on the other side is wearing a white button-down that's only buttoned halfway through, his chest tattoos exposed for the world to see. The cross necklace on his neck peeks through his shirt, his ring-adorn fingers are wrapped around the wheel.
He brings one of his hands from the wheel and places it on top of mine that's resting in my lap. The small act is enough to make my body warm up.
"Mm, nope. You'll have to wait and see." His voice rings through the car, making my stomach tighten with anticipation. I hate surprises and everyone knows that. It's clear to say my birthday is my least favourite day of the year and when Bobby and Niall try to get me something I get pissed at them. I simply don't think I'm worthy of the gifts.
Besides as cheesy as it may sound, the biggest gift of them all is that they gave me a new life. Nothing beats that.
"I hate surprises," I state my inner thought verbally for him but it's not like he's unaware of that fact.
"And you love me. Odds are in my favour." His cheeky, boyish grin remains apparent on his sculpted face. Sometimes when I look at him I can just zone out for hours on end and do nothing but stare. He's truly mesmerising. His long black lashes, green eyes, chiselled jawline, perfect face structure, chestnut curls. He's perfect in so many ways. I swear Anne gave him some godly DNAs.
"Quit starin' and close your mouth, baby. You're gonna catch flies," and that's when I snap out of my state and swat his arm playfully. He overdramatically frowns but he's unable to hide his smile for long. Both of us burst into a fit of laughter that makes my cheeks ache.
Every minute I get to spend with him I cherish.
"Can't believe Sarah and Mitch are having a baby." He exclaims after our laughter dies down and we're left in silence. Only the radio is playing quietly in the background but none of us is focusing on the music.
"And getting married," I'm quick to add. Both things are major changes in life and their life is going to change forever soon. It's terrifying to think about but a part of me has always longed for that kind of ending.
"That too," he nods his head and scrunches up his nose as he thinks for a second before he asks, "Have you ever thought about that?"
"Marriage and kids? Yeah." I've spent a fair amount of time fantasizing about a life that's written in books and seen in movies, only to be met with the ugly truth that life is cruel. "Have you?" I look to the side again, focusing on his face.
"Only recently."
I'm not sure how to reply so I just leave it at that and look outside the window. The car comes to a stop when Harry pulls into a car park on the side of the road. When he cuts the engine off I take it as my sign and slip out of the car.
The cold spring air nips at my skin as I take in my surroundings and try to decipher where we are — only to come up with nothing. I have no idea where he took me.
"Come on, baby honey." He holds his hand out for me and hesitantly I slip mine into it. Immediately he intertwines our fingers as we begin to walk down the side of the road.
I inhale a shaky breath, letting the coolness of the air soothe my nerves. Harry notices my uneasiness and squeezes my hand three times.
I bring my eyes up from our joined hands to his face, only to be met with those hauntingly beautiful green eyes that never fail to give me comfort.
"You know this is kind of our first real date." He exclaims to start a conversation in hopes that it'll help me relax.
And it does.
"That's—" I rummage through my brain for memories of us going out somewhere just me and him and come up with nothing. There was a hike we had in Scotland but that wasn't a date, we weren't together then. "..True." I admit defeatedly. I really thought we'd been on real dates before.
"Mhm. It's time I show you what a gentleman I am." He tugs me with him as we cross the road after ensuring there are no cars closeby. As soon as we turn into another road, memories come flashing in front of me.
The road, the alleyway, the restaurant.
I look to my left and see the lit-up restaurant that's still open even though it's very late.
Shock is written all over my face as I turn my head to the right to Harry for answers only to see him grinning at my reaction.
"You're so fucking sneaky." I gasp, letting all the memories come back to me. My date with Daniel Black — CEO of the brand Black-Tech, the most boring company in the city — was set as a failure from the first minute I laid my eyes on the middle-aged man. Okay maybe middle-aged is a little far off, he was around twenty-six at the time but I swear he looked over thirty.
"Now I know I'm no Daniel Black but I hope you'll settle for a Harry Styles. Just for tonight." He takes my other hand into his and brings our joined hands behind my back to pull me closer by my waist. He has a smirk on his face that awakens the butterflies in my stomach.
"Eh, just for tonight." I shrug my shoulders a bit and purse my lips. I have to bite back a smile when he leans in to capture my lips in a short kiss.
Once we pull apart, he leads me inside the restaurant where the same waitress who helped me screw over Daniel welcomes us with a bright smile and hugs Harry in a greeting.
"What's up big shot? Got the girl?" She grins, moving her eyes from him to where I'm standing a step behind Harry.
"I got the girl." He admits, trying to hide his blush. Could he be any more adorable? Jesus Christ.
"Table's ready, the place is cleared for the night," she states and leads us to the same table I was sitting at with Daniel on the night I met Harry. He pulls out the same chair for me that I sat on two years ago and I take a seat.
I'm overwhelmed with the memories that come flooding back.
He takes a seat across from me and brings his gaze back to me. Anxiously I search for the menu on the table only to find nothing. Not even plates just cutlery and two wine glasses.
I look back up at him only to spot the waitress from my peripheral vision and soon she steps up to our table, places down a bottle of wine and leaves again.
"I'm confused." I sheepishly admit. The entire restaurant is closed, we're obviously not here to eat. But then why are we here?
"Remember the night we met?" He asks rhetorically. He knows I remember that night very well. "I clearly remember spotting you from the stage." He shifts his body so he's able to look at the small stage where a microphone stand and a guitar are set up — I assume from the concert that happened earlier.
He pops open the bottle of wine, pouring me a glass first then himself. "I've got many things planned for tonight, my love but first," he trails off as he hands me a glass of wine and once I take it, "some grape juice." He clinks his glass with mine and takes a sip.
The red wine tastes sweet on my tongue as I take the first small sip. It's definitely the fanciest wine I've tasted.
"Fancy huh?" He asks, cocking his head after I place my glass back down.
"What things have you got planned?"
He chuckles at my impatience and takes my hand that's resting on top of the table into his, "All in good time, baby. All in good time," he repeats, bringing my hand to his lips to place a soft kiss on my knuckles.
"But if you really wanna know. I've got a song to play for ya. Then we're off to somewhere else." He pushes back his chair, stands up and strolls toward the stage. My mouth opens to say something but nothing comes out so I just close it shut again and watch as he takes the stage, picks up the guitar and stands behind the microphone.
"This song is called Baby Honey," he introduces the song I've never heard before and hearing the title of it my heart drops. It physically drops into my stomach.
My eyes widen as he begins strumming his guitar and leans closer to the microphone to sing.
"Well I think I wrote a song that all your friends are gonna like
But they'll tell you that they hate it when they don't just because it's mine
And I swear that I'm not thinkin' 'bout you all the time
It'll only take a minute, take a listen, maybe change your mind"
Immediately I know this song was written — or at least was started to be written two years ago when we first met at this exact same place.
"Now I'm getting older, am I getting over you?
Now I'm getting older, am I getting over you?
Now I'm getting older, am I getting over you,
I guess you'll never know"
He bops his head to the beat of the song that carries you away and I find myself tapping my fingers against the table to the rhythm. This song is incredible.
"Oh, I know he's got the money, baby honey, does he make your night?
Is it true he doesn't touch you in the place, the way I know you like?
And I swear that I'm not thinkin' 'bout you all the time
Just today, yesterday, every day and tomorrow night"
He's talking about Daniel or whichever man I dated at the time that failed miserably. He's confident in what he sings. He was confident when we first slept together. It wasn't planned just like how our meeting again after years wasn't either.
But man, am I fucking glad it happened.
Hearing the nickname roll off his tongue in the middle of the second verse my cheeks flush under his glare. His eyes never leave mine as he sings not only to me and for me but about me.
He repeats the chorus again, this time closing his eyes just like he does every time he sings on stage. He's putting all of his emotions and energy into performing to give the people the best experience.
"I swear I'm not thinkin' 'bout you now..." He sings the line twice, a cheeky grin appearing on his face as his eyes lock with mine and those dimples I adore appear on his cheeks.
"Now I'm getting older, am I getting over you?
I guess we'll never know... Never!" He answers his own question that he's been asking himself over and over for the past two years.
Once the last line is sung, I jump up from my seat and rush toward him. I forcefully grab his neck, crushing my lips against his in a passionate kiss.
This is my way of telling him how much I liked the song and he clearly understands it.
The things I feel for this man are beyond my understanding. It's something I've never felt before, not even with Adam though I thought he was the one for me. He brings light to my world, he makes me smile, laugh, cry... He makes me feel. It's something I've been numb to for the past four years.
And let me tell you, it feels fucking incredible to be feeling again.