With the sun now setting far off the sky has a pink and orange glow to it. After the last two days filled with rain I guess nature is gifting us with the most beautiful sunset. It makes me relax a little more even as we pull into the driveway of the unfamiliar house. It's quite large—two floors, at least, a wrap around porch and freshly painted blue shutters. Harry pulls beside another car, shutting off the car and climbing out just as I undid my buckle. Before I can even open the door he's at my side, opening it for me. The smile he shoots me has my heart palpitating.
An electric shock passes through my body when he takes my hand, guiding me to the walkway leading around the house to the backyard.
The car ride over here was a little tense, naturally. Things between us seemed to lighten up as he told me more about his childhood, making me laugh so hard my stomach cramped. Hearing about his Star Wars and Jurassic Park obsession was so innocent but hilarious. From what I've gathered he had a very supportive upbringing—going to the best private schools, playing sports and even graduating top in his class at university.
The backyard overlooks a large field growing cornstalks. It's in a more rural area of town and it surprises me because I don't necessarily get this vibe from Harry. He seems more like a city dweller and I'd expect his friends to be too. From first glance I see four or five people standing around and chatting. There's some acoustic music playing from a stereo but it's faint and the chatter and laughter overlaps it.
Harry's fingers are still laced with mine as he leads me towards the group of people. I recognize his sister right away and her eyes widen, lips parting as if gasping, when she sees me.
"Hey flower girl!"
"Really, Gemma?" Harry scoffed, rolling his eyes but I don't mind. She doesn't seem to have meant harm by calling me flower girl. Plus, I've been called much worse. She shakes my hand and pokes her tongue out at her brother a little childishly, but it's cute.
"Hi, I'm Gemma." She introduced herself.
"Diana," I replied nervously.
"Nice to meet you," she glanced over at her brother, quirking an eyebrow as if they had some unspoken language. I try not to think too hard about it and my thoughts are interrupted when a loud voice cuts through my 'you too' response.
"Harry!" A seemingly drunken blonde bursts through and grabs Harry from me, nearly jumping on top of him. "It's so good to see you, mate."
"I saw you last week, Niall," Harry grumbled, patting his back.
Niall pulled away and smirked at Harry, reaching up and pinching his cheek. "Can't get enough of you. Who's the lady?" His hazel eyes flicking over me.
"Niall, this is Diana. Diana, Niall. He was my roommate in college," Harry explained casually.
Niall smiled, "nice to meet ya, Diana. Harry hasn't had a girl in ages—" Gemma slaps Niall and rolls her eyes at him before mentioning she was going to find Gregory. Niall shrugs as if he isn't in pain but I can only imagine the bruise he'll have.
"They're crazy," Harry murmured. "Come on, I want you to meet Liam."
We head inside despite the party seemingly being outside. Inside, however, there is a tall guy with light brown locks and soft cheeks. Beside him a girl with short blonde hair stands, drinking from a water bottle. Her blue eyes gaze over Harry and I as a smile tugs at her lips. "Hey there."
"Hey, uh," Liam turns around and freezes, his reaction similar to Gemma's but he didn't rush up to me with open arms. "Hi, you must be Diana."
"Yeah, you must be Liam," I laughed lightly.
"That's me." Liam came over and shook hands with me briefly, his grip strong and his hand soft. He rested his hip against the countertop and the blonde joined him. "This is my fiancé, Avery."
"Oh," my eyes bulge a bit, "nice to meet you. Congrats."
"Thanks," Avery giggled. "We've been engaged for a year now but we're finally settling here in Faycoast. It's a beautiful town. Liam mentioned that your mom owns the flower shop he got me those lilies from! So beautiful," she gushed.
There's an immediate bond between Avery and I. She's going to be teaching preschool at the same elementary Cecilia teaches kindergarten at. The coincidence makes me figure that we're probably going to be seeing a lot of each other if her and Cecilia get on. It's fitting that Liam is the new detective considering he has the safe and trusting nature to him.
An hour later we're all sitting out under the stars around the bonfire that Niall is persistent on making bigger. Liam makes a joke about having the fire department on speed dial and I can't help but laugh. Harry sits beside me on the wooden bench at the picnic table. We're facing the fire but a little farther off from it than the rest of them. I don't mind since it gives us some space and oddly enough I want space with him. I'd be lying if I said I felt this comfortable with Austin.
"Thanks for tonight," I finally spoke up. Harry's elbow nudged mine as he shifted a bit, rubbing his jaw with is ring clad fingers. The fire yards away glows on his tanned skin.
"Thank you for tonight. My friends really like you," Harry insisted with a smile. "Especially Niall. I figured you'd eventually meet Avery and Liam."
"They're really nice," I assured. "It's such a small town. Everyone knows everyone. It's not a bad thing but I guess it can get kind of boring....and when you're the talk of the town it's even worse."
Harry's silent for a moment, analyzing my face with his emerald eyes. He chews on his bottom lip, looking like he's contemplating his words but I speak up first, looking up at the stars. "Doesn't it fascinate you that every night we see a new set of stars?"
"I guess," Harry looked up too, "I've never really thought about it."
"I used to want to be an astronomy teacher," I admitted with slight embarrassment. "I was obsessed with constellations when I was little. My mom got me stacks of books about the universe."
"What made you curious?" he questioned.
I glance over at him then sigh. "I like mystery—the fact that there is still so much we don't know about the universe. It's obviously up to your interpretation and beliefs how it was created, but I like that it's not definite... I'm not sure that makes sense—"
"It does," he chuckled. "I think it's terrifying."
"Most people think so too," I agreed. "Kind of puts things into perspective."
There's a cool breeze that blows through my hair and across my cheeks. Harry reaches over and takes my hand, lacing his fingers and giving it an encouraging squeeze. "You're a mystery to me yet for some reason I'm not scared."
I laughed loudly, "I wouldn't be. I'm not as terrifying as extraterrestrial life."
Harry laughed too, shaking his head jokingly.
"I'm a complex person," I admitted shakily. "Not sure why, but I guess that's going to be something I figure out."
Harry nodded. "You're not alone. I think everyone's trying to figure out what the hell they're on this earth for," he chuckled lowly. "Does Eliana like the stars?"
I'm a bit taken back by his words, looking over at him with curiosity filling my head. He looks interested and I suspect he is more than curious about how I got to this point. I'm not sure I'll ever get to explain it all to him—or to anyone really.
"She does," I smiled to myself, "when she was a newborn I would stand out on the porch of my parents' house and rock her to sleep. She would just stare up at me or at the stars. My mom said I did the same thing when I was a baby."
"You said she was two and a half?"
I nodded, "yeah, her birthday's in February."
"Oh really?" Harry smirked. "My birthday's the first of February."
I giggled, "She was born on February seventh during one of the worst snow storms. Ironic," I laughed sadly, "everything was a mess but having her put into my arms for the first time made everything peaceful."
"And her dad?"
I sighed, wiping my sweaty palms on my thighs. This question was inevitable and I should know how to answer it by now but I still don't. I don't know how to be unbiased when it comes to him because I do hate him yet I kind of understand why he left.
"He was never in the picture," I confessed. "We dated for a while then I got pregnant and he wanted nothing to do with it. So, he moved into the city with his brother."
"I'm sorry."
I try to smile through my sudden sadness. "If I would have made him stay he would have been bitter and Eliana deserves better. I'm determined to give her a good life."
"And I'm absolutely sure you will," Harry vowed.
His assurance settles the knot in my throat. I swallow back the looming anger in my voice and take a deep breath. Harry changes the subject with ease, going on about his old science teacher in high school that supposedly hated him. I find it hard to believe that someone could hate him. Harry seems like a well-rounded guy, someone who should be in a long-term relationship and ready to get engaged. I don't let these thoughts linger for too long.
* * *
We stand at my door like some scene in a romantic comedy. I can't help but smile and even giggle at the way Harry looks at me with those intense eyes. Dimples that could cause injury to my heart as showing now, making me blush even more. If possible.
"I'll see you soon then?" he questioned.
"Maybe," I felt unsure and different. Almost a little weightless, if that. "Depends on what you have in mind."
"A surprise," he smirked.
I rolled my eyes, "you're too much, Styles."
"You've known me for not even a week and you're already using my last name against me. Shame on you, Diana," he teased playfully, "but I like it," his lips are close to mine now, eyes only an inch from mine, flickering with what appears to be arousal and amusement.
His teasing tone makes my insides clench. "I was promised one date, but I'm a needy man, Diana, and I want more."
I bite down on my bottom lip. "Fine."
He looks proud, closing the gap between our lips. Electricity surges through my veins again from his touch, this time with much more power. My stomach won't stop fluttering either and it heats up my entire body. Suddenly his tongue is rolling against mine, tasting like root beer.
My fingers latch onto his shirt, pulling him even closer as his hands settle on my waist. This could go further. My body aches for my mind to allow it, but I stop myself. I have to go into this with a clear head. The stakes are high and I'm not the only person I have to look out for anymore.
The two year old sleeping inside needs me at my happiest and strongest. I'm not sure what I'll amount to if I let another man crush my heart.
Harry pulls away, a smile tugging on his swollen lips. "Goodnight, Diana."
"Goodnight, Harry."
* * *
Hello lovelies. It's getting heated now.
I can't wait for the next chapter. Also, friendly reminder that this is a mature story and sexual content is inevitable.
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