No Regrets

The car ride to the small coffee shop where I was taking Harry was weird. I had the radio turned up in my jeep and was loudly *and badly* singing along to every song. Harry was too, which was somewhat embarrassing because I sounded like a dying cow compared to his singing, but everytime I looked over at him he seemed to be in a different place. Maybe I was imagining it, but his green eyes just didn’t have the same effect that they had two days ago. Something was different.

I parked on one of the side streets by the coffee shop, and he went around and opened my door for me, which was polite but kinda strange since I was the one driving. I locked my car and once again, his hand found his way into mine and didn’t let go until we sat down at the table.

“So, Harry, what is so important that you just had to sweep me away from my fabulous waitressing job to come talk to you about?” I asked him jokingly, even though I was genuinely curious.

“Liz, uhm I mean Lizzie” he began as he cleared his throat, “me and Taylor broke up on Saturday.”

“Wait what? Saturday? Like this past Saturday? Like our Saturday morning?” I stammered questions. I felt so bad for him. Most of all though, I felt like this was my fault. “Harry, I’m really so sorry. If you want me to talk to her, I’ll say something- I don’t know- I’ll tell her that it was me who came on to you or somethi-”

“No, Liz, I was the one who broke up with her.”

THAT, I was not expecting.

“I’m not done. Just let me finish. I’ve really been thinking about this for the past few days. Well, I’ve been thinking about you. Our few hours together on Friday night, not even mentioning our indescribable night that we spent together afterwards, were 100 times better than the whole past month that I’ve spent with Taylor. It’s been over for a while, and you were just the one who made me open my eyes and really realize that. So thank you.” I thought he finished after this comment. He was speaking slowly and deliberately the whole time he was talking. It was evident that he had put a lot of thought into this. Now, it was my turn to talk, and I had no idea what to say.

“Okay, well Harry, is that all? I’m sorry I just don’t know what you’re getting at. Are you asking me something or just thanking me or what?” I was getting impatient. He was dangling his breakup in front of me, and as much as I felt bad, I was wondering WHY he was telling me this.. being honest, I was hoping deep down that he really did have a follow-up question for me.

I looked up from my cup of tea and into his eyes for the first time since he told me he broke up with Taylor. His eyes were practically glowing again, which I was happy to see, and as we were looking at each other, he reached his hand across the table and grabbed my hand again. I smiled at him, and he continued.

“Well, Lizzie, since I’ve taken care of my Taylor problems, I was wondering if you would actually go on a date with me tomorrow night?” He smiled at me, and that’s all he had to do. I already made up my mind about his qustion.

“Oh Mr. Styles, you’re asking me on a date now? First you sleep with a girl and then they earn a date with you?” I asked him laughing, “a bit out of order don’t you think?” He was smirking at me and let go of my hand to run his fingers through his curls.

“So, Ms… umm?” he questioned, deciding to use my last name since I so frequently joked with his.

“Braddison.” I replied.

“Ms. Braddison, is that a yes to my date request?”

“Why yes, Mr. Styles, that is a yes.” I said laughing at him. He picked up my hand and jokingly kissed it.

“Good!” he said, “now that that’s taken care of, I have one more question.”

“oh lord, yes?” I asked, pretending to be exasperated.

“If I’m taking a quite beautiful girl on a date tomorrow night, where would you recommend I should take her? I figured you’d be a good person to ask, seeing as you’re from here, and I think you and this girl have similar interests,” he joked.

“Hmmm, you ask tough questions.” I couldn’t really decide on the spot. I’d need to group call Emma and Nicole later so that they could help me decide because there were like a million possibilities running through my head, but this was going to be me and Harry’s first date. So I wanted to make sure the place was perfect.

“Well how about you think about it and text me an answer later?” he asked. Look at him! That was such a sly way to ask for my number. It was evident this boy had experience.

“Well how about you actually ask for my number first?” I asked him laughing. Just because he had experience didn’t mean I wasn’t going to put him in his place. He pulled out his iphone from his pocket, unlocked it and handed it to me. His background was a selfie of him and a woman who I assumed to be his mother. It was so cute; it made me smile. I added my number and handed it back to him.

We stayed and talked until the place had to close around 9:00. The barista- who couldn’t have been more than about 16- came over and told us it was closing time, but when she noticed Harry, her eyes grew to about twice the average size, and she quickly added that we could stay longer if we wanted, however we thanked her and left anyway. Unfortunately when we made our way to the front of the coffee shop we could see all of the paparazzi lined up outside the entrance. I was surprised they at least had the respect to not intrude on the coffee shop. Anxious, I looked towards Harry’s face for guidance. He slightly grimaced, but when he noticed my attention on him he smiled at me, and grabbed my hand again.

“And so it begins…” He somewhat joked, “Take a deep breath and answer no questions. It’s easier if you keep your focus on the sidewalk in front of you until you’re safely in the car. Ready?” I nodded and we walked out.

“HARRY WHO IS THIS GIRL?? *FLASH* HARRY WHAT SONGS ARE YOU SINGING AT THE SUPERBOWL?? *FLASH* *FLASH* WHAT’S YOUR NAME SWEET HEART?? HOW WAS YOUR LITTLE NIGHT TOGETHER? *FLASH* IS HARRY GOOD IN BED?? *FLASH* HARRY CAN YOU CONFIRM HAYLOR IS OVER?? *FLASH* *FLASH* *FLASH*”

Harry opened my car door for me and made sure I was safely inside before he closed my door and went around the car to get in. As soon as he was buckled in, I pulled out of my parking spot and got as far away from the paparazzi as quickly as possible.

“Whoa slow down there speed demon,” Harry sounded like he was joking, but I noticed that his hand was turning white from squeezing the armrest so hard. I just laughed and turned the radio up- he had nothing to worry about. I was confident in my driving skills.

As I neared his hotel, the fans outside literally formed a mob. He directed me to the back entrance, where I pulled into a parking spot in the garage and shifted the gear to parked. Harry turned and looked at me before he spoke.

“I wanted to just apologize and commend you for how beautifully you handled the paps. I know it can’t be easy for first-timers, but you were great.” He smiled at me and pushed a long piece of hair from my face. He was so delicate with me when he wanted to, but I knew firsthand how rough he could get when he wanted, and I loved his variations. Before I could respond, he reached over and turned my face to face his. His lips crashed onto mine and his tongue traced my bottom lip begging for entrance. However, this time I wasn’t going to let him. As hard as it was, I had to leave him wanting something tomorrow night, after all. I pulled away, and he smirked at me.

“Goodbye Harry.” I said firmly, and he turned and opened my car door. Before he shut it however, he had one last remark for me.

“Oh and Liz?”

“Yes Harry?” I responded, even though I had some idea where this was going.

“I had fun Friday night, too.” He said with a wink as shut the door behind him.

I watched him walk away, but before I pulled out of the parking lot, I rested my head on my steering wheel. I had one million different feelings jumping around my body.

Day number two with this boy, and he was already driving me crazy. And I loved it.

Notes