Lara received a phone call from Julian hours later and he sounded thrilled.

“Great job, Lara.” Julian enthused. “Harry not only called me about your visit, he told me about his huge fight with Jade.”

“Jade?” Lara asked confused.

“His so called girlfriend.” Julian said disdainfully. “Apparently they had a huge blow up after you left.”

Lara thought back to when she was confronted with Harry and Jade in bed. The woman had looked at her curiously and it was obvious she recognised who Lara was. Later, she had walked past Lara on the street and given her a knowing smile. Unlikely behaviour for someone who had just had a big fight with their boyfriend.

“Hopefully that’s the last we see of her.” Julian muttered. “Good thing Harry will be out of the country next week… which brings me to you. Any dinner plans tonight?”

“Why?”

“It’s Saturday night and I need to keep Harry out of trouble.”

Lara regarded his words with a doubtful expression. She did not think she was very good at reaching Harry. Julian may have thought she had a handle of the situation, but that was far from the truth. She had practically run away as soon as she had spotted in bed that day and then had meekly responded to his text.

Lara: Big deal. We were just talking

Harry replied almost immediately.

Harry: Don’t let him suck you in again. You know it’s happened before.

Lara did not send another message after this, hating Harry’s honesty and the way he effortlessly managed to get under her skin.

And now here Julian was, casually asking her to take him out for dinner.

“Last week he got kicked out of a nightclub.” Julian said, interrupting her thoughts. “I can’t afford for something else to happen before we leave for overseas.”

“Why don’t you just tell him to stay home then?” Lara said and tried not to laugh when she heard Julian sigh impatiently.

“Harry never stays home.” He said grimly. “I will send a car to get you at 7pm, everything will be organised, so you just need to be ready by that time. You think you can manage that?”

X
His words had been sarcastic, but nevertheless hours later Lara was standing in front of the mirror. Her hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail and she was now studying her calf length black dress in the reflection of the mirror.

Lara had just received a phone call telling her there was a change of plans. She was to be chauffeured to Harry’s apartment and picking him up. Apparently he was held up and would be late otherwise.

Lara sat in the backseat of the car feeling a range of mixed emotions. In some respects it felt like another Saturday night out with Harry, just like the old times. But now she felt like she was dealing with a stranger, a shadow of his former shelf. And this shadow seemed darker…

The car pulled up at the kerb and once the driver placed a call, they waited patiently for Harry to emerge. Lara had resorted to taking deep breaths to calm her nerves when she noticed a figure appear and quickly descend the front steps of the apartment block. The person’s shoulders were hunched and although it was dark, it was not hard to see that they were crying. Lara squinted to see a glimpse of blonde hair escape from her hoodie. The person looked familiar… she looked like…

Skye

Lara watched with interest as the girl sobbed hard as she rushed out of the building and onto the street. She glanced to the left and the right before hurrying across the road.

A wave of memories came over Lara as she tried to figure out what was going on.

Skye had been an unknown singer Harry had plucked from obscurity. He had wangled a recording contract for her and he had been very proud of his new discovery. Lara recalled how he had whisked her to LA to record some tracks and how jealous and suspicious she had been about the time they spent together. Harry had been very protective of Sky from the beginning.

“I don’t want anyone to know I’m the one behind her getting that contract.” “Why?” Lara had asked. “I want her to have a fair chance. If it gets out that I’m the one who helped her, then the focus won’t be on her anymore. All people will want to talk about is whether I’m fucking her or not.” He said. “And she’s too good for that. “

Despite Harry’s explanation, she still felt that surge of jealousy every time she saw them together. Offstage, Sky was quiet and sensitive, and had followed Harry around like a little puppy.

“I told you she was one of Harry’s strays. You heard him… he found her busking on the fucking street!” Louis had laughingly told her once.

Skye may have been too timid to make a play for Harry but the threat had always hung over Lara’s head. And now here she was crying outside Harry’s apartment. Lara could not help but crane her neck to curiously watch as she disappeared down the street. A minute later Lara spotted Harry make his way down the steps, clad in a pair of black jeans and boots and unbuttoned shirt; only a couple of buttons, but enough for his tattoos to peek through.

He opened the back door and settled next to her, barely glancing her way. She stole a look at him as the car drove on, half his face illuminated by the street lights.

“I saw Skye.” Lara said.

“Yeah?” Harry responded. A long silence followed, with Lara waiting for him to continue only for him to sombrely stare straight ahead, avoiding her eyes.

“Harry, what are you doing?” She asked gently.

“What are you talking about?” He said finally.

“What did you do to her?”

“Nothing.” Harry replied, shifting uncomfortably.

“What did you do to her?” Lara persisted.

“Look, I don’t need this.” Harry shot back. “I never asked for any of it.”

He slumped in his seat and defiantly crossed his arms, ignoring Lara’s penetrating gaze.

“You’re the one who left me, remember?” He said accusingly.

Not long after they reached the restaurant, he turned to Lara and mumbled.

“So, are we still doing this?”

Lara spied a couple of paparazzi at the front, their cameras poised as their car came into view.

“I guess we have no choice.”

Camera flashes went off as they strode toward the restaurant and Lara was relieved when Harry linked arms with her, somewhat steadying her shaky walk.

“Thanks.” She said once they were inside, but he did not even look at her as he was led to their table. They settled at their table and glanced at each other nervously before looking away. Harry toyed with the wine list for a moment, while Lara tried to ignore the prying eyes of their fellow diners, before the waitress approached their table.

“Good evening. May I recommend a wine for you?” She said politely. Harry nodded before catching Lara’s eye. His expression suddenly changed and he shook his head.

“No thank you. I’ll have a mineral water.”

Lara watched him as the waitress walked away after taking their orders.

“You didn’t have to do that.” She said. “I wouldn’t have minded if you ordered wine.”

“Yeah well…” Harry said, uncomfortably fidgeting with his napkin. “I don’t feel like drinking tonight…”

“Well you could if you wanted.”

“I said I don’t want to.” Harry responded tensely before casting a nervous look around the room. “Listen, just relax… I feel like the whole fucking room is watching us.”

“Maybe Julian’s spying on us right now… maybe he’s hiding in a corner.” Lara said, trying to hold back a smile.

“Maybe.” Harry said. “But I don’t want to hear him whinging about us not following the brief.”
The brief. Lara remembered how every task Julian had given them was called “the brief” and how Harry had once complained.

“Sometimes I feel like my whole life is a fucking brief!”

“What did you mean about me being the one who left you?” Lara suddenly asked without thinking.

“Well, you left me, didn’t you?” Harry said.

“Yeah, but why did you say it?”

“We wouldn’t be going through all this bullshit if you had never left.” He replied.

“I had my reasons.” Lara said quietly.

Harry opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by the waitress returning with their beverages. She presented the dinner menus and left them alone to decide.

“So if you don’t want to be with me… why are you here?” Harry asked. He studied her for a moment before narrowing his eyes. “All this pity Harry crap really pisses me off.”

“It’s not about that.” Lara said.

“Are you scared of Julian then?” Harry countered.

“I don’t want him to hurt Tony.” Lara said firmly.

“Well then maybe you should have chosen someone that wasn’t married.” Harry retorted bitterly.

“He was separated before I even met him.”

“He’s still married.”

“Don’t pretend to be perfect Harry… in the last two weeks I’ve seen you with at least three other women and neither of them were your girlfriend.”

“Oh really now? You keeping tabs?” The old smirk was back now. “Is that why you’re really doing this? Can’t keep away from me?”

“No, I wouldn’t say that Harry.” Lara responded suddenly feeling tired and not in the mood for pointless banter. She looked out for the waitress, wishing the food would arrive soon.

“Tired?” Harry asked and she nodded, trying not to notice the couple from the nearby table openly ogling them.

“Wanna get out of here?” He whispered.

“I-I don’t think so… aren’t we supposed to have dinner?” She said uncertainly.

“Come on Lara, we haven’t even ordered.” The cheeky grin which emphasised his deep dimples was back and Lara found herself unable to tear her eyes away from him. “Didn’t we say you needed a little bit of excitement in your life?”

Notes

Leave a review to let me know your thoughts... and if you have any ideas of where you want the story to go, feel free to let me know.

PS: Do you think she should go with him?