The Night I Met Harry

It was a long day at the office, and I was looking forward to my time off coming up the following week. Scott had planned for us to go out of town for a bit, and before I met Harry I had been looking forward to it. I was once again stuck in traffic, deciding to maybe stop at the food market on my way home. I grabbed my phone from the passenger seat and began dialing Scott, as I looked up ahead for signs of movement.

Scott:
“Hey.”

He always answered on the second ring, something I made it habit of noticing.

Winter:
“Yea, I’m stopping at the market. Do you need anything?”

I could tell he’d been opening the frig at my words. He always made it home before I did.

Scott:
“We need butter, coffee, I think sugar is low, and you ate your last banana yesterday.”

Winter:
“Got it. Thanks, I’ll be home in an hour and a half at the least, with this traffic.”

Scott:
“Yea, I know. Sorry about that. Call me back if you get bored okay.”

He laughed deeply, and I with him.

Winter:
“Okay, see you at home.”

Scott:
“I love you.”

I felt the pause. It was the first time he’d said it since I’d met Harry. I knew I loved him more than anything, but the feeling was different as I repeated his words back to him.

Winter:
“I love you too…bye.”
End call

I sat there in thought peering up at the traffic ahead of me. Wondering what Harry was doing now, and if he still expected my call. I looked down at my phone once more dialing his number before putting it on speaker. It had rang twice before he picked up, clearing his throat before he spoke.

Harry:
“I was beginning to think you weren’t going to call.”

I picked up the humor in his tone.

Winter:
“I promised, right.”

I stayed quiet as I walked through the memory of our last visit.

Harry:
“Can we talk for a bit or are you with him?”

I was a little surprised at the casualty in his voice, choosing to go along with it.

Winter:
“I’m actually stuck in traffic, it’s terrible. He’s home and I have to stop by the market so I’ll be a while.”

I could hear him thinking from the other end of the line; I was getting use to him doing this now. I waited as I pulled up slowly mimicking the car ahead of me.

Harry:
“Which market?”

I’d put my bag in the front of the cart, beginning my shopping. I check my phone for the list I’d made before heading for the butter… Apparently the market wasn’t far from his house so he’d assisted on meeting me here. My hair was pushed back from my face. I felt like dishonesty was becoming a thing of mine lately, yet it didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. I’d never actually lied to Scott but yet I wasn’t being completely honest with him either. I needed to figure out what I wanted but for now I really didn’t want the ease of this life to end. I grabbed the butter along with a pack of cheese before heading for the coffee. I turned the cart walking in the opposite direction, excusing myself as I bypassed. I stood in aisle three as I battled for a moment, debating what flavored creamer I wanted this week. It was nice to be unsure about something so trivial for once. My hands reached up to the shelf… And then I felt him, he’d wrapped his hands around my waist burying his face in my hair from behind. Surprisingly it hadn’t frightened me, the feeling oddly relaxing, sending tingling to the surfaces of my fingertips. He turned me around, gently pushing me up against the shelves as he kissed me passionately. I could tell he missed me. I was grateful for the lack of traffic in the aisle, making it easier for me to enjoy and salvage in the moment. We had shared many kisses now but somehow every seemed like merely the first. He pulled away slowly, grabbing the handle of the cart while I focused my attention back to the coffee cream, his touch still lingering. He watched me, apparently in amusement, as I bit my lip in concentration.

Harry:
“Hazelnut’s great, you know.”

I looked at him sternly, before grabbing it and putting it into the cart. There was a chuckle between us as we made our way to the next aisle. He pushed the cart as I walked beside him, looking down at my phone for next on the list.

Winter:
“Sugar.”

It was rare that his eyes rested on anything but me, I felt odd like I’d been interrupting him as I looked up to meet his gaze.

Winter:
“What?”

And there were his dimples, they were what took him from hot to adorable in merely seconds. Seeing them honestly gave a highlight to my day.

Harry:
“Nothing… You’re just adorable.”

Then that made two of us. It was hard to restrain from blushing, something I rarely ever did as I grabbed the edge of the cart urging us to continue our movements.

Winter:
“Thanks.”

I liked flirting but it was different with Harry, all I could do was remain coy at his complements.
He grabbed the sugar from the top shelf for me, placing it in the cart as we continued.

Winter:
“So, how is everything?”

His fingers swiped the hair from his face in an upward motion in routine.

Harry:
“Well, apparently I don’t have to work until Thursday of this week. So that’s great. How about you?”

I had hoped to avoid the upcoming conversation. Suddenly hesitant to look his way. I continued playing with the ends of my hair in habit as we walked.

Winter:
“I’m on vacation at work starting next week… Scott wants to go out of town for a bit. Hotter weather, you know...”

I continued walking until I realized he’d stopped a few paces back, offense evident on the features of his face. He’d left the cart to come toward me. Nothing involving a conversation about Scott ever ended well with me and Harry. I stood in the process of wishing I hadn’t said anything before I was against the shelves again, his forehead now resting on mine.

Winter:
“Hey, it’s just for a week. My vacation time is two weeks, so I’ll be back. It’ll be quick.”

It was my attempt to comfort him. I rubbed his lower back as my hands lingered around his waist. I hated to see him upset with me, my emotions were tainted with the thought.

Harry:
“Then why do I already miss you…”

He tangled our fingers at his words. It sent a wave of chills through my body and in that moment I knew I was falling. I searched but I couldn’t find the words. His pause showing it’d taken him too. He took a deep breath, the scent from his presence hypnotizing as always.

Harry:
“I don’t want him touching you, Winter…”

I numbed as the words escaped his lips. This was becoming heavy. I hated the feeling of hurting him. I began to blink quickly as my eyes started to water, as it often did when I was overwhelmed. I hated this feeling. It was so wrong. All of it, and I couldn’t help but feel it was my fault. Because it was. I had to escape as I felt myself shutting down. My mind was slowly numbing. I needed to go before I’d have tell my boyfriend another lie, but he tighten his hold on me.

Winter:
“It’s not something I can necessarily control, Harry. He’s my….”

It was frustrating being so torn. I needed to see my girls. There was too much on my mind now and everyone expected so much of me.

Harry:
“So you’re telling me you’d let it happen?”

Winter:
“Harry, I’ve been avoiding it already and it’s my vacation. What do you want me to do?”

I hadn’t meant to admit that to him. Soaking in my words for a moment as he peered into my eyes. He released me too soon. I didn’t know we’d cover this topic in our encounter, and it was beginning to make my head spin.

Harry:
“Do you want him to?”

It was a question I hadn’t prepared for. I’d never considered the depth of this question even before, choosing only to obey Harry's wishes. I’d been with Scott many times before, so I wasn’t sure how it’d be now that Harry was in the picture. I stared down as I dissected it quietly. I hadn’t yet answered. Either way would muster guilt on my part. I had enough to think about. How was I supposed to just reject the person I’ve been with for so long? Scott and I were definitely more than sex but it was just us and things just happen. Contrary to my actions lately I did have a conscious. I remained in thought.

Winter:
“Wait, what’s the date?”

His facial expression told me he was confused by the change of topic. I glanced at my lock screen, reading it was the 30th, and I’d just found my solution. I really would rather spare him the details of my personal femininities, but at least it’d help him feel better about me being away. I guess now I wouldn’t be in the water.

Winter:
“Harry, my period’s next week.”

He looked at me warmly, after indulging in a deep sigh. He grabbed the rounds of my waist, burying his face in the crook of my neck as he held me close. Protectively. His kisses were sensitive. He hummed quietly there.

Harry:
“What am I going to do with you?”

I smiled to myself. What was I going to do with him…

Notes

I'm posting the next one Sunday. Comment :)