The Night I Met Harry

I removed his clothes from the dryer, dumping them in a basket and heading for the living room. I begin to fold after setting down, watching him across from me in the kitchen silently. A tickle crossed my nose moments before I sneezed into my arm and began rubbing my irritated eyes.

Harry:
"Bless you... I think you're getting sick."

I continued to fold when I'd heard my phone vibrate on the counter nearest Harry.

Winter:
"I think it's allergies actually... do you mind seeing who that is?"

I watched him skim a minute before responding.

Harry:
"Danny...he wants you to meet him somewhere."

It didn't take much to know he had a problem with that. I sighed at the situation, getting up and moving toward the kitchen after finishing the laundry. I leaned against the counter while I watched him season the food.

Harry:
"I don't like that."

Winter:
"I'll talk to him."

Harry:
"Mm hmm,"

I rubbed my eyes again as they continued to annoy me. He spoke again quietly changing the subject.

Harry:
"Taste this."

He scooped a bit of the stir fry on a spoon, blowing it off briefly before urging me to try it. There was honestly never a time I didn't like something he made me and it didn't surprise me that I found it amazing. I hummed in satisfaction, a grin playing on his face soon after.

Harry:
"More salt or no?"

Winter:
"No, that's great."

He took note, closing the pan and turning the heat down. I watched him attentively now. His curls slightly looser then when he'd first begun.

Winter:
"...was it your mom that taught you?"

He paused for a moment before clearing the counter and whipping it with the wash rag.

Harry:
"Taught me...?"

Winter:
"How to cook so well..."

Harry:
"For the most part...yea."

He didn't like to dwell on any subject pertaining to his mother much so I didn't take it personal when he dropped the subject.

We faced each other while we ate, conversation flowing about him leaving for his shift at the club tonight. I wondered how he kept to himself with girls drooling over him. It gave me slight rage to think about.

Winter:
"But you're a guy."

Harry:
"You're asking me if I look at other girls?"

Winter:
"No. I'm just saying they're relentless...and you're hot."

Harry:
"Everything I want you already have... and ditto sweetheart."

He pecked my cheek before getting up and grabbing the plates.

Winter:
"I'll do them. I'm spoiled enough."

--

Cate:
"So you're telling me you never think about it?"

I sat in the dressing room chair as I waited for her to try on the clothes she'd taken hours to assemble. Somehow I'd gotten dragged into this. Harry was working tonight and I'd decided against staying in alone.

Winter:
"Well... I'm not saying I don't, other things have just been on my mind."

Cate:
"Yea, like what?"

She'd been telling me how much thought she'd been giving kids lately but honestly my mind still occupied other things. It wasn't long ago that I'd waken up from a nightmare, fearful of things that may have happened with Harry and Scott. We still neglected to discuss it because I was afraid he'd take it wrongly. It wasn't that I thought of Scott, but because we'd ended things on a bad note.

Winter:
"Scott."

She turned the door knob to rid her of the wall between us. She looked down at me, glancing over the mirrors that lined the wall as she started.

Cate:
"Winter. He's finally left you alone and now your thinking about him? I thought things between you and Harry were good."

Winter:
"They're perfect...it's just been bugging me a little... not knowing what happened between them."
She paused as she sat in the chair beside me. The area was clear accept the two of us, I'd assumed because of the hour.

Cate:
"You have to ask yourself, do you want to know. He handled it for you, now the best thing you can do for him is to be happy."

I looked down at my fingers idly as I picked that apart for a moment. Maybe it was what I needed to hear. Letting go was all that needed to be done, because everything else was in place now. She'd gotten up and admired herself fully in the mirror's reflection.

Cate:
"Now cheer up. "
--
His car was in the driveway when I'd gotten there, the lights downstairs beaming from the inside of the house told me he'd been up waiting. I pressed down on the remote locking the car door and searching the ring for the key. My phone vibrated in my pocket just then dominating my attention.

Cate:
Win, I'm pretty sure this is your ring setting on my bathroom sink.

I looked down at my finger immediately, cursing myself internally. I battled for a moment with whether or not to go in the house first, quickly turning the lock.
He was there sitting in the kitchen, his attention drawing up from his phone.

Harry:
"Hey, babe."

He'd gotten up to walk toward me, his arms stretching out like a small child.

Winter:
"Hi."

I quenched my own amusement, holding mine out the same and burying myself in his chest.

Winter:
"You mind if I go back out?"

He pulled me back to better see my face his fingers pushing my hair backward.

Harry:
"Yes, I mind. Why would you want to leave again?"

I glanced over at the clock before speaking. I had a feeling he wouldn't like the idea of me carelessly leaving my ring anywhere.

1 am

Winter:
"...I accidentally left my ring at Cate's..."

His attention moved to my finger as the crease in his eyebrows displayed his disliking.

Harry:
"Why'd you take it off in the first place?"

He released me to across his arms around his chest, his voice rising slightly. His words were questioning and harsh and I'd felt my feelings grow sore. I looked down at my bare finger, losing his eye contact.

Winter:
"I washed my hands and set it on the counter along the sink. I'm sorry, I'll get it now."

I walked away slowly and heard his sigh behind me, steps shortly after.

Harry:
"You can go later."

Winter:
"I should be back in a half hour."

--
Harry POV:

I'd woken up after feeling her absence in the bed. I rubbed my eyes slowly, raising up and leaving the room. I leaned over the railing making sure she hadn't been in the kitchen before heading in the direction of the last room of the hall. I turned the knob slowly before pushing it open. She sat on a stool as she leaned against her easel. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail, the room cold from the opening of the window. She didn't look up despite my entrance. I walked toward her cautiously, my fingertips trailed her bare skin through the revealing tank top. I moved her long hair aside to rest along her chest as she faced away from me. My lips found her neck between her jaw and her shoulder to peck gently. I knew I'd overreacted before and it'd more than likely hurt her feelings. I watched the movements of her pencil cease as she closed her eyes. My eyes looked down to glance the ring before settling on what she'd been working on. It was a infant child. Her eyes were intense and quite similar to my own, her body wrapped in a small blanket. I was sure it wasn't Allison but something about her seemed familiar. I turned Winter to face me, removing the pencil from her fingers slowly.

Harry:
"I'm sorry."

Her contact held mine as I stare into her eyes. She knew what I'd been referring to though I hadn't explained and she sensitively rubbed her face to mine in response.

Winter:
"It's okay. I shouldn't have taken it off...it means a lot to me."

I smiled up at her as my attention drew back to the picture.

Harry:
"She's pretty."

She kept quiet for a long moment before speaking. She pulled me closer affectionately.

Winter:
"....if we ever had a daughter, that's how I'd imagine her."

I felt myself tense with thought. I wasn't sure how I was to take that information, whether lightly or more of a hint. I allowed my fingers to squeeze hers gently for stability as I stare down at the drawing. It really was amazing and I knew I'd be happy to have her.


Winter:
"I'm not trying to weird you out...just doodling."

I held her voice as I thought, pushing my hair from my forehead.

Harry:
"...You want a daughter?"

She eyed me seriously, her dark eyelashes waving to me as she blank rapidly.

Winter:
"...I've thought about it."

My hands brushed her legs in habit with her words.

Harry:
"Okay."

Her forehead creased with lines of confusion.

Winter:
"...Okay?"

Harry:
"Okay..."

Notes

Sorry, I didn't edit much. Will tomorrow okay. LOVE YOU FOR READING. Tell me how you like the story so far in the comments and whether or not I should continue.

Hope everyone's well. <3