The Night I Met Harry

Harry:
“Still don’t want to talk about it?”

He’s a few sips into his third glass and I lag behind barely into my second. I know he’s buzzed because his eyes have become considerably lower. We’re still in the bathroom seated across from one another, the echo of our voices bouncing from the walls and back just quietly. I register what’s fallen from his lips but give myself time before answering. He’s patient but doesn’t seem to like it.

Harry:
“I’m going to be honest…and don’t walk away from me when I say this.”

He leans over so his elbows are resting on his knees in that slouched position. I hold my breath for it.

Harry:
“I’m actually kind of pissed that you even care who he’s sleeping with.”

Winter:
“Even if it’s my best-…was my best friend?”

He takes another thoughtful sip, staring down at the glass afterward in thought.

Harry:
“I’m pretty sure that’s not the only part that bothers you.”

Winter:
“So you think I’m that much of a bad person, huh?”

Harry:
“…It doesn’t make you a bad person…it just makes you human.”

He always seems to think he has me figured out and honestly he usually does. But I wasn’t so sure if I agreed with any of this.

Winter:
“Harry, I said it’s not him.”

Harry:
“Okay.”

The tone he was taking with me got under my skin a little. I chugged the remainder of the glass before sitting it down against the floor and getting up from where I sat. I’m covered in bandages like an idiot…if only I had a penny for every time I’d gotten myself in some form of trouble.

I’m never able to escape him in the amount of time I’m given. He pulls at my fingers in a drunken manner so that I’m unable to leave.

Harry:
“Why do you do that, huh?”

His words are slurred and heavy as he wraps his arms around what’s mine. His head lies against my stomach sleepily like a needy child.

Winter:
“Do what?”

I flick through the curly hair so he knows that I’m not too upset. There was no point to being that way these days…or at least staying that way.

Harry:
“Make me chase you. Granted, I love doing it…but sometimes I think –if I let you, you’d leave.”

Woahhhh. I think to myself, as I expected the answer to be a bit simpler.

Winter:
“Stop it, you know I wouldn’t go anywhere.”

Harry:
“I want to go with you to your appointment tomorrow.”

Yea, he’s definitely wasted. I realize this as the topic changes abruptly.

Winter:
“Sure, but no more of this okay?”

I tug lightly at the glass and his unwillingness to release it. He’s intensely adorable when he’s this way.

Winter:
“Come on, you should rest.”

Harry:
“No.”

He pouts, refusing to release me and let me assist him.
Winter:
“Come on, Harry. Be good.”

And that seems to fall on deaf ears. I sigh, receiving the embrace of him in his sitting position.

Harry:
“Winter.”

Winter:
“Yes?”

Harry:
“I’m really horny now.”

And bipolar apparently. His head’s lifted so that he can look his lazy green orbs up at me. His lips are full and pink but the deep color of the wine slightly stains them. I smile down in amusement.

Winter:
“Well that’s a problem.”

Harry:
“Why?”

Winter:
“Well I’m not preggers anymore… and it’s the 19th… Which tells us what?”

His eyes shut tight in somewhat of a silly manner when he’s gotten the hint.
His fingers still trail my bum and waistline temptingly.

Harry:
“You have to help me.”

I can’t seem to get past how attractive this is and how overwhelmingly immature I’m being with the giggling. I blame my alcohol consumption. It becomes contagious, spreading to him quickly.

Winter:
“This is why you’re supposed to sip wine. Not have it for dinner.”
I kiss his lips but still I can’t help the laughter. He smiles into it.

Harry:
“You aren’t taking me very seriously. My feelings are hurt.”

Yet it can’t seem to escape him without the cackling.

Winter:
“No, I am. I am.”

I come up with quickly while lowering myself to my knees. This isn’t going to work if I don’t relieve myself of the amusement.

Harry:
“Bad idea, you’re hurting your cuts.”

Winter:
“They’re fine.”

He ignores me anyways, finally getting up like I’d been asking this entire time. My hand is tugged until we reach the bedroom clumsily.

Winter:
“Watch yourself.”

I grab him and allow for him to stumble onto the bed. He’s on his back and I proceed to removing his shoes and tossing them to the side. It helps that I’m not as far gone as he is, though my vision has become considerably blurrier in the past few minutes.
I undo the restrictions of his pants but what he seems to want is for me to join him on the bed. His strength dominates and he gets me on it successfully.

Winter:
“What are you doing, silly?”

He reverses us and I’m a bit confused until I realize he’s waiting for my touch. I lower my hands confidently and he rests his warm face in the space of my neck. His breath against it is warm as well as my fingers move in a motion that excites him. I feel his teeth the more I continue and he’s not at all shy about his moans so I know exactly what to do next. My pace is slow and I’m taking my time. The noise of him is audible pleasing to me and I’m beginning to think he knows it. His tongue slips between my parted lips and I move my thumb in circles around the head of him. I feel so in control of the moment and it gives me that certain something that usually isn’t present when he’s having his way with me. I move a bit quicker as his sounds become desperate for me. I love that I know just what he likes. It’s come to that point in our relationship where everything’s so open and vulnerable. I don’t think I could have emotionally ever been this way with anyone.

I adored how his hips gravitated toward the warmth of my fingers with every pump. The urgency is becoming greater as he lowers himself closer to me just a tad more. Our faces are close as he peers directly into my eyes intimately. It was scary how connected I felt to him in this moment as if I was heading toward orgasm with him. I want him to feel that badly as he brushes our noses together with parted lips. His fingers squeeze harshly at my other hand while they intertwine and I witness my lovers high for the millionth time. It seems like merely the first as I realize he’s spilled himself all over my stomach area. His body goes into this incredibly defenseless state before falling unsubtly on top of me. I don’t release my grip until he quiets a little. He doesn’t allow his complete weight to rest on me, avoiding the bandages as not to irritate them.

Harry:
“…I fucking love you.”

--

The morning’s here again and I’m surprised he’s awake before me. The bed is empty beside me and I sit myself upright and remove from the bed. It’s was so weird actually sleeping through the night and not having Riley as an alarm clock. I brush my teeth and wipe my face before walking barefoot down the cold hallway floor.

Winter:
“Harry?”

I peak into the kitchen and he’s there with an opened carton of eggs.

Winter:
“Goodmorning.”

I hug from behind, moving my hands in an up and down motion on his toned stomach.

Harry:
“Goodmorning love,”

He’s warm though the house is unusually chilled this morning.
Winter:
“It’s freezing.”

And I should have more on but whatever.

Harry:
“I know, you kept mumbling in your sleep about being too hot. I asked if you wanted it turned down or off and you can pretty much guess what you said.”

Winter:
“Hmm…”

I listened while navigating on my tippy toes over to the thermostat to avoid the full affect of the cold tile.

Harry:
“Here.”

I know I look silly as I make my way back to him, pulling my arms into the shirt I’m wearing. He’s blowing off the frittata against the fork. It’s held in my direction and I allow it past my teeth quickly. I hum like an idiot as it disperses itself over my taste buds. He seems to like the reaction.

Harry:
“And bacon?”

Winter:
“And bacon.”

I do as always when he’s in the kitchen and amuse him by jumping around, skipping from tile to tile in his view.

Winter:
“Can I pick your brain? There’s these questions my mom’s been asking and I want you’re view.”

Harry:
“Shoot.”

Winter:
“Okay, how do you like being a dad?”

I spring right into it like I’ve seen those interviewers do on the news before. He takes a second before starting.

Harry:
“Well, I thought I’d suck at it but I’m alright. I love it.”

Winter:
“Mm hm..”

I continue like a child and just enjoy the aroma’s greeting me on this early morning.

Harry:
“It’s great…I guess things really happen how they’re meant to because I swear I never wanted kids before you. My poor mother would literally beg me.”

In wonder how she’s doing and if she’s better. I don’t question it much but just know that there has to been some improvement since the dilemma present when I’d first met her…else he’d never allow Riley over there, especially overnight. And I trusted his judgment.

Winter:
“What about me made you want kids?”

He’s smiling as if he’s just entered an amusing memory.

Harry:
“You’re genes…”

Then there’s full on laughter as my eyes narrow in disapproval. So romantic.

Harry:
“I’m serious. And it helps that I’m really in love with you. Even if I didn’t want them, I’d have them for you.”

I experience the sour then sweet experience as he tastes the food once more before plating.

Winter:
“Well that’s the next question. Would you want more? Linda seems to be obsessed with the thought already.”

I speak of her as if she’s some delusional person I’ve never met. There’s a heavy pause that’s nearly impossible to ignore, though initially I thought it’d been because of the concentration of his task. I move to sit myself up to the counter and he slides the plate in front of me.

Winter:
“Don’t want to answer that one, huh?”

Harry:
“I don’t know.”

Winter:
“You don’t know if you want to answer or about the kids.”

I get up again to head to the frig for orange juice. I then pour him a generous glass before filling my own cup.

Harry:
“Kids…I don’t know.”

And then my chest grows a little sore at the idea of her being an only child. Like me basically. I don’t force the topic though. I begin eating and take notice as he watches me before starting slowly himself.

Harry:
“I don’t mean to hurt your feelings; I just understand now how serious your health problems are. I can’t just risk that again.”

Winter:
“You do realize that it’d be my choice. I understand the risks.”

Harry:
“No. It’s not just your choice Winter. You don’t understand how that fucked my mind up to deal with. I never want to feel like that again. I want you here…with me and Riley…where I know you’re okay.”

I stare unfocused across the room as I chew slowly and thoughtfully.

Winter:
“Never? You said never, that’s not fair.”

Harry:
“You’re not listening to me, are you?”

Winter:
“I hear you, Harry. But it was a bad med reaction; I was perfectly fine until then.”

I wait for him to respond but there’s nothing. I don’t know why I care about this all of sudden because I don’t at all want another child at this point in life. Leave it to mom to get things stirring around in my cranium. It was just disheartening to hear him say “never”. I thought with us that was something that wasn’t in our vocabulary unless it pertained to something like breaking up or cheating. I pull myself back to that lovely morning we were having before this conversation and begin the plate again.

Winter:
“I’m sorry, I understand.”

I give him eye contact rather than looking down so he doesn’t feel like he’s just ruined things. Pregnancies were never really planned anyways.

Winter:
“The appointments at 11 if you still want to go.”

He nods taking a sip from the glass.

Harry:
“Yea. Of course.”

And the doorbell sounds. I’m instantly annoyed because of how early it is in the morning, no hour for company.

Winter:
“I got it.”

I head for it, checking the peephole to see that it was the mailman likely with a package. I swing open the door smiling to greet him a good morning. He’s holding flowers toward me with the company of a white envelope.

Winter:
“Thanks,”

I say with a wave and he heads off to the neighbors. I’m hoping this doesn’t bring additional complexity to our day. I walk back slowly reading the card for the sender.

We missed you at the party the other night. Don’t forget about us.
-Danny

Maybe if they hadn’t gotten Julia to ask me I would have thought about it. I let it go to sit them on the counter in front of the window in the sun’s eye of view. He’s waiting for an explanation I see as I look up.

Winter:
“Danny and the others.”

Harry:
“I told you to go.”

Winter:
“I wasn’t up to it, maybe the next time.”

I sit back up to the plate and proceeded. Sigh. Life was always interesting these days.

Notes