Bereft (h.s)

27. I like you a lot.

Chapter 27

Alycia's Pov.

I followed Harry to the front because he had to get his keys from the valet first. They offered to pull it up for him but he told them he just needed to grab something from his car so they let us out the back, where his car is at.

There wasn't many people in the back lot except for a couple of people who work here and maybe a couple people at their cars. I couldn't tell if they were workers here or not.

I saw headlights light up as he unlocked his car and I went around to the passenger side and quickly slipped in the seat.

He got in and started the car, just to start the heat. I was cold but I didn't say anything so he must've been cold too. It always gets chilly here at night and i'm wearing a barely there dress.

We just sat in silence for a minute and I didn't want to be the first one to talk. I'm stubborn, i'm aware.

"Are you warming up?" He asked and I looked over at him with knitted eyebrows but nodded.

I don't know why everything tonight hurt my feelings so much because I knew we weren't anything serious but he just treats me like we are most times. But just like you can't trust someone's words, it seems you can't trust their actions either. I would know after all the shit i've been through in general.

"I only told Caroline that because she's been known to spread information to tabloids and news outlets. You can ask Mitch. Most people in there know that too. Anyone in there would back me up on that." He started and I just continued looking out the window. I just don't like eye contact, and while i've come to like it with him, i'm not exactly happy with him. I'd rather look anywhere else.

"It's the truth Alycia and that's the only reason I said that to her. I didn't want her going and telling outlets that we're together before I was even sure that you want to do that. And even if you did, if we want to go public, it's gonna be on our terms. Not someone else's." He stated and while I felt relief at his words, true or not, it still doesn't explain how touchy he was with her. Another thing though...we're not together. I mean, are we? So what's there to even go public about? My brain is just scrambled all the time since we've started this thing between us. It's kind of exhausting.

I nodded but I was still looking out the passenger door window at the workers walking back and forth to grab cars to go to the front or bringing cars to park. I think i'm more focused on their routine rather than this current conversation.

"Alycia..." He said calmly and put his hand on my thigh. I know he wants me to say something but I really don't know what i'm supposed to say.

"Harry...I mean...we're not together. That's why I told you that you could do what you want that night. So that when things like this happen, and you get touchy with someone else, there's no hard feelings. Yet you didn't want me saying that. You wanted us to just be doing whatever the fuck we're doing...with just each other. So i don't get why you go ahead and do it anyways." I said but still didn't look at him. I could see him looking at me through his peripheral vision.

"And then, you come up to me all mad when all i'm doing is talking to a guy about music. You basically had a model in your lap but i'm supposed to feel bad for talking to a guy about music?" I emphasized and he shook his head.

"She was not almost in my lap and you know it. Mitch was sitting there before her and my arm was around the back of the couch. She sat down as soon as he got up so that's why my arm was there. I should've moved it sooner than I did and I more than apologize for that Alycia. Genuinely. I'm sorry. There was nothing going on with that though. She's just a...friend. I guess. Honestly she's not even a friend. She's just always around my friends. I've known her for a while. Nothing has ever happened between us though." He stated and I nodded again.