Collide (Impact Book 2) | h.s. | complete

9. Decide

~Harry~

A few seconds dragged past before Zayn wrapped an arm protectively around Perrie’s shoulders, guiding her and the girls away while Liam brought up the rear, looking dazed. Niall stood a few feet from me, the rain dripping from his blonde hair and into his face. His mouth hung open as if he wanted to speak but couldn’t find the words. My hair was soaked, and it stuck to my forehead and neck. I ran my fingers through it, pushing it off my face.

“I…” Niall began but I shook my head.

“Don’t.” I said simply and Niall nodded.

“You came here to look for her, didn’t you? You haven’t left LA voluntarily since we got the house years ago.” I nodded, starting down the alley, Niall close behind. Once we made it to the street Niall caught my arm. “She doesn’t want to be found, man…” He said slowly.

“No Niall, there is something wrong. This isn’t like her…” I was growing increasingly frustrated. “You know this isn’t like her…”

“It’s never what you expect when someone leaves otherwise you would have protected yourself.” He stepped closer and pursed his lips. “I hate to admit it but I’ve pushed all of this down for so long and I have to say it. When someone shows you who they are, believe them, Harry…” I looked into his crystal blue eyes and felt my heard crack once again. I nodded slowly. It seemed I was the only one who hadn’t given up on Tori and it didn’t look like that was going to happen any time soon. “Let’s go home.” Niall said, ushering me towards the waiting van. 

~Tori~

 Tanner and I lay on the floor of the nursery, staring up at the ceiling, side by side and for the first time in months, I felt at peace. I felt as though I could breath, but a part of my mind wandered, as always, to green eyes and deeply dimpled cheeks. I left to protect him, but part of me wondered why he hadn’t tried to find me yet. I supposed I would never know if he were trying or not, and Tanner had put enough security in place that I he would probably never succeed. As I lay thinking, Tanner’s hand moved across the soft carpet beneath us and touched mine. He intertwined our fingers and turned his head to look at me.

 “What are you thinking about?” He asked, rubbing his thumb across the back of my palm.

 “How terrified I am,” I admitted, avoiding his gaze.

 “Tori…” he began before he lifted himself to rest back on his elbows. “You have to love again sometime. You have to let me in and let me make this better.”

 “I know I do, I’m just finding it really difficult…” I sighed. Tanner reached over and tilted my head towards him.

 “What would make you feel better in this moment?” He asked, smiling at me encouragingly.

 “Uh, I have a hankering for some chocolate chip cookies, could we make a batch?” I asked and Tanner laughed, his eyes lighting up.

 “Of course we can.” He extended a hand and helped me slowly to my feet, my increasingly large stomach making movement difficult. We walked hand in hand down to the kitchen where he began to pull ingredients out. Before I knew it the kitchen was a total mess. It seemed as if every surface held a thin dusting of flour. Once they were in the oven, I hoisted myself up onto the counter while Tanner walked around with a cloth in one hand and the mixing spoon in the other while he ate the dough.

 “I can’t wait for those to come out…” I said, watching the over carefully. Tanner dropped the spoon into the sink and made his way over to me.

 “You have flour all over you…” He said, lifting a finger to my nose, wiping carefully.

 “Did you get it?” I asked, watching him retract his hand to inspect it.

 "Not quite,” he said, reaching forward again, this time his thumb met my bottom lip and pulled it slightly downward. We stayed like that for a moment before I reached out and in the blink of an eye, our lips had met, moving together as they had so long ago, perfectly synchronized. We broke apart after a while, both trying to catch our breath. “I want to do this Tori,” He said between breaths, his eyes earnestly watching my own. “I want to be here for you and do this together. Raise this baby together.” And just like that, I nodded, looking down at his hands on my thighs, massaging gently.

 “Okay.” I nodded again, signing off the future of my unborn child with one word.