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Chapter 156

I couldn't want you anymore
Kiss in the kitchen like it's a dance floor
I couldn't want you anymore
Tonight (Tonight, tonight, tonight)

— Harry Styles, Sunflower, Vol. 6

. . . .

The marriage discussion had fizzled out over the past several weeks. We don't discuss it, but if marriage is mentioned in any circumstance, we don't flinch, either. The conversation with him about the topic definitely alleviated the tension that enveloped me with anxiety. I still think about it sometimes, but I'm not nervous about it since he is aware that I want to wait.

Late into the night when the reception had begun to slow down, Harry and I decided it was about time to head back to the apartment since it was an hour's drive from the venue to town. I was too tired and barely wanted to remove my makeup when we got back that I crashed shortly after we walked into the building. However, Harry and I enjoyed the other's company the next morning. We got our showers then headed back home to pick up Lilly and George from Anne and Robin who had them over for the night.

Not much else has happened in the meantime. Harry's been working with his summer tutoring, and I've been staying here at the house with Lilly just trying to keep the both of us entertained for the amount of time Harry's out. I'm trying to abstain from us just watching tv all day, as also instructed by her dad, but in the limited space we have outside, it becomes monotonous after being out there for hours on end.

Today, she's been practicing for her piano lesson tomorrow on the electric keyboard Harry bought for her as long as she promised she would stick with it. She seems really into it and improving every day, but hearing Ode to Joy repeatedly hasn't been the most enjoyable background music. I just don't have the heart to tell her to switch to a different song.

Harry's been at work all morning, Lilly's practicing, and I'm cleaning around the house. I get several loads of laundry finished, every dish that's been used is washed and put away, and our bed's made. I'm not liking the traditional domestic housewife persona, but it's the least I could do for Harry since I'm technically living here for free. I offered to clean up, and he agreed.

As for tonight, Harry agreed to let the twins stay the night since Mason's been restless the past two nights and stayed up crying. I told Bonnie to drop the twins off at around now at 3:30, which is around the time Harry will be home from work. They added an afternoon tutoring class, so now Harry has longer hours, which he's grateful for.

The door opens, and Harry walks in carrying two reusable shopping bags with his backpack behind him. He drops them off on the counter, then wraps his arms around me. He welcomes me with a kiss then begins pulling out produce to set aside for dinner. Lilly walks into the kitchen from her bedroom but doesn't make it past her father without him scooping her up. He kisses the side of her head and asks her how her day went. He lets her sit on the island counter to talk about her day while we put the groceries away.

He helps her down from the counter to go into the living room to listen to her play Ode to Joy for him. Midway through her second time playing it, the doorbell rings. I walk over and pull open the door; Bonnie and the twins on the other side of the threshold.

"Hey, Bonnie," I smile at her and welcome her inside. The kids run ahead with their backpacks strapped to their bodies.

"Hi, Violet. Thank you so much for letting them stay over. They didn't get much rest last night, so I'm sure there won't be an issue with getting them to bed."

She follows me in and sets Mason's carrier on the floor. Lilly finishes up the last note on her beloved song and is overwhelmed with love and support from her dad and Bonnie. The twins discard their backpacks on the couch and start pulling toys out of the main compartments. Lilly leaves the keyboard and runs around the couch to play with Leia and her Barbies.