Life in the middle-Harry Styles Fanfic AU COMPLETED

Chapter 9

"So coffee or tea?" I ask
"A cup of tea would be great, love" he answers and I find myself shocked at the word love tumbling out of his mouth. He must see my confusing by adding, "we English use the term love quite flippantly, Echo, kind of the way you Aussies say Darl" he answers.
I make two cups of tea and return to the lounge room.
He is looking at me with a hint of sarcasm.
I hand him his cup and our fingers touch again, he lets his linger while I'm in another place.
As soon as I realised I pull back instantly, and sit on the opposite couch with my tea.
"Why are you staring at me?" I question him nervously.
"Um, I'm not, I just wouldn't have picked you as a tea drinker".
"Ohh, yeah I tend to drink tea in the evening, coffee through out the day, occasionally white wine" I take a sip of my tea and he mimics my movements.
I should get this conversation started or it won't occur.
I get back up remembering I forgot to feed Jinx, how stupid, I have a routine, how did I forget?, because there is a very attractive give man in your home, answers my conscious.
"What are you doing?" Harry questions me.
"I have to feed Jinx, I'll just be a minute" I say, walking towards the kitchen.
Harry gets up and follows me. What's going on here, it feels he has been shadowing me all evening.
"So do you want to tell me about your sister?" I ask him while I feed Jinx, who purrs around Harry's slender legs.
I wash my hands and make up a small platter of cheese, dip and crackers, walking back to the lounge room, we both assume the same spots.
I watch as his face changes, his brows furrow and his forehead becomes lined.
"Well..." He starts. " She two years older then me 19 and moved here to study psychology off all things" I don't miss the sarcasm there for a moment.
"She's in a bad way, this is her first major episode with Depression, caused by a break up with her boy friend, the stress just got to her" He continues to tell me she was sent to a patient recovery unit rather then a psychiatric ward, because it would have been too confronting for her. He flew her as soon as he found out and she was released into his care and was on a cocktail of several pills, aren't we all I think quietly to myself?
"So how is she at the moment?" I press on.
"She took a semester off of her studies and does look better then when I came but I can't help feeling there is more I could do for her?"
"The fact that she has your support is wonderful, it's been proven that people who have a good support system, fair better then others"
I give him a small smile, one which he returns. He continues to tell about what he is doing for her but asks what else can he do?
I fill him in on different support people and case workers, I hand him a few flyers I have but no longer need.
Time seems to go quickly as Harry and I discuss things. I smile to myself when I realise he has a few characteristics he repeats whilst talking. He runs his hand through his messy hair, laces his fingers together and one I am liking more then I should, he plays with his lips a lot. While he does this, I can't help but lick my bottom lip and gentle bite it. Whoa Nelly, I think it's a combination of not having a male around and feeling lonely and then trying my hardest not to stare at this beautiful person in my home.
He looks at his watch and hitches his eyebrows up again whilst running his fingers through his hair. "Gee it's getting quite late" he starts. I bite my bottom lip to stop myself from staring at him.
"Oh and I didn't get to see any of your art?" He states standing up. I stand as well and the room seems smaller with him in it.
"Maybe another time? If it's ok..I mean with you?" He stammers giving me a promising look. Wow I don't know if I can do this, I mean it's been ages and my last relationship didn't end well, leaving me single for years.
I walk him to the door while Jinx follows us and meows. He bends down to give my cat a scratch on the head.
As Harry slowly stands, we are only an arms length away from one another. I feel that flipping feeling in my tummy once again and I think, this could be a perfect time to kiss him, but I come back to my reality, giving my head a shake.
He sees this and gives me a dimpled smile,
"Penny for you thoughts?" He asks me not breaking eye contact.
"Maybe some other time, besides I should have charged you a shrinks rate tonight" I smirk.
"I'll get that answer another time then,...love" He adds as I open the door. He leans in incredibly close, "Good night Echo, and thank you"
"My pleasure" I say but think this thought more deeply, "Goodnight" I answer before closing the door with a sickly sweet smile on my face.