The Encounter |H.S|

58

I swing the door of my house open, Harry standing behind me as I hear voices coming from inside, turning my head to frown at him as if he knew the reason why.

After we both get inside, I close the door and hang our jackets by the door. We walk further into the house and I gasp as I see my sister sitting on my couch with Louis next to her, her wife and son sitting on the floor playing with Hazel.

"Who invited you?" I ask my sister with a grimace, watching as she rolls her eyes while I stand behind the couch with crossed arms, hearing Hazel squeal at the sight of us.

"I'm just here to-" She glances at Harry with widened eyes before letting out a loud and fake laugh, "pick Hazel up! Because she's my daughter, and I'm her mum, Sophie is as well."

"Please remind me to never trust you with something like this again." I laugh, stepping closer to Hazel and taking her in my arms before kissing her cheek, hearing Louis' laughter as I do so.

"What do you mean?" She asks, looking between me and Harry as I walk to stand next to him, Hazel immediately extends her arms so that Harry can grab her and he gladly does.

"I know about Hazel being my daughter." Harry chuckles as Hazel looks around with a grin on her lips and Norah furrows her eyebrows at me.

"Thanks for not telling me." She scoffs, pushing my shoulder playfully before Sophie and my nephew step closer to us, both smiling widely at the interaction before Aaron, my nephew, waves excitedly at me.

"Aaron! How have you been?" I ask him and he smiles brightly as Sophie pats Norah's shoulder jokingly, Louis standing up and stepping closer to me with a grin.

"Good! Mummy said I could ditch school to be here." He snickers and Norah sends him a playful glare, patting his hair with a smile before sending me a look that makes him laugh.

"Here's the thing, mum asked me to tell you this because she lost your phone number," Norah laughs and I raise an eyebrow as Louis takes Harry, Hazel and Aaron to the kitchen while Sophie follows them, "she wants to have some sort of family lunch this Saturday."

I widen my eyes, covering my mouth with my hands as she stares at me with a knowing look. I've said so many bad things about Harry to my parents, I don't think they'd be very understanding if I bring Harry along but I can't just leave him here while I take Hazel. It wouldn't be very fair.

"Norah, this can't be good," I mutter, Hazel's laughter being heard from the kitchen while Norah simply nods in agreement.

"Listen, I'll give you mum's new number and you explain whatever happened between the two of you, I'm sure she'll understand." She suggests, giving me a small piece of paper with numbers in it and I let out a breath of relief.

"I know I didn't tell you, it was all a stunt," I tell her briefly and she shakes her head in disapproval and I snicker at her actions, watching as she takes a step back.

"I understand that telling your sister isn't important! After all, it's just family." She shrugs sarcastically while we both start striding to the kitchen, where everyone is.

Louis is attempting to give Hazel food but she keeps turning her head while laughing loudly, Aaron trying to take the spoon out of his hand and I laugh at the scene in front of me.

"Alright, I'm sick of Evelyn already so let's go!" My sister exclaims, causing everyone to turn their heads to glance at her. Aaron shakes Hazel's and Harry's hand at the same time before running towards me and hugging my legs.

Louis scoffs as Aaron skips him, which causes him to audibly laugh before rushing to the front door. Sophie gives me a hug and Norah pinches my cheek with a smirk before saying goodbye to everyone else and leaving.