Stay Close [h.s.]

Chapter 12

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{Kate's Point of View}

A production assistant from The Late Late Show found me in the hallway outside the green room waiting for Harry to finish dressing. She carried a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and an iPad in the other. The radio clipped to the back of her jeans sputtered as she stopped by my side.

"Is there anything I can get you?"

"No, I don't think so," I replied. "But thank you."

She nodded. "Congratulations, by the way. I've met Harry a few times on set here at the show, and this is the happiest I've seen him."

I couldn't help but smile. "Thanks."

The door opened behind me and Harry emerged in a well-tailored navy blue suit. The dress shirt he wore beneath the jacket was unbuttoned far enough to reveal the top of the butterfly tattoo on his midsection.

"You're stunning," he said, pointing to my dress. Our stylist Sammy had found a cream-colored chiffon dress for me.

The production assistant's radio crackled again. "They're ready for you on set. Follow me, please."

Harry had been looking forward to being a guest on The Late Late Show for months. Our team had negotiated an appearance with just Harry and me, which would be the first time Harry was a guest on the show without the rest of One Direction. James Corden had befriended Harry years ago, and they had remained close ever since.

Harry grabbed my hand and pushed through the curtain as we walked onstage toward an energetic crowd. James greeted us warmly and showed us to the sofa in the middle of the set.

"Welcome, welcome," James said as he took a seat behind the desk. "Thanks for being here."

"It's our pleasure," Harry said. He rested our intertwined hands on his knee.

"You two are so cute it's almost sickening," James laughed. "Almost."

"That's what we're going for," Harry replied.

"Kate, this is your first time on The Late Late Show, welcome."

"Thanks," I said. "I'm really happy to be here."

"I have to say I'm especially excited for tonight's show because you two are some of my favorite people."

Harry grinned. "We're excited too."

"Now you two got married a few weeks ago, congratulations." James grinned. "I had the great privilege of being invited to your wedding. My wife and I flew to London and attended the ceremony and reception. We were taken by how lovely it was."

"Thanks," Harry said.

"I literally had to spend the rest of the week hearing my wife mention a detail about your wedding and sigh, 'I wish we had thought to do that at our wedding.' So thanks for that."

"You're welcome," Harry laughed. "Kate did an amazing job planning everything."

"She sure did. Typically when a bride and groom get married, people care about the bride's ring. But social media is blowing up because of a new ring you got, Harry. What's up with that?"

"Ah, yes," he smiled. "Somehow I've become a ring guy, and I've been wearing these two for a while now. These H and S rings were custom made for me a few years ago. Just before we got married, I had this K ring made to match."