etc. // hs

31.

*Norah's POV*

The next weeks passed incredibly smoothly, and Harry and I moved into our gorgeous house at the beginning of April.

I was already irritated with all the boxes and unpacking and painting so when Ernie tore by me for the thirtieth time, knocking me off my feet for the tenth, I nearly lost my shit.

"Harold!" I shrieked, kicking the box of pictures aside. "Get your stupid dog to stop attacking me!"

He appeared on the second floor, shirtless and glistening with sweat, a dazzling smile on his lips. "What happened?"

"Ernie has a vendetta against me," I mumbled as I picked up the box and stuffed everything back in it.

"Princess, how can anyone have a vendetta against you? You're the most adorable thing I've ever seen."

"Don't talk to me like that," I sighed. "Would you please just come let him outside?"

He frowned. "But it's raining."

"Yeah, and?"

"He might get cold."

"I swear if you don't let that dog out, the only cold thing around here will be your dead body."

"Whoa," he laughed as he jogged down the stairs. "Chill, babe. I got it."

He walked past me and grinned, giving me a wink as he ran after the horse-sized dog that was now living with us. I loved dogs, dogs were amazing, but this wasn't a dog- this was like a freaking bear. And it certainly didn't help that he slept right in between us at night, preventing any sort of cuddling or sex for the past month. Harry wasn't even phased.

I had been replaced by a giant dog.

"Nor, come in here," Harry yelled as I heard the door slide closed and then Ernie barking outside.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm busy, Har."

"Please?"

"Harold, I'm a little preoccupied. What do you need?"

I realized that I snapped and looked up just as he leaned in the doorway, a confused expression on his perfect face.

"Sorry," I mumbled to break the silence.

"Baby, come talk to me," he pleaded with a lopsided smile. "I feel like we haven't really talked in a long time."

"Yeah, I know."

"Come sit on the couch with me, please."

I set the pictures down and followed him to the living room where there was a rug and some furniture, but the walls remained bare of paintings so it felt unfinished.

I sank onto his lap and he kissed my cheek, a light kiss that left me a little dazed. Usually his kisses were so passionate and sweet, but I hadn't felt that in so long. I missed his kisses.

"Tell me what's going on in that pretty little head."

"I'm stressed and sleepy and I don't feel well."

"Explain each one to me, princess. I want to help in any way I can."

"I'm stressed because of work and this house and Jude. I have to unpack but I also have tons of paperwork and then I see Jude every day and every single day he asks me if I found him a family. What am I supposed to say to that?"

"Say you found one," he murmured, pushing some hair back from my shoulder so he could kiss it. "You're the only family he has right now, Nor. If you ask me, he's already got the best family in the entire world."