CASUAL • Harry Lewis/w2s

four

I was feeling pretty good after several of the bourbon lemonades Harry made me and since the champagne buzz had still not completely worn off. Naturally, I enjoyed their company and was more talkative than usual because these were some of my closest friends. I'd just gotten myself a large glass of wine when Talia came up to me.

"Simon and I are going home. Do you want a ride?"

"You don't live anywhere near me, and I don't want you to go out of your way, I'll just get my own ride home," I said, a little irritated that she was leaving so quickly. "Thanks, though."

She and Simon walked out, followed immediately by a couple of other people. It looked like the after-party was ending. Time to hail an Uber, it seemed. I took my purse from the place I had placed it on the dining room table and took out my phone.

It was dead.

"Fuck," I muttered under my breath.

"You okay?" Harry asked from behind me. I turned around and saw him putting the alcohol away in the kitchen.

"My phone has died. Would you mind if I gave it a quick charge? I have to order a ride."

Harry pointed to a charger lying behind an almost empty fruit bowl. I walked towards it and plugged my phone in. Hopefully, it would wake up quickly.

I jumped up onto the kitchen counter sitting there while I waited.

Harry had left the kitchen, walking back out into the living room. I could hear him talking with the last couple of guests, though I couldn't make out who it was.

Not long after he was back in the kitchen. Harry had been drinking quite heavily with Callum since the second we got to his flat. His drunkenness had worn off a bit, but he still stumbled around not being able to walk in a straight line.

"They were the last,"

I looked closely at Harry and noticed how tired he looked. I genuinely felt horrible that I was putting him out by staying after the party had broken up.

"I'll be out in just a second. I don't know why it's taking so long," I said apologetically.

He walked over to me and reached for the charger. Like the night on the balcony, he was again so close that I could smell him. And he still smelled just as good. He held up the other end to show me it wasn't plugged into the socket and almost immediately the Apple logo popped up on my phone.

That explained why it wasn't charging.

I looked up from my phone to see Harry who was leaning against the opposite counter. He looked just as good as usual. Looked good but exhausted. His hair was still a mess and he still had his glasses on. He was wearing his glasses more often now, and they were a great fit for him.

"You look beautiful tonight," He said as I laid my phone down to let it get some battery. "I should have told you earlier."

"Thanks, Harry,"

He took a few steps towards me. My knees were now only inches away from his torso. My pulse was rising and my heart was beating more quickly. The vibe had fully changed. For a few agonising moments, we simply stood there with our eyes locked. I broke mine away but they fell on his lips which was not much better.

"Maisie, I really want to kiss you," He said softly.

My entire body felt an electric shock from his words. Looking at him, I saw that what he'd just said was accurate. His gaze was hungrily fixed on me. The odd thing was that all of a sudden, all I wanted was for him to do it. I desired a kiss from him. I knew this was absurd. I was in complete disbelief at what was happening at the moment. All I could think about was how much I wanted him as he stood in front of me, his face twisted into a look that screamed frustration and lust.