Poppy/H.S

Chapter 40

It's been a couple of weeks since my first date with Harry, and honestly, a permanent smile has been tattooed on my lips ever since. I've caught myself brushing my quivering fingers over my lips way more than I'd like to admit, still feeling a trace of his passionate kisses that I can't seem to forget about. Calling Harry my boyfriend has never felt so surreal, and despite the sweet texts I receive from him every day, it's hard for me to believe we've finally found the courage to cross all the borders and admit our true feelings for one another, even though we're risking so much.

We're fully aware that our relationship can confuse Poppy, especially now that she's gotten so used to having me around. Of course, nothing will change regarding my love and appreciation to the little girl, but the thing Harry and I are afraid of the most, is a breakup that might follow, which would definitely affect Poppy the most.

It's like we're planning on breaking up, of courses not, but it's a known fact that sometimes relationships just don't work out, and it's so much harder to deal with the separation especially if there's a child involved. When dating a single parent, you have to realise the most important thing, which is that it's not just the two of you who are in a relationship. It's their children who are involved, too, and your decision can end up hurting them in the process.

Harry has mentioned I'm the first person he's been in a serious relationship with ever since Poppy was born, since he wasn't ready to start dating again after a certain event had happened to him, which I can only guess had something to do with Poppy's mother. What I adore about him is that he's very open about how much his daughter means to him, and honestly, there's nothing hotter than a man who sees his child as his first priority and always puts her first. I fully understand why he's trying to keep her out of the eye of the public, knowing very well how cruel the world can be. Every kid deserves to experience the core events of their childhood to the fullest without having any paparazzi or fans nearby.

It's actually surprising that he has still been successfully managing to keep Poppy a secret, not wanting anyone to find out what's been going on in his life. Not wanting anyone to get suspicious as to why Harry doesn't do as much interviews, concerts or events, he's carried out a whole world tour a year ago in the matter of just a few months, during which Poppy was looked after by Anne, safety in her family house in Holmes Chapel.

I shake my head, attempting to clear my thoughts, as I try to remember what happened next after our first date, even though my memories are quite hazy, since a few weeks have passed since the best time I'd ever had.

After a strong wave of pleasure has run through our bodies, pleasuring one another in such an intimate way that I never thought of, the two of us cuddled on the makeshift bed on the cold wooden floor of his studio, Harry gave me a ride back home. Even though I protested against him driving back to London from Brighton all over gain, he just smiled and brushed it off, claiming he didn't mind and that he wanted to give me some space to think over everything that had happened over the past days, knowing very well how much of a last-minute decision our date was.

"Stay," I whisper against his chest, tighting my grip around his body when he tries to pull away from our hug.

"Mum's driving Poppy back to mine early in the morning," he explains, the tone of his voice sadder than usual, running his hands up and down my back before he plants a small kiss on my forehead, "I'm so sorry, baby, but I've gotta go home tonight."

"Do you, um, do you want to tell Poppy that, you know, we, um, kind of, are dating now?" I finally address the touchy subject, knowing very well we've been avoiding talking about the consequences of today's questions.

"What do you think?" He asks me gently, tucking a single strand of my hair behind my ear as he makes me look at him, our gazes now locked, "Do you want to me to tell her?"