champagne problems: short story [h.s.]

11 - mom's ring in your pocket

"your mom's ring in your pocket
my picture in your wallet"

December 2021

Things weren't okay.

They haven't been fighting or anything. But still things weren't okay between the two. Harry was acting like everything was fine for the most part. A month since they had sex and Wisteria broke down afterwards, he had been acting like it never even happened. He didn't question it further. He was trying desperately to get things back to the way they were before.

Wisteria had given herself a month to fix whatever was wrong with her. To shake the uneasy feeling in her gut. And in that month, and after trying so very hard to make things go back to normal, she couldn't fully get herself there.

Of course there were days that were better than others. Days when she was happier than ever. Days where things between the two felt like they had back in college. But there were also days where Wisteria questioned everything she was doing, and she wondered if she was doing the wrong thing by essentially leading Harry on, only to break his heart after all this.

But she loves him and she wants things to work out between them. She doesn't want to have to let him go because something is wrong with her. But she doesn't want to drag him down either. And if that means letting him go after all these years, then so be it.

"This place is lovely," she says as her eyes are wide while she looks around the fancy restaurant Harry took them too. He planned the whole thing for them. First told Wisteria to wear the dress she feels the most beautiful in. Next, they rode the train instead of driving and lastly, he booked a table at one of the fanciest restaurants ever. "How did you even get a reservation?"

Wisteria was trying to act as happy as she could, even though it felt like there was brick at the bottom of her stomach as she thought about how this was their last night together. She couldn't keep dragging Harry down.

Harry just wasn't making it easy on her by taking her here.

"I called a month in advance," he replies at the same moment their waiter comes back with a bottle of champagne.

Dom pérignon.

The drink became a staple between the two since that night in Harry's dorm room where the got drunk together. Back when things weren't so muddy and they were just two college kids getting to know each other and falling in love.

"Hey," Wisteria calls after the waiter who just walks away after each pouring the glass instead of asking them if they are ready to order.

Harry takes her hand to get her to look back at him with a soft smile.

"Wisteria," he says and stands up from his chair, essentially having her get up from her chair as well.

What is he doing? She thinks to herself and she begins to panic because what if Harry has beaten her to the punch and is breaking up with her. She doesn't want him to.

"W-what are you doing?" she asks as they stand to the side of their table, face to face and they gather the attention of a fellow guests sitting around them. Loving looks and shocked expressions on their faces like they all know what is happening right now.

"Wisteria," Harry release a breath with smile. The kind of smile that reaches his eyes and carves his dimple into his cheek. "You are the love of my life and I am so glad that Niall literally pushed me in your direction at the start of freshman year. Because if he didn't then I would have never met you and I never would have started to fall in love with you right then and there-"