Sweet Tooth [HS]

TWENTY EIGHT

One day later.

The next morning, after what seemed like hours of passionate, hungry lovemaking in Harry's four-poster-bed, it was eventually time for them to get up.

Harry reluctantly stood up and padded into the bathroom to shower, and Max lay back for a moment. Looked up at the high ceiling and around at the room that she found herself in. The French windows were wide open, and she relaxed hearing the birds in the oak trees outside. Bright morning sunlight draped the room, sort of making everything sparkle. Sort of made everything glow as it rested there. It was like a dream. Like some high-school fantasy, as she sunk into the silky sheets beneath her.

She couldn't believe this was real.

Couldn't believe that she was here, little old Max, in this beautiful room with this beautiful boy.

Couldn't believe the words that Harry had said to her yesterday. The rearranged flights; the reassurance that he wanted more than just her body; the I care about you. I care about you so much.

It was like she'd been blind, like she'd been inside a dark cave and Harry, with that velvet voice and his smile that looked like stars, and his eyes that were made of magic- he had shown her the light. She could finally see.

And so Max squealed like a child. Her face broke out into this stupid, crazy smile and she thundered her legs down onto the mattress like a teenager.

She didn't know if she'd ever been happier in her entire life.

She felt like pieces of her heart were thawing, like the brokenness and the uncertainty and the confusion had disappeared and now she was springing up in this new feeling of completeness.

Taking a deep, welcome breath Max sat up. Looked over to the bedside table and grabbed her phone from where it had been flung the night before.

There were dozens of texts from Lexie lighting up her phone screen, and feeling like she was in a daze Max dialed her number.

"Hello?" Came her best friend's voice, "You ok, Max? You better have bloody spoken to-"

"He cares, Lex. Properly. He actually does."

Max didn't recognise her own voice. Didn't know this sound that was all light and fresh and new coming out of her mouth, that actually kind of hurt from all of Harry's kisses.

Lexie was quiet for a while, and when she spoke Max could just tell she was smirking. All smug, all knowing, all I told you so.

"And what did I tell you, Mackenzie? I fucking knew it!" Lexie's voice sounded like she was smiling. "I'm so happy for you, Max. I am, truly."

Max sighed in relief. She knew Lexie would be, but it was so nice having someone supporting her like she did.

"Oh, Lex, I'm just- I feel stupid. I'm so dense. He said all this stuff about changing flights to see me and how he's been coming back to me all these years. And- I don't know. I just thought he never cared, you know? But he does. He really fucking does." She was almost panting in delight. "I'm just so happy."

Lexie giggled, "Who the fuck are you and what have you done with Max?"

"Lex, stop," Max giggled too. "I'm already a sap."

"You always were, loser. Oh Harry doesn't care about me. Oh Lexie, I love him so much. Oh what do I do, blah fucking blah," Lexie mocked teasingly.

"Stop. I do not sound like that."

"Oh yes you do."

Max was silent, couldn't even be angry at Lexie if she tried. She was too happy right now. Too dazed to feel anything other than this bliss, this utter contentedness.