Heat - Harry Styles

nineteen

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*

Once again I found myself running along the uneven Charleston sidewalks, eager to rid myself of the stress that I had taken over my body. I had made up my mind. Today would be the day that I told my parents about Harry. Last night scared me. For a moment, I thought that I might lose him over the opinion of my parents. Can you imagine that? Almost twenty two and still letting my parents run my life.

I slowed my pace as I approached Harry's front door. Without much thought, I banged my fist across the wooden door. I waited for a few moments with no response, so I banged once again. Finally, I could hear Harry's heaving footsteps through the thin windows.

He squinted as he opened the door, sleep still in his eyes. "Jesus Sloane, it's not even seven o'clock."

"I'm sorry," I said as I brushed past him and into his kitchen. "I just couldn't wait to talk to you." At this point, I was practically pacing around his house. I'd hyped myself up so much for this day and I felt like if I stopped moving, I'd lose all of my confidence.

"Listen," he said as he grabbed me by the shoulders, gently forcing me to face him, "I'm sorry about last night. I should have never let you leave. I know that you didn't really sign up for all of my complications. I hope you can forgive me."

This caught me off guard, at this point I felt like I was the one who needed to do some groveling. "Harry, please don't apologize. The way that I came at you last night was totally uncalled for and completely unfair. You were right. This is on me. This is my fault. I have the power to change things and I haven't done it."

He wrapped me in his arms and I rested my head on his bare chest, taking in his scent. Even first thing in the morning he still smelled like sandalwood and vanilla. "Promise me that we'll never go to bed angry again," he said gently.

"I promise," I said as I looked back up at him. He gave me a quick peck on my forehead and squeezed me one more time before releasing me.

"Now what did you come all this way to tell me?" he asked as he sat down at the kitchen island. He looked a little more chipper than he had before, but he definitely wasn't a morning person. He was still half asleep.

"I'm going to tell my parents. Today," I said confidently.

His green eyes got wide and a smile took over his face. That definitely woke him up. "Are you serious?" he asked.

"I'm serious," I assured him. "I can't let this loom over our relationship for another day."

"Okay," he chuckled. "What's your plan?"

"I'm thinking that I should take them out to lunch and tell them," I began. "And I'll tell them all about you and maybe show them a photo or two. If all goes well, I was thinking that maybe you could come over for dinner? Mom loves when I cook. Does that sound okay?"

I looked at Harry with hopeful eyes. I know that I'd just dumped a ton of information on him first thing in the morning but I also knew that the only way I'd win my parents over was if Harry came in and charmed them himself. He was impossible not to like, right?

"Sloane," he started, "that sounds amazing. I can't wait to meet them."

* *

I smoothed my napkin nervously as I sat at lunch with my parents. I'd gotten us a table at my dad's favorite restaurant. It was a beautiful room with tall ceilings and large windows that overlooked one of the busiest and most beautiful streets in Charleston. Sweetgrass fans spun on the ceiling, helping to dissipate the Charleston heat. My parents were perusing the menu even though I could tell you exactly what they would order. They ordered the same thing everytime, but always pretended they might 'switch it up' – as they would say.