Desolate - h.s. ✓

° fifty-eight °

     The following week was rather chill. Harry and I were more open about being a couple, and he even made an effort to sit with me at lunch. My friends thought he was absolutely adorable, even though he normally was just a big doofus. Rolling my eyes at the thought, I found myself getting ready to go on a jog, pulling on yoga pants and a sports bra. It was followed by tugging a tank top on, Harry texting me that he was here closer to four-thirty. I headed downstairs, answering the door to see a sweaty boy, green eyes meeting mine.

"Ready, baby?"

"I feel bad. You just exercised for two hours."

He shrugged. "I've gotta get in shape for UCLA, so I doubt an extra thirty minute jog is going to ruin me. Nodding, I grabbed two waters from the kitchen. Ethan was supposed to be hanging out with Reggie tonight, and I knew that the guy had become my brother's new go-to friend. Sighing, I handed Harry a water, the boy taking a swig quickly. I shut the door behind me, locking it and handing the key to Harry. He put it in one of his zipper pockets, the two of us starting to jog not much later.

"Jog in front of me so I can look at your arse."

"Harry!"

"What? You have such a nice arse. I just want to see it."

I told him that he was an absolute child, the curly-haired boy laughing to himself. We talked about things like school, and how our anniversary was in about two weeks. I still had no idea what to get Harry, but he told me that his gift to me was coming along well. It made me wonder what he was going to do for me, but then I figured I could go on Pinterest at some point and try to get a good idea.

"Hey. Gemma wants to know if you're busy tomorrow?"

"I'm free. Are we having dinner?"

"Yeah. If that's okay?"

I agreed, Harry nodding as we continued to jog around the neighborhood. It was a solid thirty minutes before we made it back to my house, Harry's car still in the driveway, but my father's was as well. My boyfriend grabbed his duffel bag out of the trunk, shutting it, and locking the car. He hurried to the front door, unlocking it for me and heading inside.

"Hey, Dad," I called, smiling at him on the sofa as he drank a beer.

"Hey, Mr. Coleman."

"Hi, honey. Hi, Nicole."

Harry started laughing, and I just rolled my eyes, knowing that they definitely had some stupid little man crush on one another. My boyfriend walked over to where my father was, Harry sitting on the coffee table in front of him. Sighing, I sat on the sofa beside my dad, Harry grabbing my legs and resting them on his lap without breaking eye contact with my father as he spoke.

"... was thinking about how you two are dating, and I figured maybe I could take you two out or something with Nancy. "That'd be cool, Mr. Coleman. As long as I get to sit across from you."

"Harry, shut up!" I whined, kicking his stomach lightly. "You're so embarrassing."

My dad shook his head. "I don't mind, Nikki, honest. I think it's funny actually. Plus, I've thought Harry was cool since he was a little boy, so I'd think it's only fair that we appreciate each other."

"Alright, I'll leave you two alone to talk. I'm going to get a shower."

Harry held onto my ankles, the boy working on taking my shoes off. It wasn't long before I was left in socks, leaving me to stand. Harry smiled up at me, green eyes soft. Giving a small wave, I headed for the stairs, listening to my dad talk to Harry "If you don't follow my daughter, I'll have to smack some sense into you, Harry."