Sage

58

Ellie.

Everyone and their mom came to Harry's single release.

Every producer, artist, and pretty much anyone involved in music who lived on the Northside was in Gale's large house, sipping on complimentary drinks and talking loudly over the generic disco tech music that boomed through the sleek speakers. I couldn't find Harry. Like the last time we were at a party here, I hadn't seen him since we arrived. The sun was setting through his large windows, where I could see people lounging in the pool area, some actually jumping in while clad in their swimwear. They had all greeted and cheered him on at some point since we'd been here and we're also sure to joke about the bandage on his forehead.

It seemed that sometimes I'd forgotten how famous this man actually was.

I tried not to take it too personally that I hadn't seen him in a while. I knew this was business and publicity for him. Paparazzi were all over the place as it was a jackpot for them. And for Harry, all he saw were business opportunities. He'd come and find me every twenty minutes or so to check how I was, peppering kisses on my forehead and saying a rushed hello to baby sweets before being tugged back by a curious reporter with a recorder before I could even acknowledge him. If not him, Gale. It didn't change the fact that I missed him, though. And Jenny pointed it out when she approached me from behind as I nursed sparkling water.

"Why the long face?" She has to raise her voice over the music. She approaches the bar next to me. My eyes were mindlessly following a waitress who made a beeline through a crowd, balancing a tray on her raised arm.

Seeing it was late August and a pool party, Jenny wore an off-white bikini, a floral cover-up skirt tied on her hip. Her curls were pinned into a bun, showcasing the glossy eyeshadow and clear gloss. On her wrist was the bracelet Niall and I got her, and on her neck, a simple golden chain on her neck.

I had no plans of getting in the pool, so I wore only a pastel green romper with stretchy fabric that held my bump well. My curls fell over my shoulder in a side part and were clipped back by golden butterfly clips that matched the bracelet on my wrist. My makeup surprisingly still felt intact, given I'd done it three hours ago.

"Where's Niall?" I answer her question with one, making her raise a brow at me knowingly as she silently orders a drink.

"He's outside... on the phone with Adrienne,"

"On the phone? Why? What happened?" I queried, taking another sip.

"I didn't hear much, but I think they're arguing. We were in the pool messing around; then his phone rang, so he jumped up and got it, then just left." She shrugged.

"How'd you know he was on the phone with Adriene?"  I knew my friends were in the pool, which is where I'd had my gaze set on until a passing waitress caught my eye. When I glanced back out, they were both gone.

"I followed him on the way in here and heard him saying her name, sounded pissed."

"Niall's never pissed," I deny. The one thing that aggravated me the most about him when we first met was that he never got upset.

"Well, he was...anyway," She sighs, mouthing a thank you to the bartender as she grabs her drink, "Where's your baby daddy?"

I roll my eyes at the nickname she'd given Harry before shaking my head.

"Probably somewhere posing for pictures or being introduced to some big label."

"Aww you sound bitter; you miss him," She nudges my shoulder and wriggles her brows.

"Is that such a bad thing? Me missing him?" I furrow my brows at her tone, not only asking her but myself. I'd been pondering the thought for thirty minutes since he'd last come to check on me. It was only natural to miss him; we lived together.