Me Or Him [Harry Styles Fanfiction]

Chapter One

The work day flew by and the sun was almost set behind the skyline. There was enough paper work, phone calls, and virtual meetings to keep me busy and my mind focused today. But I found myself zoning out during my last meeting of the night. Dread set over as I realized that I was running out of work to do, and I couldn't stay in my office all night. I had to go home eventually.

It has been two days since I've been home. Yesterday, I met Charlene during lunch at a restaurant. I felt bad for bringing them down and then leaving abruptly, even under the circumstances. So when she invited me to lunch, alone (she had assured me), I felt that it was the least I could do.

We chatted for two hours and tried our best to dodge talking about all that happened the night before. But eventually, we had to acknowledge that night. So, we did. We talked.

"I am sorry about my grandson." She looked down at her hands that were fidgeting on the table. "We did not raise him like that. To commit adultery." She whispered the last part.

I didn't know what to say most of the conversation. I let her talk.

She untwined her hands and reached for my left hand, grabbing my fingers and spreading them apart. She placed my ring finger onto her palm and slowly inspected the ring, that I still wore.

"It is a gorgeous diamond." She said. "And for such a gorgeous girl." I smiled sadly at our hands, admiring the diamond with her. I then sighed and nodded my head, trying to keep any bursts of emotions inside.

"Ann?" She pulled her hands away and set them in front of herself again. "You aren't thinking of breaking off the engagement, are you?"

"I don't know." I answered honestly.

"Ann..." She trailed off. She pressed her lips tightly together before speaking again. "He is a good man, you understand?"

I nodded.

"Good men, well, they still have flaws." She tried to justify. I put my hands to my side now, hiding the ring from my sight. "It doesn't make what he did right, it doesn't make it easy to forgive. But, it doesn't make them a bad man when they mess up."

I focused on the table and zoned out on the empty cups of coffee in front of us. I wish I had ordered water, because my mouth was beginning to dry.

"Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?". I shook my head no, eyes still drawn to the table. "A good man is worth it. Try your best to forgive him, to work it out." She leaned forward and stretched her arms out across the table again, gesturing for me to grab her hands. I didn't move. My vision blurred, her arms looked like an abstract painting.

She sighed and retracted her arms. I heard her chair squeak and the rustle of her purse. She got up and walked to my side, then rested her hand on my shoulder. "Think about what I said, Dear Ann. Me and John are concerned about you two." Before she walked away, she added quietly, "He still love's you, Annabell." The tears that had blurred my vision, finally fell.

I hadn't thought much about everything since that night. I kept it at the back of my mind, focusing on work instead of my problems at home. Even at my hotel room, I slept more than I allowed myself to think. But now, as the day has winded down and was coming to the end, there was nothing left to think about.