Malefactor [H.S.]

70

I'm beginning to think that Harry didn't actually have anything solid planned for tonight and that he's currently scrambling to come up with an idea. We've been in his car for almost two hours now, driving west, I think. I don't know, I'm not good with directions. All I know is that we're nowhere near the city anymore.

We're somewhere in New York state, farmland slowly being taken over by mountain ranges. I have absolutely no idea what we're doing or where we're headed, with our differences in outfits exacerbating the issue. I'm wearing a dress and he has on a pair of his usual black jeans and just a t-shirt. It's not like he told me I needed to dress up. In fact, he almost kind of tried to discourage me from the idea of wearing a dress, but I was very adamant about it. I haven't worn one since I was attacked and if there's ever a night I want to wear one, it's for our anniversary. I specifically asked him if wearing a dress would inhibit whatever activity he has planned for us, and when he said no, I stuck with what I had on.

Also adding to my confusion? The fact that we're not sitting in his Tesla right now, which, quite frankly makes no sense. I know Harry has multiple cars but ever since he bought his Tesla, it's all he ever drives around in. Even the SUV he owns that Russ used to cart us around in, back when we first started hanging around, is seldom used anymore. But tonight, when we emerged from the lobby to the sight of a running car waiting for us out front by the valet, I was confused to discover a silver Mercedes parked there.

I made a joke about Niall lending it to us for the night even though his is white. Harry shook his head, guiding me into the car with a hand on my back. When he got in and peeled out onto the road, he explained that it's one of his cars he doesn't use that often. I simply nodded, wishing now that I had bothered to be a bit more nosy and ask why he decided to switch things up tonight.

It's almost kind of weird to be in a normal, non-smart car for once. He's the only person that ever really drives me anywhere so I've become very accustomed to the Tesla, finding it somewhat disorienting to not have a giant glorified iPad in the center.

The repetitive click of the blinker as we merge off the interstate and onto the exit ramp brings me back to reality. My eyes flit up to that of my boyfriend, his eyes briefly swiping over to me before they return to the act of turning onto a regular road. He gives me a small smile, his fingers that are resting on my knee squeezing it a little.

"You're not tired anymore, are you?"

I shake my head. I took a two-hour nap at home before he woke me up, and then I ended up falling asleep again in the car. I don't think the second one lasted as long, but considering I don't know what time I fell asleep, I can't say for sure how long I was out.

"No, I think I slept enough that it'll be a problem trying to sleep tonight," I admit, knowing this is a particular problem we've been trying to avoid lately. My nightmares have lessened with each passing day but things still aren't great, the fear that I'm going to have one being deterrent enough to keep me awake.

"It's okay," he assures me, dragging his hand further up my leg. He gently rubs the skin there, a warmth taking over my stomach. "It's probably gonna be a long night anyway by the time we get back to the city."

So we aren't staying out here. That was one of my theories; him wanting to do something outside of the city and embrace the peace and quiet of the country.

Picking his hand up from my thigh, I intertwine his fingers with mine. "Aren't you gonna be tired though? Is it safe to drive like that?"

"I'll live," he nonchalantly shrugs, accelerating as we begin to move up a steeper incline now that we're on backroads.

"What if I drive?" I propose, his head whipping around so fast you'd think I just said something absolutely ludicrous.

"Yeah, no. I value my life—and yours—too much to let you do that," he smirks.