Poppy {H.S}

Chapter 52

I raise the phone to my ear, praying that Jeff will pick up, since I haven't been able to reach Harry. I also haven't managed to make Poppy stop crying; her silent sobs are tearing my heart apart. She's sat on the sofa and watched my every move intensively, knowing that everything depends on what Jeff will tell me once he answers the phone.

He picks up on the third ring, making my anxiety grow, "Hello?"

I only spoke to him a few times after Harry's house got broken into, since it was more professional to file suit against that stalker in the assistance of Harry's manager, as all the tabloids were covering the story. I hope he still remembers me even though it's been months since that unfortunate situation and as of right now, I have absolutely no idea if he knows Harry and I are dating.

"Hi Jeff, it's Valentine Nova," I introduce myself to him properly, hoping that my name will ring a bell, "Harry's lawyer and-"

"Girlfriend, yeah, he's already updated me on that one," he chuckles, making my anxiety vanish gradually, "He's mentioned you're babysitting Poppy for him today."

I didn't know Harry had updated his manager on his new relationship status, but the longer I think about it, the more sense it actually makes. What is more, he's spared me the embarrassment of explaining our new relationship situation to him.

"I was actually planning to call you but then I realised I must have lost your number or something," he quickly adds, "So I'm really fucking glad you're calling right now," he sighs.

His confession makes my stomach twist, sensing something bad must have happened.

"Is everything alright?" I question him immediately, wondering why he wanted to reach out to me first, although unsuccessfully, since it sounded rather odd, "Is Harry okay?" I ask him impatiently, demanding answers.

"Harry's freaking out," he states, "And by saying that, I actually mean he's had about two anxiety attacks so far, or at least I think that's what they were."

"Oh my goodness," I breathe out, shock evident on my face, "Is he alright now?"

I whisper my words of concern, not wanting Poppy to eavesdrop on the conversation. I'm sure she would be scared that something could have happened to her father.

"Yeah, he's got a bit better, I think," he assures me, "He's been asking for you and Poppy nonstop, but he didn't want to call you himself because he didn't want you to worry about him," he specifies.

"Poppy's been the same," I let him know, keeping my voice low, "She won't stop crying and keeps asking to see him, which is why I'm calling. She's also decided to skip her recital. I can't calm her down, I'm afraid. I've been trying to reach Harry but he's not picking up," I ramble, hoping he could help me.

"He says he's got it all under control now, so I guess he might have just been nervous and that could have triggered the attacks," he thinks out loud, "Or it could have been the fact that he's spending Father's Day without Poppy for the first time, since it's also something he'd mentioned tonight."

I knew he'd blame himself for missing her recital. However, I didn't think it could be this severe.

"Do you think you could give him the phone?" I ask him for a favour, "Poppy would like to come to Wembley and watch his set, I wanna know if he's okay with that first."

"Listen, Valentine," he clears his throat, "Judging from the state he was in earlier, I think he would definitely like to have you here," he says, taking me by surprise.

"A-are you sure?" I ask him, not wanting to risk it, "I don't want to-"

"Yeah, but I won't tell him you're coming in case you get stuck in traffic, since the roads are fucking crazy," he explains before he adds, "He'd be freaking out even more in case you don't get here in time before he needs to get on stage, since he'd be scared something might have happened to you on the road to the stadium."