Road Trip

37-What Are The Odds?

"Jessica?" Harry called out tentatively. He easily brushed aside a leafy branch. "Jessica, where are you?" He called once again. After a few moments, he heard quiet sniffling. He veered to his left, towards the sound. He ducked under a rather large tree limb and emerged into a small clearing, just as Jessica pulled on a new shirt.
"Sorry!" Harry quickly averted his eyes. "I didn't mean to intrude."
Jessica whirled around, hastily flashing him a quick smile. "Don't worry, I was just finished."
Slowly, Harry brought his eyes to meet Jessica's and smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry about everything that happened before." He began. "Grabbing you and throwing you into the lake."
Jessica shrugged. "It's not a big deal. Don't worry about it."
"But you specifically said that you didn't want to go swimming with us and we decided to play that joke on you anyways and I'm really sorry."
Jessica laughed. "Harry, really it wasn't that big a deal. In fact," she added. "It was kinda funny."
"Please don't be mad at me or TJ. We meant well I-wait did you say it was funny?" Harry looked at her hopefully.
Jessica nodded her head, smiling. "It was. And to be honest, it was kinda fun being thrown in."
"So you're not mad?" Harry asked incredulously.
Jessica shook her head. "No of course not! I probably woulda done the same thing to any one of y'all if the roles were reversed."
Harry chuckled, relieved. "Well let's get back to the other two so we can get back on the road."
"Yeah, or else we'll never hear the end of TJ's complaining." Jessica rolled her eyes.

****

"Y'all two lovebirds okay again?" TJ called as she spotted Jessica and Harry breaking through the thicket of trees.
"We're peachy!" Harry chirped, his dimples prominent as he grinned at Jessica. She laughed and shook her head.
"Get a room!" Niall yelled jokingly. Harry raised an eyebrow mischievously before suddenly wrapping a strong arm around her waist and another supporting her back, dipping her low and staring deep into her eyes, before swooping her back up and pressed her into his chest. Harry could feel the fast thumping of Jessica's heart as he held her close. Harry licked his pink lips before opening his mouth to speak.
"Hey, two can play at that game!" Niall yelled out, effectively breaking the trance-like state Jessica and Harry were in. She hastily took a step back to distance her body from Harry's and crossed her arms over her chest and looked over to where TJ and Niall were.
She gestured for Harry to do the same. He reluctantly tore his gaze away from Jessica and glanced over at Niall and TJ. He chuckled and shook his head. "Niall is so childish, he makes everything into a game." They watched as the two were lip locked, limbs tangled in a passionate embrace.
"Alright Niall, you win! Now can you both please save it for later so we can get on the road!" Harry yelled as he and Jessica hopped into the front two seats of the jeep.
Niall chuckled as he and TJ finally broke apart. He grinned down at TJ before opening the car door and climbing in after her.
"Onward to Texas!" TJ cried dramatically, as Harry revved the engine.

****

"It's getting pretty late Harry. Do you wanna stop somewhere for the night?" Niall asked Harry quietly, his fingers absent-mindedly running through TJ's soft, ebony curls. He stared lovingly down at her serene face, as she slept peacefully in his lap.
"Yes, we need to, our girls are fast asleep and they need a bed." Harry mused, glancing at Jessica, who curled her long limbs into a ball. He leaned over and brushed a strand of hair behind her ears, his fingers lingering on her skin longer than necessary, before reattaching themselves back to the wheel.
"Our girls," Niall said quietly, a small smile spreading across his lips. "I like the sound of that."
"Yeah, me too." Harry said, more to himself than to Niall.
They continued to drive until they saw the twinkling lights of Arlington. They drove aimlessly for a bit before turning onto South East Street.
"Hey! Let's stop for a second, I could really use a drink...or seven." Niall said excitedly.
Harry sighed. "Do we really need to?"
Niall gasped incredulously. "What da hell? 'Course we do! Is that even a question?" He scoffed. "I haven't drank in ages!"
Harry rolled his eyes before pulling into a parking spot." "Well come on then. Let's make it quick, we don't want the girls to wake up and we're gone."
Gingerly, Niall slipped out from under TJ and placed her gently on the seat before bouncing out of the car excitedly.
"Kool Keg eh? This place even has a bloody brilliant name too!" Niall chuckled, his clear blue eyes sparkling.
Harry shook his head and smiled. "What the hell, let's go get some liquor." Niall let out a whoop of joy before staving into the store.