Shoot or lose

8

July 11th - 1995
New Jersey

Angel

"Holy shit!" Lilith exclaims, spinning around with her arms outstretched. "This place is huge! And so fancy!"

As much as I didn't want to go around bragging about it, I couldn't keep this secret from my best friends. It was the first thing I told them as soon as we started our shift yesterday, and they insisted on coming to visit today.

Rebeka whistles appreciatively. "Girl, you could fit our apartment in here twice! I can't believe Harry bought this for you."

I roll my eyes, leaning against the kitchen counter. "I know, right? The guy who loves to piss me off just decided to play fairy godfather by buying me a luxury apartment. Makes total sense."

Beka raises an eyebrow. "And you're okay with this? What's the catch?"

They know me better than anyone, so obviously they know that I wouldn't have accepted something of this magnitude unless I was genuinely desperate. However, they are unaware of this fact. They don't know my reasons for accepting; they only think it's connected to the bet.

I shrug, taking a sip of wine to buy time. "I don't know," I admit finally. "It's weird, but also really...nice. I don't have it in me to argue about this."

Lilith nods, understanding etched on her face. "Well, at least you're not living in that shoebox anymore."

"Wow thank you for the shade. But actually, why do you guys think he did this?"

Lilith giggles as she plops down on the plush couch. "Maybe he's trying to make up for all the extra hours he made you do?"

Rebeka smirks, joining her. "Or maybe he's got a secret crush on you. You know what they say about boys picking on the girls they like."

I snort, shaking my head. "Please Beka. Harry and a crush? On me? He's got a fiancée, remember?"

He has a fiancée. I have to remind myself of that fact every single day that I need to endure his beautiful face.

Rebeka waggles her eyebrows. "Doesn't mean he can't have a little side interest. I bet he's hoping you'll invite him over for a housewarming party and things will escalate..."

He did hold my hand, and touched my hair. But at the same time he also said it was complicated, but how complicated can it be really? Aren't they supposed to get married and have children? What is the confusion there?

If his stupid actions happen to be based on attraction in another woman other than his own after all, I'll have to slap some sense into that boy.

I'm not about to be a home wrecker. No thank you.

I groan, biting my tongue. "No way. Harry Styles doesn't strike me as the sneaky affair type. He is french, guys. French people are classy not messy.

Beka leans back, grinning mischievously. "He is also half English....imagine having him show up at your door late at night with a bottle of wine and that gorgeous smirk."

I interrupt her with a laugh. "Would probably end with me kicking him out and telling him to go home to his fiancée."

Who am I kidding? I would have to have a lot of self control to be able to reject a man like that.

Lilith nods vigorously. "I'm with beka on this one. I mean, why else would he go to all this trouble if not for...?"

"Pussy"

I sigh, walking over to join them on the couch. "Honestly, who cares? All I know is that I've got a killer apartment now, thanks to Mr. Arrogant."

Rebeka jumps up, heading toward the large windows. "And look at this view! You can see the whole city from here!" Lilith just as excited, jumps right after Beka and joins her by the window.