Cherry Bomb [H.S.]

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

"Harry, are you almost ready?" I call out to him from my bedroom. "I don't want us to be late!"

He was currently in the bathroom finishing up getting ready as I slipped the post of an earring through my ear - the match already in the other lobe. Today I was scheduled to have an in person meeting with Lys to discuss the upcoming events I had - the auction and the award show. Since Harry had now agreed to perform with me, he asked if he could come along. It warmed my heart that he wanted to join us, so of course I told him that was more than okay.

"Yeah! Just have to brush my teeth and I'm done," Harry responds, and I look over myself in the mirror before throwing on a light cardigan.

We would be meeting Lys at one of the coffee shops in the city, and I have to admit, I'm a little nervous about seeing her. Although she doesn't let it interfere with us, I can tell she's still really upset about me keeping my relationship with Harry from her like I did. I feel awful about it, but I didn't do it out of spite, or because I didn't think she'd approve. It honestly just slipped my mind because I've been so wrapped up in Harry.

I'm a bit nervous about him agreeing to do the award show, not wanting him to overwhelm himself when he's still in the beginning stages of sobriety, but I have to remind myself that Harry knows himself better than anyone else. If he told me that he's ready to perform with me, then he's ready to perform. I need to stop trying to read too much into it, or protect him, when he's never made me second guess him thus far.

Slipping the strap of my purse over my shoulder, and pulling my phone out to shoot a text to Lys to let her know we were about to leave, I stand by the front door as I wait for Harry to finish up. After sending the text, I take a minute to scroll through my Instagram comments, and I can't help but smile when I see so many on my most recent post.

It was a picture that Harry had taken of me sitting in front of the microphone in my small studio space. I wasn't even aware that he was taking the photo as my eyes were closed, and I was singing, but it captures the way recording and performing my music makes me feel. As I scroll through the comments, there's several saying how excited they are for the album, and it's the first time I've had people saying they were eagerly awaiting a release from me.

"All set," Harry says as he walks over to me while I slip my phone in my purse and pull out my keys. "You look beautiful."

I blush as he presses a kiss to my cheek while giving my hip a squeeze before the two of us head out the front door.

"And you look handsome, as always," I tell him while locking up the house.

I click my fob to unlock my car, and Harry is quick to open the driver's side door for me. Rolling my eyes playfully, I return the kiss on the cheek he gave me just moments ago before slipping into my seat. I start up the car and buckle as Harry comes around, and once he's settled, I start out of the driveway and down the road.