MORE (Completed)

Chapter 6

"That was really sweet of him..." I murmur as I fill the only vase in the room with the bouquet. My fingers brush gently over the petals. He feels bad we missed out on diving. Thoughtful, considerate—unexpected.

"Sweet?" Liz snorts.

"That's not bloody sweet, Ashley. In the real world, that's called flirting. Sweet, my ass." She throws herself onto the bed, leaning back on her elbows like a sage dropping truth bombs.

"He's just being polite. The vouchers were his way of making up for hijacking the session—it was thoughtful, that's all." I try to sound sure. I want it to be simple. Uncomplicated.

"If it's that simple, then why wasn't my name on the envelope?" she shoots back.

I blink. "I don't know, Liz. Maybe because I'm the team lead? The representative? Maybe because I called you to help Liam? You're reading way too much into it."

"Okay, Ashley. You take it however you want. But I'm just calling it like it is." She flips on the TV and zones out.

I try to focus on my laptop, but guilt creeps in. I never thanked Harry.

"Can I get Harry's number?" I ask.

Without looking away from the screen, Liz tosses her phone toward the edge of the bed. "Same password," she mumbles.

I find his contact in seconds and switch to my phone.

A: Hey Harry! This is Ashley. Thank you for the flowers and the vouchers. That was really thoughtful of you. I appreciate it!

His reply comes back almost immediately.

H: Hi Ashley! I'm glad you liked them. Soooooo...

I smile.

A: Soooooo what?

H: What time should we meet tomorrow?

A: ?

H: For the diving thing. 😁

A: Oh, that. Ten-ish?

H: You thought you were going alone with Elizabeth, didn't you?

A: Yes. Hahahaha.

H: NOT A CHANCE!!! See you tomorrow at ten at the Splash, Ash. See? That rhymes.

I shake my head, amused. Ash. Nobody's ever called me that.

"He's joining us tomorrow for the diving," I tell Liz. "Well, they are. Ten o'clock."

"I figured from the note," she replies, eyes still on the TV.

"You did?"

"Course. He wouldn't miss it."

She finally looks at me and smirks.

I fight a smile. I really try.

The next morning, we meet Harry and Niall down at Splash. No sign of Liam or Louis, but I'm impressed—Liz manages to keep her drooling to a minimum.

Niall, now in a tank top, looks more defined than he did in a tee. But Harry? Harry's something else. He's effortless. His hair is pulled back in a low bun, and he's wearing white swim trunks and Ray-Bans. Same style as mine. I hate that I noticed.

They both greet us with warm smiles and kisses on the cheek.

"You have a thing for bandanas, don't you?" Harry says, grinning.