50 Shades Freed

Chapter 17

I sit on the couch going over the work from the previous week. My birthday was slowly approaching and I knew that Harry would be planning something. I didn't fully understand why he insisted on celebrating since I was fine with a simple cupcake and a candle. But we all know that Harry doesn't listen to me. Never has never will.

I sigh and lay my head back against the couch shutting my computer. I stand up going into the kitchen trying to figure out what was taking Harry so long to come home. He said that he and Taylor had some things to go over, not that they explained what that meant. I grab some water from the fridge and sit at the counter, watching as Ms. Jones cleaned around the kitchen.

"I hear that your birthday is slowly approaching Mr. Styles"

"It is, but I wish that Harry wouldn't stress it as much as he is"

"You are turning 23"

"It will be the same as any other day"

"Well Mr. Styles clearly doesn't see it the way that you do"

"Clearly"

I hear the sound of the new alarm system that Harry had installed go off signaling that Harry's home. I wave farewell to Ms. Jones and go to greet my husband. As I walk into the living room I can clearly see that Harry isn't in the best of moods.

"Harry what's wrong?"

"I don't want to talk about it" He shrugs his coat off and I quickly pick it up placing it on the coat hanger where it should be. I grab hold of his hand before he can escape up the steps to his office.

"Talk to me"

"I said that I don't want to fucking talk about it" He snaps pulling his hand away from mine before going up the steps. I quickly pull my hand back looking down a bit.

"Today wasn't a good day" Taylor says placing his hand on my shoulder.

"Tell me what happened"

"We went to see...uh Adam" My eyes widen and my mind flashes to staring down the barrel of the pistol he had pointed to my head. Why the fuck would he be going to see him?

"And what happened?"

"He refused to let me in the room with him. I have no idea to be honest with you Mr. Styles."

I shake my head not sure if I should attempt to Harry or not. I decide that it would be in my best interest to let him to come me when he's ready.

Hours pass, and Harry and I have yet to speak. I wanted to give him his space but I couldn't wrap my mind around what could have possibly happened to make him so upset. Is Adam not getting better? Is he gone? Dead? Alive?

So many questions...

Questions that Harry isn't answering.

I sit down on the bed going through the wedding book looking over the fond memories we had been able to capture. I smile flipping from page to page, and slowly my mood seems to lift. As much as I want Harry to talk to me I know that I can't force him to do so. I shut the book placing it back on the side of the bed where we normally kept it.

I lie my head down on my pillow preparing to take a small nap before dinner. I hear the sound of the bedroom door opening but I don't move. I hear soft footsteps coming towards me and I move over a bit knowing that he's going to be sitting down next to me.

"I'm sorry I've been ignoring you all day. It's been a long and stressful day" He rubs my back gently and I shake  my head not wanting to become putty in his hands. Not yet at least. I move away from him and he grabs hold of my waist tugging me back. "Babe..." 

"Why did you go to see Adam today and not tell me?" 

"Because I knew that you wouldn't approve of me doing so" 

"And what do I have to go through when I do something you won't approve of?" I choose to sit up and face him. He knows my hesitance about Adam and yet he chooses to keep something like this from me. He would have had to know that this would backfire on him. 

"I just wanted to check on him. I haven't seen him since I put him in that place...and he resents me for it. He hates it there Niall" 

"He tried to kill me!" I can't seem to keep my voice down. Has he forgotten all the hell that man has put both of us through? Or that fact that he had a gun inches from my face? And he still has sympathy for him as if he's the victim in this situation. 

"Yes I know that Niall. But he wasn't in the right state of mind to handle all of that" He continues and I stand up from the bed. 

"I'm not gonna sit here and listen to this" He stands up from the bed trying to stop me and I shake my head pushing him away from me. "I'm going to stay at Liam's. You can go spend the rest of the day with Adam" I walk past him and go downstairs walking towards the door. 

"Niall wait!" He yells over the railing I take a small breath before turning and looking up at him. "You'll come back right?" There were many things that I wanted to say to him in that moment, words seemed to fill my mind as if it were its own personal dictionary. 

With all those words filling my heads I decided that the best response to that would be silence. I turn back around and Taylor follows me to the car opening the door for me. 

"Mr. Styles" Taylor says to me as I climb into the car

"Yes Taylor?" 

"You will be back won't you? He isn't the same without you" 

"It's only for the night. Keep him in one piece please. Call me if you can't handle him" I look up at him and smile before telling the driver the address that I wanted to go to. 

"Was I wrong for leaving Liam?" I looked up to Liam and he shook his head no. 

"No of course not, he's not thinking about you. He seems to be looking out for the wrong people." He hands me a coffee mug and I sip from it slowly. 

"I don't know...He's been calling nonstop. I have yet to answer" 

"And leave it that way. Don't let him get away with treating you like this" He shakes his head placing his hand on my knee.

"Your birthday is coming soon. You don't need this time on your mind" 

He has a point. 

"I'll be going home tomorrow"