a stirring invitation: (dear Harry Styles)

to choose.

I waited until I heard Detective Ramirez call for me to come out of the bathroom- I was terrified to see Kyle.

"You did great," he patted my shoulder after I'd grabbed my purse and started to exit the hotel room.

"Thanks," I sighed, so glad it was over. "This is such a nightmare."

"It'll be done soon," he assured me. "Cassidy has been detained in Hawaii and will be sent here until trial. Harry's attorneys will get this shit taken care of."

"Mhmmm," I hummed stepping off the elevator, looking at my feet.

I heard loud voices in the lobby, so I glanced up. Harry was standing near the front desk, smiling as I walked toward him.

Oh, Mona! I'm so glad he didn't hurt you," he wrapped his arms around me. "I was so worried."

I didn't fight the embrace, although I still felt nauseous.

"Do you need anything?"

I shook my head and looked into his eyes.

"My attorneys are working on finding you a nice apartment closer to work. If something were to happen and he got out-" he ran his hands through his hair nervously. "Well, I wouldn't want him to find you."

"This is all so fucked up," I finally spoke. "How is this my life?"

Harry hesitated to answer, "a rep from Paramount has contacted my agent about making this into a movie."

My mouth went dry.

"Of course, I've told my whole team that all decisions will be made by you."

"What? Why?" I scoffed.

"Mona, I want to give us a chance," he answered as if it was the most obvious thing ever. "It won't be perfect, but we had so much fun. We deserve to see what would happen without interruptions."

His body guards started to move us toward the exit and swooped over us until we were inside the limo.

My phone buzzed in my purse - it was Louis.

"Hello?" I answered and turned my back to Harry.

"Mona, I've just arrived and I'm watching the live news feed of what happened! Bloody hell! Are you alright?"

"Louis, calm down, everything is fine," I replied. "Kyle and Cassidy are both in custody and will be in jail for quite some time."

"Where are you? Shall I pick you up?"

"I'm actually with Harry, we had to leave rather quickly," I explained, wishing I hadn't answered the phone.

"How about I meet you somewh-?"

"Louis, let me call you back," I cut him off and hung up.

"Who's Louis?" Harry asked quietly.

"A friend...someone I've known for years," I looked at him.

"Does he want to be more?" he tried to read my emotion.

"Yes," I answered honestly.

"Is that what you want?"

"Harry, I haven't known what I wanted in a very long time," I said and meant it. "But the fact that you want to even give us a try after what my baggage has brought in your life...well, maybe I do know I want to try that."

I felt flush as his dimples appeared with the enormous grin covering his face.

"Can I kiss you?"

I nodded, then felt his lips crash into mine immediately.

"Driver, to my townhouse," Harry called out.

I shot him a questioning look.

"I thought I might be here for a while, so we arranged for me to have my own place."

_______

The following day, I emailed Louis - like a coward - to thank him for being so supportive, and to let him know that I just wasn't sure how I felt about anything...which was mostly the truth.

Harry and I spent time together, alone. His team brought food, drinks and other necessities to us. I was really enjoying my time with him again.

Niall and I had a long conversation about my position. He decided to hire a gallery manager. I was able to work from home 90% of the time. I promised myself that once the trial was over that I would start going out in public more often.

Harry had signed on for a movie that was filming just south of Atlanta, so we spent a lot of time in the car. We were lucky that the paparazzi left us alone most of the time.

Kim and Zayn came to visit the month after Kyle was arrested. She took me out for a girls' spa day, a week before her departure.

"Zayn wants us to try for a baby in about 6 months," she casually mentioned as we pulled the bath robes over our shoulders. "But I think I'm already pregnant."

"What?!?" I shrieked. "You're pregnant?"

"Well, I'm late and I've felt awful the last couple weeks," she laughed. "I'm too nervous to test."

"As soon as we leave here, we are getting a test!" I screamed excitedly. "O-M-G! I'm so excited for you!"

I hated how much drama had surrounded my life for so long; but I was thankful that Kim thought she could still share with me.

____

Feeling much more relaxed, Kim and I headed to CVS to grab a test or two - or six. We giggled like teenagers as we placed several boxes on the checkout counter.

"Is this all, ladies?" the elderly cashier raised his eyebrow.

"Yes, sir!" I answered.

"Your total is $58.19," he said.

We paid and left to get to Harry's place alone. There were a few paps near the gate, but the contents in our bag were concealed so it didn't bother us.

Kim bounded up the stairs to the guest bathroom and opened a few boxes. We read the instructions thoroughly and she began the process. I grabbed a tall glass of water to help her out, but she was finished by the time I walked back in.

"We have to wait two minutes," she whined. "In other news I'm taking pregnancy tests in Harry fucking Styles' bathroom! How is this even my life??"

I grinned at her excitement. Harry was such a normal person to me, it was refreshing to be reminded of the feelings I once held for my lover.

A timer on Kim's phone beeped. We looked at each other, then glanced at the tests.

Every single one was positive.

_______

AN: ONE chapter left!