A Trail of Whispers

Chapter Three

     I left  a note on Jai's nightstand in the morning. That kid could sleep 24 hours a day if he wanted to. "Hi sweetie, I'm out for some coffee and walking around. Have fun at the beach with the boys! Don't have too much fun without me! ilysm, Ari" I made sure my skirt and bustier looked presentable, then I grabbed my purse and headed out. I met up with Harry at a small coffee shop a little whiles away from his hotel. I walked into the coffee shop, luckily with 0 paparazzi in sight, and the barista pointed to the back corner next to the bathroom. The little corner was invisible to passers by the full window wall and door. Smart Harry.  When I found Harry, he looked up from his phone and smiled. "Good morning, beautiful," he said. He stood up and gave me a quick hug.

      "Good morning to you too, Styles," I giggled. "I'm really enjoying the whole hidden from the public seating."

      "I thought you would want to keep out of the public eye."

      "Smart boy."

      "I try." We both chuckled, and he called the barista over. "Hello love, could I get a grande vanilla latte please?"

      "And I'll have a grande iced coffee," I said. The barista smiled and went on her way. "I'm surprised the baristas here are real nice."

      "I gave them the situation and how I wanted to keep it on the dl. That's why we don't have to go to the counter, and why we're sitting back here. We might even go out the back door."

     "Wow Styles, I'm loving this whole secrecy thing."

     "Well, there's really nothing to hide. If you and Jai weren't dating, I'm sure we wouldn't have to hide, am I right?" I bit my bottom lip and nodded slowly. "Why? Did you tell him?"

      "I told him that I needed a day to myself and I was getting some coffee and walking around... He wanted to hit the beach with the boys today."

      "Ahh, I see. Why didn't you want to go with him?"

      "Because he's been a dick this whole trip... So protective, yet his actions don't really make up for it. Sure, we cuddle at night, but during the day, he doesn't treat me the way he does over Skype, or when he flies to America."

     "Sucks doesn't it?"

     "What?"

     "Being thrown to the side; it sucks."

     "Yeah, it really does..."

     "I used to be the same position of Jai. I had a girlfriend, who I absolutely adored, but something about me took control whenever we were with my friends. So she dumped me. Then my very next relationship, I was in your position, and the girl ended up admitting that she was cheating."

      "YOU got cheated on?"

      "I may be a popstar now, but you have to remember that I was just an awkward teenager too a few years ago." The barista returned with our drinks and a basket of croissants and cookies.

     "Sorry for the slight delay. These are on us," the flirty barista said, winking at Harry. When she left, I nearly burst out into a fit of laughter.

     "What's the matter? We got free croissants!"

     "Oh my god! She was totally flirting with you!"

     "How can you tell?"

     "The wink? The tone of her voice?"

     "C'mon, that doesn't just happen!"

     "Whatever you say professor Grande."

     We spent the next hour and a half or so just talking. We talked about our favorite things, pop culture, and we even finished talking about Jai. "So what happens when you leave?" Harry asked. I shrugged and took another bite from my croissant.