If It's What You Want A Harry Styles Fanfiction || h. s.

Chapter 6

When she found Steve, he was cozied up with the waiter in a booth inside the restaurant. She stopped several feet away when he looked up. It would serve him right if I went over and took a seat, she thought. Instead, she turned her hand sideways and made a swiping motion across her neck. His only response was a smile and a wink.

Ashley turned to walk back to the patio when she collided with Harry who was exiting the bathroom. "Sorry," she said as he grasped her arms to steady her.

"Are you okay?" he asked still holding onto her.

"I'm fine," she told him pulling her arms from his hands.

"I'm really sorry. I should have been watching where I was going. Lots on my mind," he said looking away from her.

"No harm. I was just going back to the patio."

"Found Steve, did you?" he asked turning back to her.

"He's lucky. I'm feeling generous, so I didn't interrupt him. I will say the gesture I made communicated well enough," said Ashley as she opened the door connecting to the patio.

"So, the two of you aren't dating?"

"Why would you think that?" she asked incredulously.

"Well, the kissing, the dancing."

Ashley began to laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh my god!" she said continuing to laugh.

"Are you going to tell me or are you just going to continue having fun at my expense?"

"Okay, okay," she said hiccupping a bit from the laughter. Putting her hands on either side of her face, she took a deep breath before blowing it out loudly. "Let me grab my drink and we can sit over there," she said gesturing to a small table several yards across the patio.

She pushed through the group of those still dancing until she reached the table where several of their group sat talking loudly.

"Here's the birthday girl," said Sheena sulkily.

Great. She's pretty buzzed and looking a bit pissed.

"Having a good time?" smiled Ashley.

"I was until the two of you danced. He's barely said two words to me since," she pouted.

"Who?"

"Are you kidding me? Harry," said Sheena.

"Look, you are welcome to him as soon as I explain something he asked about. Okay?"

"Whatever," responded Sheena before picking up a full mug of beer.

Ashley shrugged to others at the table and walked over to where Harry was sitting.

"Thanks for getting me into trouble," she told him.

"Trouble?"

"Yes, with Sheena."

"Why would you be in trouble over me?" he asked seeming truly puzzled.

"I think she thinks the two of you are hooking up and I'm getting in the way."

"I never gave her any indication that I was interested in hooking up or anything else for that matter," said Harry. "Can we please just get back to topic of conversion? You were going to explain what was so funny when I asked about Steve."

"Right. First, Steve and I have been friends for about 5 years. He is one of two of my very best male friends. Second, he is completely gay," said Ashley.