A Lovely Betrayal

Chapter Nine

I drag myself up the front steps of my parent’s home shoving the heavy door open. Stumbling my way through the darkness I lug my bags upstairs to my bedroom. Collapsing onto my pillows I sigh happily. Finally I can sleep, I can never sleep on planes. I kick off my shoes and curl up under the covers Ashton’s scent drifting off of his borrowed clothing surrounding me in comfort. As I drift off my phone starts blaring in my ear. I grab it slamming it against my ear.

“What?!” I snap.

“Tatum I’m so sorry! I should never have yelled at you! I’m so sorry!” Harry’s frantic voice comes through the phone.

“Harry, it’s fine. I’m tired I’ll call you later.”

“Come downstairs.”

“What?”

“Come downstairs and let me in.” I fly out of bed and peek out the window and see his black range rover in the drive way.

“Harry Styles!” I shriek and bolt downstairs tugging the door open. His green eyes are red and puffy, his hair greasy and disheveled from his fingers running through it as he always does when he’s upset. My phone slips from my fingers clattering against the ground as I hug him. “What are you doing here? You crazy boy.”

“I had to apologize.” He whispers his arms wrapping around me securely. “I was an ass. You didn’t deserve that.”

But I did. I deserved every name he had called me that night. Tears sting my eyes as I pull him inside.

“Harry I’m exhausted. I love you and all but my mother would flip if she woke up in the morning and found a half naked boy in her daughters bed.” I say smiling.

“I’ll sleep in the floor.” He says scooping me up with a smirk on his face.

“You know you’ll just end up in bed with me.” I whisper and he chuckles.

“I know.” He sets me on the bed and strips down. I roll my eyes as he dances about trying to get out of his skinny jeans. He finally gets them off and slips into bed with me. He pulls me into his arms and I am asleep within minutes.

“Tatum Marie Larson! What is going on here!” My mother’s voice rips me from sleep and Harry is thrown to the floor as I jump out of bed.

“Mum nothing happened. He showed up last night to apologize for yelling at me.”

“From across the ocean?”

“Yes ma’am. I was extremely rude and I couldn’t let Tatum come home without knowing how sorry I was.” He says standing up yanking on his jeans. “I’m terribly sorry. I should have slept on the couch, I have a hard time sleeping without her in the room now after spending two months with her.”

Mum stares at us for a moment before sighing.

“All right. Get dressed lunch is almost ready. Hurry up. Harry I’m sure you’ll have to head back.”

“Yeah I have to leave now actually. I have to be back in America. We have a concert.” He says pulling his shirt over his head. She nods slipping out of the room. He walks over pulling me into his arms. “I love you Tate, I’ll see you at the VMA’s.”

“All right. I love you too. Be careful. Have fun.”

“I will. Your cousins are coming back in a couple weeks. I’ll call you when I land.”

“Okay.” I lean my head back and kiss him lightly. “Love you.”

“Love you babe.” He pecks my lips gently before disappearing. I sigh and close my bedroom door before stripping off Ashton’s clothes. I tug on a pair of white jeans and a chevron tank before yanking a brush through my hair. I pad down the stairs to the kitchen and dad grins when he sees me.