Always

Chapter 73

I quickly shoveled food into my mouth as my mother watched me with a disapproving expression, not pleased at my less-than-ladylike behavior in my haste to finish. I shrugged at her, not caring much what she thought about it.

"Honestly, Joey, did you even chew that?" she said, a hint of amusement glinting through her deadpan stare.

"I'm supposed to meet Harry and I'm late," I told her through a mouthful of food. She rolled her eyes.

"I'm sure he will be fine."

I just shook my head at her as I continued to eat. She didn't seem to understand my constant urge to be near Harry; it wasn't something I could control. It was like my body was always physically gravitating toward him, never satisfied until we were reunited. My heart ached every time I had to leave him and would physically throb in my chest at the smallest thought. He had thoroughly, in every single way, taken over my life.

Despite how devastating it was to be away from him, I wouldn't have changed a thing about how I felt when we were apart because being with him made everything so incredibly worth it. There was nothing I wouldn't sacrifice to be with him, nothing I wouldn't do for him. I would never be as happy as I was when I was with Harry, and every day I was surprised by how I grew inexplicably and shockingly happier.

Surely there would reach a point where I couldn't possibly get any more content without exploding, but I was yet to find it. He was my world, my sunshine, my love, my everything, and I knew I was that for him, too. As cliché as it sounded, he really was my other half. It was getting to the point where I could hardly function unless I was with him, a thought that terrified and thrilled me all at the same time.

I loved and hated that I was so dependent on him. Loved, for obvious reasons, because I knew that no matter what I'd have him in my life, going through everything I could every think of without a second thought. Hated, because whenever I wasn't with him I was practically lifeless, constantly thinking of him and wishing he were there with me. I liked to think of myself as a fairly independent person, and while I thought I had only grown stronger in some aspects with Harry, my independence in terms of anything to do with him had absolutely plummeted.

All things considered, though, I was the happiest I had been in my entire life.

I finally finished my lunch and threw my dishes into the sink, a loud clang ringing out in the kitchen as I dropped them a bit harder than I'd meant to.

"Joey, careful!" she scolded, narrowing her eyes at me.

"Sorry, mom. Gotta go, bye!" I said cheerfully, happy I was finally leaving. I practically ran out of the kitchen and pulled my jacket on before heading out the front door. I was supposed to meet Harry at his house ten minutes ago, but I had gotten behind schedule with my mother constantly pestering me for details about our relationship.

I arrived at his house to see him sitting on his front porch, pulling at a thread fraying from the sleeve of his navy plaid shirt he wore beneath a gray jacket. I let out an appreciative huff as I took in his appearance, looking more attractive than ever as he waited. He heard my footstep on the pavement and looked up, a grin instantly spreading across his face as he stood up. His lanky frame moved toward me as I approached, hands cupping my face gently as he bowed down to kiss my lips once.

"Hiiii," he said, grinning at me.

"Sorry I'm late, my mom-"

"It's alright, love, no worries," he interrupted me, dimples dotting his cheeks adorably.

"Okay. You ready?" I asked, returning his carefree grin. He nodded and hummed his assent, running his thumb across my cheek before dropping his hands from my face. One of his arms looped around my neck, pulling me into his side as he steered us back down the driveway. His waist was encircled in my arm, soaking in the feeling of his firm torso beneath the layers separating. He leaned over to press a kiss to my temple as we walked.