H&M

Chapter 19

"You lost a part of your existence in a war against yourself."

Maya • • •

Harry and I inched downstairs and met Gemma in the kitchen.

"So where's your date?" Harry asked in a very-obnoxious-baby-brother way.

"He's coming." She shoved Harry out of her way. It made me smile to see their silly interaction.

"What's for dinner?" He asked.

"Shrimp Alfredo." She rushed, basically shooing him off.

There was a brief but strong knock at the door. It sounded authoritative.

"I'll get it." Harry said mischievously.

"Don't scare him." She called to Harry from the stove.

Harry • • •

Behind the door stood the most douchey man I had ever seen. He wore a perfectly pressed white dress shirt, khaki shorts and tan Sperries. He had a black, white and tan sweater wrapped around his shoulders and tied loosely at his neck.

"Is this the Styles residence?" He asked, clearly sizing me up. I wore a black dress shirt, black dress pants and black dress shoes. I unbuttoned and rolled up my sleeves, Maya liked it that way.

"Wrong house, pal." I replied in the most serious face I could fake.

"He's lying." Gemma shoved me out of the way. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Hey, Matt." She smiled stupidly before giving him a kiss and letting him in.

"I'm sorry, man." I extended my hand and attempted to withhold my laughter. I was truly an asshole sometimes, for no reason.

"It's fine." He accepted my handshake.

•••••

Maya • • •

The conversation was light and mostly consisted of questions about school.

"What are you studying?" Anne, Harry's mother, asked me.

"Psychology." I answered.

"There's not much one can do with a psychology degree." Harry's father put in. "Once you major in psychology you can't branch off, you know?"

I nodded, acknowledging his accurate statements. I could feel Harry looking at me from the corner of his eye.

"All I've ever wanted to do was psychology." I said in a quiet voice. I didn't want to challenge him.

"That's understandable, honey, but you have to give yourself options." He replied, taking another bite.

"She wants to be a psychologist, Dad." Harry replied.

I rested my hand on his knee. He was so ready to be belligerent to his father.

"It's just that her people are more into nursing or fields similar. Sometimes athletics."

Everyone dropped their eating utensils.

"My people?" I asked, almost laughing.