Sometimes

Chapter 22

We met in the foyer and from his frantic tapping on his phone as he exited the lift and walked over to me I guessed those around him had also seen the story.

"Mail?" I asked as he reached me.

He laughed "Yeah, you too?" he said before locking his phone and putting it in his pocket.

"Of course. My Mail addicted friends were all over it like a rash" he said with a laugh.

"So lunch" he said as he rubbed his hands together enthusiastically "What do you fancy?" he said as he placed his arm over my shoulders and we made our way outside.

"Well, Manchester is your turf so take me where ever you want"

"Oh really?" he said with a cheeky tone.

"Within reason" I said as I playfully poked him in the ribs "And bare in mind we need to be back here before two" I said as he opened the taxi door for me. I was glad he'd chosen the car option, the walk would have been nice, but not through a busy town centre with his arm around me.

"Pizza Express Kings Street please" he asked as he jumped in the taxi after me.

We sat comfortable, his arm draped over my shoulder and my arm around his waist, during the journey, which lasted barely ten minutes.

"Cheers" Harry said as he paid the driver, before his fingers linked with mine and lead me into the near empty restaurant.

"Hi, table for two please" Harry asked as the waiter came over to us "Could it be a table near the back though?" he asked politely before following the waiter. As we walked through the restaurant I could feel eyes following us, I looked to my left to see three sets of female eyes following Harry as we crossed the restaurant, their mouths hung slightly open in shock. I silently chuckled to myself at their shock and awe before lowering my gaze, conscious of not wanting to draw more attention.

"Thanks" Harry said as we took our seats. He ordered our drinks as I took my coat off and subconsciously smoothed my hair. As the waiter left the table he reached for my hand, before interlinking our fingers and smiling at me. I suddenly felt embarrassed of his attention and blushed slightly. "That's cute" he said with a small chuckle as my cheeks flashed a subtle shade of crimson.

"I'm glad my easily embarrassed disposition amuses you" I said jokingly. A few moments of silence passed before our drinks were placed on our table, knocking us from our moment.

"So" he said as he took a sip of beer "As this, us, is all public knowledge now how about you tell me about yourself, as I literally know nothing about you, you could be an axe murderer for all I know" he said with a chuckle as he sat back in his chair slightly and waiting for me begin. He had a point, I only knew what I'd picked up through work, so he must have known nothing about me, yet we were sat there comfortable hand in hand having lunch.

"Urrrm" I faltered "What do you want to know?".

"You know, the usual".

Over the next hour we shared a pizza, while we told each other about our lives. We talked about home, and friends and family. What we did in our spare time. My magpie tendencies that drew me to anything glittery, and his love for shoes - something I had never discovered in a guy before, but something that I liked. There was an air of honestly and comfort around our conversation and we were both intently interested in each other's lives. At the end of the meal he insisted he settle the bill while I asked one of the shocked waitresses to order us a cab.

As we pulled up at the hotel my heart skipped a beat and my body automatically tensed as I spotted a small group of paparazzi waiting. Harry sensed my response and without saying a thing confidently grabbed my hand, silently saying it would be ok. We finally reached the safety of the rotating doors where he lifted my hand in his and kissed the back of it, whispering "Well done" as he went.