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

Chapter 41

Ashley woke up to a note and an empty bed:

    Thought I'd let you sleep for a while. I have several things to take care of this morning. I'll be back close to 11:00 with breakfast. I cannot express what last night meant to me. See you soon. Harry xoxo

She smiled as she stretched and got out of bed. It was already 9:15 and she needed to shower, but coffee was a priority right now. Wrapping a robe around her, she went to the kitchen to turn on the Keurig. As it was warming up, she put some humus on a pita chip to stave off her hunger until Harry returned. An unfamiliar ring caught her attention as she was getting a mug out of the dishwasher. That's not my phone. Where is it? God that's an obnoxious ring, she thought as she attempted to find it.

Harry's phone had fallen down into the crack between two of the sofa cushions. When Ashley finally got her hands on it, she wanted to fling it across the room. The display showed the call was from Nadia. On impulse, Ashley pushed the button to accept the call, but didn't say anything. After a moment, Nadia said, "Hi baby. I thought we were getting together at 9:30, but you're not here yet. Did you get tied up elsewhere?"

Several seconds ticked by before Ashley could bring herself to simply hang up. Several seconds later, the phone rang again. Ashley intended to throw the phone onto the sofa, but it missed it's intended target and caught the corner of the coffee table shattering the screen.

****

The small coffee shop wasn't terribly busy to Harry's relief. Nadia waved him over to her table where a cup of coffee was already waiting.

"Harry," she said extending her hand as if for him to kiss it. When he did nothing more than give her a traditional handshake, she gave him her poutiest look. "Did you hang up on me a few minutes ago?" she asked.

"What?"

"I called you and you picked up but never said anything."

Harry reached into his empty back pocket. He frantically checked all of his other pockets. "I didn't get a call from you."

"Well someone did. I tried to call back, but there was no answer."

"Shit. I'm sorry, but I have to go."

"But Harry," she whined.

He turned and practically ran from the coffee shop.

When he was in his car, he hit the steering wheel several times letting out a string of obscenities.

****

Ashley's hands shook as she finished drying her hair. She debated on whether to put on makeup or just get dressed and be done with it. Harry would be back soon and she wanted to be ready to face him with confidence.

What had he said? Trust him? Give him the benefit of the doubt.

She sighed as she pulled the round brush through her hair to catch the ends of a few sections that weren't quite smooth. She quickly brushed her teeth and pulled on a casual white blouse and jeans. In the time she had remaining, she decided to put on her makeup and packed his things.

****

The bag was packed and waiting by the door when he knocked. Before she could get to the door, he knocked impatiently several more times.

"I have your things packed. I will have to buy you a new phone though," she said as soon as he attempted to step forward.

She was completely closed off. He'd have one chance to get this right.

Hell, I can't even fault her for being angry, he thought.

"Here's the phone," she said handing him what was left. The screen was completely shattered.