Flaws || h.s.

Chapter Twenty

I woke up just as we pulled into Harry's mother's driveway. The sun was setting and Harry glanced over at me as he put it in park and took the key out. "Morning, sleepy head."

"More like evening," I smiled slightly and stifled a yawn. "Thanks for driving."

"Glad to. Seemed like you slept well. Do you feel any better than you did this morning?" Harry pushed a piece of hair that had fallen in my face behind my ear.

I nodded. "A little. The sleep helped. I always sleep well on car rides."

He came around and opened my door for me and offered his hand. "Shall we?"

"We shall," I grinned to myself.

The front door was unlocked and everyone was sitting around the coffee table laughing. My mum and Jackson were there already, as well as Gemma, Anne, and her new husband. "Look who it is!" Anne piped up, setting her glass of wine on the table and standing up immediately to hug us. She embraced me first. "Bethany!" Anne pulled away and put her hands on either side of my face. I could see the pink in her cheeks from the wine. "You look fabulous. I've missed you!"

"Thank you," I smiled politely. I did not look fabulous. I was in a maxi skirt because my jeans wouldn't button around my expanding waist. I ate so much this weekend, too much. "You look great too. It's lovely to see you."

Gemma was next. "Mum's right. You look really good, Beth. Healthy."

While Harry spoke with his family, I wrestled with whether or not they were lying. I had gained weight over the past couple weeks. How could I possibly look good? I was 40kg now, which was only 10kg less than I was a year and a half ago, when I was big. I looked horrendous, with my big thighs and chubby arms and wide hips. I do not look fabulous or healthy, I looked like a balloon about to pop.

"Hey, Beth, nice to see you again," Jackson said.

I smirked. First time I'd seen him fully clothed. "You too, Jack." I secretly hoped he hated to be called Jack.

"Give me a hug, sweetie," my mum hugged me for a while and rocked back and forth. "The house is so lonely when you aren't there."

"You have Jackson," I mumbled.

A frown tugged at her lips. "You know what I mean. All I'm saying is I miss having you around. By the way, you look much better. How are you feeling?"

"Fine, now," I shrugged. "I haven't been sleeping, really."

"Chamomile tea helps," Jackson piped up. "That always relaxes me. Chronic insomnia's a bitch."

"Oh, thanks," it was probably the first helpful thing to come out of his mouth. "I'll try that."

Harry came up behind me and slid his hand around my waist. "Hey! I'm Harry. Nice to finally meet you."

"Jackson," they shook hands. "Nice to meet you too."

"Dinner is ready," Gemma poked her head out from the dining room and disappeared just as fast.

We all went and sat around the formal dining room table, though there was nothing formal about this meal. We all knew each other pretty well for the most part, aside from Jackson. Anne and Gemma had made a chicken with various side dishes. So much food. Too much food.

"White or dark, Beth?" Anne's husband asked.

"White is fine," I snapped away from my anxious thoughts and gracefully accepted the chicken being placed on my plate. Everyone made polite dinner conversation as I forced myself to take a bite. I swallowed painfully, feeling the calories and fat slide down my dry throat and plummet into my near empty stomach. I scooped a small serving of green beans onto my plate so no one would pick up on how agonizing it was to eat.