Solace ~ h.s.

⪻ 17 ⪼

This chapter is dedicated to... LarkJones!

Who's ready for the first date???

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The say you never truly forget how to ride a bike, even if you haven't done so since you were just a wee child. I suppose dating can be perceived the same way. You never truly forget how to date, though you may be incredibly rusty and nervous as hęll.

Take now for instance. Harry picked me up from my flat as Niall was getting settled with Edward, who has had slightly less of an attitude. My date showed up, dressed to the nines might I add, and drove us down the high street to a beautiful restaurant. Harry drank water and I a glass of red wine and we dined on a magnificent pasta dish that Harry bet I could make a hundred times better without a recipe.

The entire time from him picking me up at my door until now I've been quite quiet. Usually having a conversation with Harry is easy, but the idea of this as a date has put me on high stress alert.

"Are you nervous?" My head snaps up from my empty plate to look across the clothed table at Harry. He smirks lightly over at me, somehow knowing exactly how I'm feeling. "You seem nervous."

"I am a bit nervous." I say with an incredibly long exhale of air from my lungs. "It's been awhile since I've been on a date. Let alone a date with a new person." I admit, feeling my cheeks brighten.

I know Harry's said that he doesn't really like to surround himself with new people or a lot of people, but surely he's been on more dates than I. How can a man with his kindness, talent, and looks go so long without a date?

"A new person?"

"I was in a long term relationship. Wow, I've already broke rule number one of dates: don't talk about your ex." I mutter, chuckling lightly to myself as I take a rather big sip from my almost empty wine glass. I may be in need of another glass.

"Don't worry about it." Harry admits, chuckling to himself as well. "If it makes you feel any better, it's been a long time since my last date."

"Longer than six months?" I ponder, trying to gather a little insight on his last date. It's not that it really matters, but I can't say I'm not the least bit curious.

"Try, since Uni." My jaw nearly drops at his words.

"Since Uni? You finished with university like five years ago. There's really not been one woman in all that time?"

I really don't see how this beautiful, smart, funny, man has gone so long without a female "friend". He's so... so... ugh, how?

"I mean there were one or two interactions, if you can call them that, but never a proper date." Harry admits, taking a large gulp from the water sitting before him on the table.

"I suppose that makes me pretty special."

"Of course it does."

My cheeks automatically turn a shade of scarlet that I hope isn't too obvious. I'm not used to getting complimented so much, at least not in a long time. Every time Harry opens his mouth and throws a compliment towards me I just don't know how to respond.

"Then we should toast," Picking up my nearly empty wine glass I hold it towards Harry. He smiles over at me, the prominent dimple popping on his left cheek as he lifts his glass of water towards mine. "To being someone's special." I announce for the two of us as we clink our glasses together softly.

"So, why haven't you opened a bakery of your own?" Harry questions after our toast.

Before the question of my nerves, I had gone on for a quite some time about why boxed cake batters are a sin. I've never told him that I've thought about it and tried to put my dream into action.