If I Could Fly // h.s.

Chapter 31

The next morning, Nicole tells me that her and Niall had made plans for the day. She offered to cancel them so that she could stay and help me deal with the Zack-Harry debacle but I assured her there was no need. Instead, I snuck out of the house as soon as breakfast was over and had Gavin drive me to the little coffee shop in the city that me and Harry went the first time he gave me a tour of London. 

I walk past the two wooden benches outside the shop and open the door to Kaffeine where my nose is assaulted by the delicious smells of espresso and pastries. I recognise one of the baristas from the last time I was here. Her brown and purple kinky curly hair stands out as she has her back to the register while she is finishing up an order for the gentleman waiting at the end of the counter. Once she has handed him his drink, she approaches me and asks me what she can get for me today. 

"Any chance you're skilled at getting people out of the country?" I laugh dryly and half under my breath before making eye contact with her. She eyes me carefully, causing me to think about what I just spoke aloud and then clarify. "I promise I'm not a fugitive. It's not even me who I want out of the country. Just the ex-boyfriend who showed up on my front door yesterday. It's funny that my old boyfriend is in England while my current boyfriend is in America. Talk about irony. But that's life, isn't it?" I finally stop rambling when I hear her chuckle and regard me with kind eyes. She must think I'm a lunatic. "I also promise I'm not usually crazy. My ramblings are usually good at staying in my head but I think maybe this time I've lost all filters."

"Honey, don't worry about it. All it took was you hinting to a man being an idiot and you had me on your side. Now first, lets get you something yummy to warm you up. You look like a tea girl. How about a nice chai tea latte? I happen to have a special recipe. In fact, I might just make two and join you. How's that sound?" For whatever reason, I am overcome with a sense of comfort for the first time since it all went ass up yesterday. 

"That sounds lovely. Thank you," I nod graciously. "I'll go get us a booth." I wait a few minutes and observe the other people in the room until the woman approached the booth and sets our drinks down before settling into the seat opposite me. 

"So, I suppose now would be as good a time as any for proper introductions. I'm Heather Hudson. This is my shop. I opened it when I was 19 while pregnant with my first child. It was hell and I thought about giving up or killing someone more times than I can count. I got married three years later only to find out that my new husband was addicted to gambling and had tried to take everything from right under my nose. Luckily, I was raised to keep my finances tight as a tick. Once I filed for divorce, I realised that he had left me with quite the surprise after I kicked him out. I had my second child eight months later and remodeled my cafe." She smiled when she saw the look of awe in my eyes. "Well then, now that you know some personal details about me, why don't you start over and tell me exactly what it was you were trying to talk about earlier and lets see if we can't find you a solution." 

I took a deep breath before laughing and smiling at her. I hadn't really made any friends over here outside of Harry's friends and acquaintances or staff of my aunt and uncle, but I feel like Heather was going to be my first official friend. I introduced myself quickly and dove into my story. I told her all about back home and what brought me to England. I took her through mine and Harry's story, exempting a few sexier details, and watched her swoon into her latte. I told her about every event that lead to me walking into her coffee shop acting a total basket case. 

"I think I remember you and Harry coming in here! I definitely remember checking him out, no offense," she winked. "Girl, you've had some serious shit hit the fan."

"I know. I knew that the other shoe was going to drop. I just hoped I'd have a little longer in my joy bubble," I pouted. 

"'Joy bubble'?" Heather asked before cracking up. "I like that. This isn't the other shoe though, love. I promise. This is merely an obstacle. You'll meet many of those in the months and years to come....especially as long as you're in a relationship with Harry Bloody Styles. They might be on a hiatus right now but that boy is destined to do big things. He's special. God knows everyone this side of the pond thinks he hung the moon."