Harry

Chapter 16

It was a Saturday night and Rose was having a party at her flat. Sydney was out on a date with James, but Luna, Char and I were sitting around my room, doing our makeup. I'd invited both Sam and his friends to come, but Harry had declined without explanation. This was no surprise, but I'd still felt a pang of disappointment despite our last tense encounter, and I couldn't even imagine what someone as controlled and unsociable as Harry would do at a party.

"So what time's this Cara getting here?" Luna asked as she drew an impressive flick across her eyelid. I paused from applying my mascara and checked my phone.

"Anytime now." I answered.

"What's she like?" Char asked absently, brows scrunched as she held up two pairs of earrings either side of her head as she tried to decide between them.

"She's stunning for one." I began, grinning when I saw Luna pull a face. "I've only run into her a few times at Sam's place because she's so busy, but she seemed really nice and bubbly."

Luna's brows furrowed. "Wait, why is it weird you've only seen her at his house a few times?"

"She lives with him." I answered as if it was obvious. Luna's eyebrows nearly flew off her forehead.

"What! He lives with a gorgeous girl and you are not remotely threatened?" She practically shrieked, making both Char and I wince. I refocus on the mirror and tuck my hair behind my ear.

"No. I don't get a sense of that dynamic between them. And Sam's not like that." I replied calmly. It was true. I had no impression that there was anything but friendship between the two of them, and I trusted Sam implicitly. He was too good, too honest to ever even consider deceiving or misleading me. Luna huffed and shook her head.

"I'm just saying. Living together...It'd be easy just to slip from one room into another late at night....no one would know." Char threw a shoe at her.

"Shut up Luna!" I reprimanded, rolling my eyes. For the next twenty minutes while we chattered and finished getting ready, I dispelled Luna's caution from my head and let myself get excited for tonight. On hearing the buzzer, I quickly hurried downstairs and opened the door. Cara stood there looking slightly nervous but mostly excited as she brandished a bottle of prosecco at me. She looked amazing in cherry coloured, Spanish style dress. The soft, red fabric hugged her tiny waist and stretched flatteringly over her generous, curvy hips. The low, peasant style top displayed her ample cleavage. The dress was short, and flared out flirtily around her toned, tanned thighs. Her lengthy legs were emphasised by black ballerina pumps which had silky ties strapping sexily up to her knees. Her makeup looked natural and stunning, she clearly must have inherited some of her brothers' artistic prowess. Her skin looked flawless and dewy and her lips were a bright pouty red. Gold shimmered faintly across her sharp cheekbones, her eye lashes were enviably dark, thick and curly and her inky black hair fell softly over her shoulders. Suffice to say she looked stunning. I couldn't even find it in myself to be jealous despite her impossible beauty, as she thrummed with excitement waiting to hear my verdict.

"Wow Cara...all I can say is...I wish you weren't so nice so I could hate you. You look beautiful." I complimented her with a genuine grin and greeted her with a hug. She beamed and returned the compliment, before flouncing past me and introducing herself to Char and Luna. Sam strode in behind her with a lazy grin on his face as he scanned me from head to toe.

"And what about me?" He asked playfully into my neck as his arms wrapped around my waist. "Do I pass inspection as well?" He murmured as his pressed a kiss on my jaw.

"You'll do." I said with a mischievous grin as I pulled back to run my eyes over him. He did look extremely handsome that night, his brown-gold hair tousled and his hazel eyes bright with affection as he grinned down at me. My eyes lingered on the way his blue shirt showed his broad frame, and was rolled up to display tanned forearms. He cleared his throat and I grinned unashamedly when he raised his brow at catching me ogling him.