Aimless h.s.

Chapter 11

Abby

El met me at the bar. I had planned to take a deep calming breath after getting far enough from Harry to think this through. But instead I managed to smile at her like nothing was wrong.

"Can I ask what the handshake was about?" El said, sitting down on the stool beside me and ordering two lemon drop shots.

"We're starting over. This time I know he's engaged and we're going to be friends."

El nodded but I could see the uncertainity in her eyes.

"Really, we are. Nothing more," I assured her.

The bartender slid both of the pale yellow drinks our way.

"I believe that you believe that. But Harry doesn't want Amanda. So you see if I'm skeptical about him keeping it friendly between the two of you, I have reason."

Even Eleanor knew he didn't want to marry Anmanda. I didn't understand this. Would it be so bad not to connect his name with hers?

"It just seems like he's sacrificing his happiness for money and gain. I don't think that will end well."

El threw back her shot and then wiped a drop off her bottom lip with the pad of her thumb.

"It will be a disaster. He'll be miserable. But he thinks this is what he wants out of life. No one can convince him otherwise. In their world of money and power this is what they do. It's why Aiden took off running. He didn't want to play that game."

Aiden? He'd had that kind of ultimatum too? But he'd left. He'd run. He hadn't sacrificed his happiness. He was living. There was no cage holding him in. Cages were suffocating. I hated the idea of Harry living in one.

"I'm just passing through. While I'm here I think we can be friends. I like him. I want to get to know him. When I have his memory to pull out one day and think about I don't want it to be just the sex. I want to know him. Is that so wrong?"

El picked up my lemon drop and handed it to me.

"No. It's not. Now, drink up. I need someone to get the karaoke going and- tag you're it."

I shook my head. "Oh, no. Not me."

El nodded. "Yes, you. I've heard about your amazing vocal skills. It's time I heard them. Come on, do it for me. Please."

I took the shot glass and quickly downed the tangy drink.

Harry's P.O.V.

Zayn took Abby's seat when she walked away.

"I take it that means you two made amends," Zayn said as he put his beer down on the table.

"We're friends," I replied. Not real sure how that was going to work but I was going to make sure it did.

"Friends," Zayn replied and nodded his head as if he agreed. The look on his face though was amused though. "Good luck with that."

His comment pissed me off, but he was right. I needed all the luck I could get. Keeping a straight head around her was going to be hard.

"Thanks."

Zayn chuckled. "Looks like you think that's as impossible as I do."

I started to respond when El walked up on the stage.

"It's time for some karaoke. Now that you've all had some free liquor you can sing for your drinks. Don't worry I won't make you come up here, yet. You have an entire song to drink enough until coming up here sounds like a good idea. Abby has agreed to sing first because she doesn't have to be drunk to sound badass."