Aimless h.s.

Chapter 14

Harry

A "Welcome Home Aiden" party wasn't exactly something I wanted to attend. That was a shame really. I liked Aiden. He was a friend. My bitterness over the fact he was home and staying in his condo with Abby was overriding everything else.

I was going so that I could get her alone and talk to her about this. I didn't want her to feel like she had to stay here if she was uncomfortable. I'd give her a fully furnished place to stay in if she wanted it. She didn't have to stay with Aiden.

I knocked once then walked on in. No one was going to be able to hear me over the noise anyway.

The place was packed. I scanned the crowd for Abby.

"Harry, about damn time you showed up," Aiden called out over the music that was pumping through the condo's built in speaker system.

He was sitting at the bar with Louis, El, Niall and some unknown female who was sitting in Niall's lap. But Abby wasn't anywhere in the room. Dammit.

"And he's back," I said, forcing a smile.

"Just for a visit. Can't stay long. Dad will try and get a monkey suit on me if I do," he joked. But the words were too close for comfort. I knew what it felt like to have your father's claws imbedded deep.

"I'm trying to get him to stay. But he has it in his head he's only visiting before his next adventure," Louis said taking a sip out of his beer. I knew he was trying to ease my mind about Aiden being here. I could tell by his tone of voice. Right now, I just wanted to find Abby.

"Where's Abby?" I asked, unable to pretend like I wasn't here for her.

Aiden's eyebrows shot up and his gaze narrowed. I ignored it and looked directly at Louis.

Louis rolled his eyes and shook his head at me.

"She's in her room. Why ?" Aiden replied.

"Why is she in her room? Is she okay?" I asked looking back at the hall that led to the two bedrooms in the condo. Both doors were shut. Which one was she staying in?

"She had a phone call and went in there so she could hear. Again, why do you care ?" Aiden asked narrowing his eyes at me.

I wasn't going to answer him. This wasn't his business. He was stopping through. He said so himself.

"Harry and Abby met when she passed through a few month back. They uh... they uh...

hooked up. They're friends now. He's a little protective," Louis explained.

"You're engaged," Aiden said as if I needed reminding.

I leveled my gaze on him. "I wasn't when Abby and I met. And it doesn't stop me from caring about her. I need to make sure she's okay," I said, before moving across the room toward the hallway.

I opened the first door and the lights were off. I closed the door and opened the next one. Abby was sitting on the bed with her legs crossed and a phone pressed to her ear. Her eyes lifted to meet mine and they widened with surprise.

She was okay and I should close the door and walk away. But I didn't. I stepped inside and closed the door behind me.

"Uh, yeah. I need to go. I'll call you later," Abby said into the phone as she watched me warily.

"I'm fine. I just had company walk in and I don't want to be rude. Okay. Yeah. I love you too. Bye."

She pressed the end button on her phone and slowly lowered it to her lap.

"Harry?" The rest of her question was left open.

"You weren't out there." I nodded my head toward the door. "I wanted to check on you."