𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐋! | harry styles

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THE doorbell rings. Mrs. Cope and I both pop up onto our feet. I run my hand down the row of covered buttons lining my blouse. "Do I look okay?"

"You look perfect, and she already loves you. Open the door."

I take a deep breath and turn the knob.

"...just saying it's not how Raoul helps me up the steps. You don't have to be so sensitive."

"Raoul this, Raoul that. Maybe you'd like to go have dinner at Raoul's, Mom."

"Um, hello? Harry? Everything okay out here?"

"Sophie! Hi!" Harry looks as if he wants to add, "Thank you for saving me!"

"Come in, come in. Hello, Mrs. Styles." I lean in and give her a gentle hug.

"Hello, dear. Don't you look pretty?"

Mrs. Cope holds out her hand in greeting. "Hello, Anne. I'm so pleased you could make it. It's lovely to meet you. The kids have told me so much about you."

"Thank you for inviting me to your lovely home, Sheila. These are for you." She hands Mrs. Cope a white bakery box tied with orange ribbon. "They're triple chocolate chip cookies, my favorites. Just between us"-she leans in as if to reveal a big secret-"I have a bit of a sweet tooth."

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep a straight face as I glance over at Harry, the apple from the sweet tooth tree.

"That was unnecessary, but thank you just the same. Come on in. What can we get you to drink?"

"Oh, a drink sounds nice, actually. Do you have any vodka?"

Harry sputters. "Mom! Are you supposed to have alcohol? What about your meds?"

She whacks him on the arm. "Honestly, Harry. You can be such an old fuddy-duddy sometimes."

Poor Harry turns bright red. I step in as he eases her to the armchair. "Mrs. Styles, how about if I make you one of my famous gimlets?"

Her face lights up. "I would love that."

"Great. How about you, Harry? You look like you could use a drink." I flash him a smile he doesn't return.

"Something strong."

I nod. "Mrs. Cope?"

"Well, I don't want to be the only one without a drink, now do I?"

"Course not. Harry, I could use your help with all these drinks. Would you mind?"

"Not at all." He follows me to the bar cart and gives me a solid kiss on the lips. "I hadn't given you a proper hello."

"You seem to have had your hands full."

He chuckles. "Yes. Mom gets a little jumpy when I take her from the home."

"Oh, Mom does, eh?"

His eyebrows lift. "Are you insinuating I am acting irrationally?"

I place my hand on his chest. "You might be acting like a worried son. It's kind of adorable."

"Whatever."

"Have I ever told you it drives me wild when you pout like that?"

"Have I ever told you that your blouse has way too many buttons?"

"No, you've never seen it before."

"Then let me tell you now."

"How about getting me some ice?"