The Neighbors

Chapter 32

Harry and I had an amazing night's sleep, tangled together under a down comforter. I woke up and just enjoyed the fact that he was so close. I was also thankful for our discussion last night. I knew that Harry had a good head on his shoulders, but I just wanted him to be fully aware of the commitment that marriage and family entails.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked, his morning voice rough and low.

"I didn't even notice you were awake," I smiled. "Just thinking about us."

"What about us?" He asked.

"I really want this to work, you know? It will be so hard for us to let go if you realize you're not cut out for this," I said.

"What if you realize you don't want me?" He teased.

"Meh, I'll live," I said flippantly and shrugged my shoulders.  

"Oh, really? What if I do this?" And he gave me a kiss that made fireworks go off in my body.

"Just keep doing that, and I'll be fine," I sighed.

"So, how long are we going to wait? You know, how long should we practice?"

"What do you think?" I asked. "A few years max."

"Years?!" He shouted.

"I'm just kidding. A few months, maybe? Six months? I don't know. Life will always be changing and challenging, so I don't think there's a magical amount of time. I just want you to get your feet wet."

We decided to get up and do some outdoor sightseeing before returning home. It was late March and the snow had mostly melted, and the forecast was calling for a warm and sunny day.

We had a leisurely breakfast in the hotel's cafe. While we were finishing our coffee, a college girl approached our table.

"Hey, are you Harry Styles?"

He gave her a funny look and said, "Yes..."

"I saw you performing at the Loft a few weeks ago. You're really good! Keep it up!" She smiled cheerfully and walked away.

We looked at each other and burst out laughing. "Oh, my gosh, Harry! You're already a celebrity!"

He looked down at his coffee and said, "That was nice, wasn't it?" And I could swear I saw a little blush form on his cheeks.

We went to Lake Harriet and walked one of the trails that had dried up nicely after the winter. Harry wore his knit beanie again, and I thought it made him look even younger than he was, but I didn't really care. And no one seemed to be staring at the older woman stealing kisses from the teenaged hunk.

Then we went to the Sculpture Garden, home of the famous "spoon and cherry" sculpture. Harry and I took pictures from a distance, trying to make it look like we were eating the cherry off the spoon or climbing onto the cherry.

As we were leaving, Harry suggested, "Let's take the girls here this summer." I nodded my head in agreement and then he said, "Or maybe I'll take them here myself on a daddy-daughter outing." His lips curled up into one of his adorable smirks.

"No offense, babe, but I don't want them calling you Daddy just yet," I said cautiously.

"I'm not offended at all because you just called me babe," he grinned. Then he pulled me in close and kissed me on the temple. He opened the door to his car so that I could climb in. We held hands all the way home.

The girls were thrilled to see us, and Rachael ran straight to Harry. I gave him a look that said, "I'm impressed," but I knew she adored him, so it wasn't a huge surprise.