Gardens Of Eden (A Harry Styles Story)

53. Gone With The Wind

"I'm soaked." I laughed, turning my head to see him smiling beside me.

"Me too." He agreed, jumping up. "Shall we go inside?"

I agreed and accepted his help standing, tugging my shirt back into place before turning around to look at the Garden behind me. Harry noticed too.

"Wow... you- you did all this?" He asked, really taking it in for the first time. I grinned and nodded, picking up the empty seed packages that were scattered around. "It looks fantastic!"

"Thank you." I looked around with glee, he wasn't wrong. He kissed my temple.

"You're an amazing woman, Everlee." He said quietly, thrilling me yet again with the sound of my own name on his lips. "Now then, let's get into some dry clothes."

"Actually, you go ahead, I'll be right there." I promised, realizing there was still garbage lying around and tools that would likely rust in the rain. "I just want to clean up the last of this stuff."

"Do you want a hand? There's not much here." He offered, but I wanted a last moment alone with her.

"I got it, promise. How about I meet you in the shower?" I winked, convincing him.

"Okay but don't make me wait too long." He winked back, smacking my ass as he left.

"I would never."

As he went inside, I ran around the garden collecting seed packets, gloves and tools that had been scattered around, tossing it all in the wheelbarrow. Taking one last look around, I closed my eyes and breathed in deep. I could almost hear music in the breeze as it swept over me, and I stopped, looking up at the sky as I let the ghosts inside me go, once and for all.

Turning back to the wheelbarrow, I lifted the handles, ready to bring it back to the house.

Two steps and I realized, my phone was ringing. The music I had heard...

Looking around for the muffled sound, I realized it was still by the apple trees, getting wet in the grass. I sighed and dried it off in my shirt. 

I had a missed call from Danielle.

A sharp pang of guilt hit me as I realized what an absent friend I'd been. Just then, a text came through.

Can you let me in the back gate?

Confused, I looked in the direction of the gate that blocked Harry's yard off from the neighbouring suburb.

Someone was following me and I took a back road. I think I lost them.

The second text made me spring into action. I only knew about the back gate because of Avery, but I raced in that direction, hoping she hadn't been waiting long.

"I'm here, hang on," I said loudly, unhinging the lock and throwing open the gate. "What's going on-" My question was met by empty space

Where are you? I texted her back, more confused than ever. Maybe she was still down the road?

I took a few steps into the neighbouring yard, hoping to see her coming down the street. Instead, parked on the curb, I saw a black SUV, with tinted windows and the engine running. There was no sign of Danielle.

A sick feeling came over me. Something was definitely not right. Spinning back to the safety of the gate, I couldn't have known that I'd already made the most crucial mistake.

That was when I felt it. A pin prick in my neck, and just as I knew I should scream, my last wary thought was of Harry, waiting for me in the shower.