Breaking news: Hard partying rock star Harry Styles continues his downward spiral. Can new tour manager Niall Horan help him save his career? My sources inside Harry's camp think he's beyond help. Follow me for all the latest news on this tragic...
Author's note: In this chapter there is mention of recreational drug use and drinking. Please do not read if these are triggers for you.
Harry clasps Niall's hand in his, resting it on his thigh for the remainder of the trip. It's nice, his touch. He was surprised when Harry took the keys from Carl. Niall's usually the one taking care of everything and everyone. He's not entirely comfortable letting others do for him, but tonight, with Harry behind the wheel he feels the permanent knot between his shoulders unwind a couple notches.
The sat nav announces a right turn in fifty feet and Niall sits up to help look for it. "Right up there," Niall points.
Harry makes the turn and creeps along the dirt drive. When they round the last bend, they both sigh at what they see.
"Bloody hell, they said they rented a cabin, not a fuckin resort," Niall laughs, opening the door of the car.
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Welcome boys, the beer's cold and the guitars are hot!" They both look in the direction of the voice which seems to be coming from an upper deck. "I'll be down in just a sec, hang on."
Niall gathers the empty cups where he'd thrown them in the floorboard. They step out of the car and pull their gear from the trunk, both checking themselves in the dim light for stains from their earlier activities. Walking toward the house, Harry squeezes Niall's hand for reassurance. A door on the ground level opens and a figure steps out on the landing, illuminated by an overhead light.
"Irish, it's taken ya long enough to get out here, come in. Is this Harry?" the man offers his hand and Harry shifts the guitar on his shoulder to shake.
"Harry, this is David Stoddard," Niall introduces them.
"Dude, huge fan of your music, Rog and I listen to it all the time."
Niall watches shock flash across Harry's face before he quickly recovers. "Comin from you, that's a real honor. I've been a fan of yours since your first album. Can't believe we've never crossed paths before."
"You'd think since we share managers, right?"
David leads them into the house and down a hallway which opens into a large bedroom suite. "Hope you don't mind bein down here, we thought it would be best. Rog and I aren't really keepin regular hours right now and we didn't want to disturb ya. Never know when inspiration's gonna hit, am I right?" He looks to Harry who nods in agreement. "This is the nicest room on this floor but there's a couple others over here," he gestured to the other side of the hall, "and the tv's out there in the lounge. Settle in wherever you like. Plenty of space and Rog and I are the only ones here right now. Lita and Sophie are comin out next weekend for a bit," he tells them, turning to Niall. "Hey, how's the new gig goin? Rog said you got a mention on Billboard, congrats, man," he smiles and gives Niall a high five.
"Yeah, s'been good. She's something else."
"Great, great, okay, so get yourselves settled and just come up those stairs over there," their eyes follow David's pointing finger. "We've got a cooler full of beer and Rog is layin down this sweet ass guitar track right now, you gotta hear it."
