Stay Close [h.s.]

Chapter 5

It poured rain when we got back to London. Harry sent me inside while he and Peter, his driver, carried our bags in from the car. When I pushed open the door to our townhouse, I felt the strongest sense of being home.

I had been living primarily in Harry's townhouse since our engagement, but there had always been a subtle distinction between what was mine and what was his. Now that we were married, those distinctions disappeared.

"Right behind you, love," Harry said, lifting one oversized suitcase over the threshold of the house. I moved out of his way. "Just a few more."

The foyer was filled with gifts from the wedding arranged in organized stacks. Brendan had offered to have all the gifts unpackaged and thank you notes issued while we were on our honeymoon, but Harry and I insisted we do it ourselves.

"Oh, right," Harry muttered, joining me in the foyer. He and Peter had wrestled the last of the luggage into the house. Harry ran his fingers through his hair a few times. "Guess we better deal with all this."

The heaps of beautifully wrapped packages seemed daunting. I could sense Harry's exhaustion from our journey home. He hadn't slept much on the plane.

"I'll start on these," I offered. I took off my coat and hung it on the coat closet doorknob. "You head up and get some rest."

"You sure?"

"Of course."

He sighed. "Thanks love."

Harry shed his coat and sidestepped a mound of gifts to get to the stairs. I listened as he made his way up and into our bedroom. I heard the distinct clatter of his belt buckle on the hardwood floor as he stepped out of his jeans. Then I heard the creak of the bedframe shift as he climbed into bed.

I sat on the bottom stair and picked up a pile of envelopes. The first one had Mr. and Mrs. Harry Styles printed in calligraphy. I tore it open and pulled out a shimmery white card. Inside, a short message read, Best wishes to the happy couple. May you find endless joy in each other.

Many of the envelopes contained certificates indicating wedding guests had donated to a charity in our honor instead of buying us a gift. It was humbling to see people donate their money to charities on our behalf as a token of their support.

I made my way through nearly a dozen cards. I kept track of each one we received so I could send an appropriate thank-you later. Just as I reached for the first gift to open, I heard a call from upstairs.

"Kate?"

I stood up. "Yes?"

"Can you come here?"

When I got to the bedroom, I found Harry lying in bed. "What is it, love?"

He opened his eyes. "Come lie down."

"I'm opening gifts, remember?"

"That can wait. I want you here with me, please."

"Harry..."

"I sleep better when you're with me."

At that, I took off my shoes and jeans and joined Harry in bed. He pulled the covers back so I could slip in beside him. He cuddled into me immediately, resting his head in the crook of my neck.

We woke up at six in the evening after nearly three hours of sleep. Harry was the first to stir, dragging his arm out from under my head when he got up to use the bathroom. When he came back to the bed, he informed me he was going to look for something to eat.

"Nothing for me," I mumbled.

He walked around to my side of the bed. One of my legs was out from under the covers and Harry reached for it. He tickled it gently with the tips of his fingers. "Nothing?"