Golden

16

"This was a bad idea. This was a bad idea. This was a bad idea. This was a really bad idea."
I was pacing around my room with my hands on my head trying to control my breathing and get a grip on myself. After hanging up the phone, I immediately drank two more tequila nips from the minibar, feeling the alcohol warm my already overheating body. I threw open my suitcase and frantically tried to find something else to wear, realizing I was still in plain black leggings and a faded, vintage Fleetwood Mac t-shirt from the six hour flight.
I rummaged through my hastily packed clothes, mentally scolding myself for not bringing more things besides ratty band tee's and black pants. I pulled out a dark mini skirt, mistaking it initially for another cropped t-shirt. I examined it, remembering that I had borrowed it from Quinn a few months ago for a girls' night out and had forgotten to give it back to her. I held it up to my body, realizing that it was short, very short.
I slipped my leggings off and the skirt on, quickly glancing in the mirror at my reflection. I spun around, making sure the fabric covered at least some of my backside, thankful that the tequila was giving me some courage for riskier fashion choices. I kept the Fleetwood Mac shirt on, not wanting Harry to think that I was trying too hard. I wanted to keep at least some of my pride.
I took a shaky breath and strolled over to the window in my bedroom that overlooked the sparkling Los Angeles skyline. I was surprised to find that the window opened up to a balcony with a small sitting area outside. I crept through the doorway and felt a warm summer breeze rush passed my face.
This is very different from sneaking onto my fire escape, I thought to myself as I gripped the railing and peered over the edge towards the city lights.
My mind raced back to another Four Seasons balcony across the country, the one I had met Harry on. So much had changed since then. And so much more was probably going to change.
My phone vibrated in my palm and I glanced down, Harry's number flashing across the screen as my heart skipped a beat.
This was actually happening.
"Hey stranger."
"Hey baby."
My skin lit up. I would never get over him calling me baby.
"Are you canceling on me?" I teased, retreating back into my room and shutting the balcony door behind me. I carefully checked my reflection in the mirror once more, feeling nervous, but doing my best not to sound like it.
"Never in a million years," Harry replied coolly. "But I am calling to let you know I'm close by."
"I'll be down in the lot waiting," I said, gathering my purse and matting my curls down with my free hand.
"Perfect." I could hear Harry's smile through the phone.
"See you soon."
I went to hang up, but heard Harry's voice echoing through my speaker once more. "Lucy?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm so glad that you're here."
I bit my lip, trying to suppress the widest grin dancing across my mouth. "Me too, Harry. Me too."

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I rocked back and forth on my heels in the Four Seasons parking lot. I squinted into the night, hearing the gentle rumblings of a car engine in the distance, but not seeing anything in my sights. Suddenly, a white Classic Mercedes Benz came into view, slowly pulling forward with its headlights off.
I took a hesitant step back, debating quickly if I should go back inside or not. But just as I turned to leave, I heard a familiar voice call out in the darkness.
"Lucy! It's me!"
I spun around, feeling a sense of relief and nervousness simultaneously wash over me at once. I watched the car roll to stop in front of me and Harry's hand was hanging out the window as he turned the headlights back on for a quick moment. I took one step towards the car, telling myself over and over again to remain calm even though my hands were trembling. I didn't even get a chance to take a second step before I noticed that Harry was already jumping out of the driver's side door and racing towards me.
"What are you-" I began to ask, but his lips cut me off and silenced me immediately.
He pressed his hands against my face, kissing me so fiercely that I could feel his longing on my mouth. I gasped as he pulled me into him, tasting the greediness and desire for me on his tongue. His hands traveled to my hips, resting just above where my skirt ended. With his lips on mine, a thousand suppressed memories instantly came to the forefront of my mind. His touch, his taste, his scent, his body - I wanted it all, all over again.
"I've missed you," he moaned into my mouth. He ran his finger down the side of my cheek, leaving a trail of sparks on the surface of my skin.
"I can tell," I quipped, wrapping my arms around his shoulders as his hands twisted around my back.
He pulled back slightly, scanning my body slowly as a low whistle escaped his lips. His spun me around gently, wanting to see me from every angle. When my back was turned towards him, I heard him murmur, "Wow."
"What?" I slyly asked, glancing at him over my shoulder quickly before turning back to face him.
Harry's eyes were hungrily taking in every inch of me. His grip on me tightened. "I'm having trouble really believing that you're real and you're here and you're all mine tonight."
I had never heard such perfect words.
I grabbed his shirt and tugged him into me, carefully biting his bottom lip with my teeth. I felt his body stiffen against me, being driven even more wild by my touch.
"You better believe it, Styles."
Harry's hands continued their exploration, rediscovering all the parts of me that his fingertips had memorized before, but were happily getting reacquainted with. He swallowed hard, pressing his forehead against mine. Even in the dark, his green eyes still shined so brightly.
"I want to keep kissing you," Harry told me, brushing a stray strand of hair out of my face that the warm wind had rustled loose. "But the other things I want to do to you probably shouldn't be done in public outside of this hotel."
I laughed as Harry took my hand and intertwined his fingers in mine. He guided me towards the passenger seat of his car, opening the door for me before I hopped in.
"Another new ride," I noted as Harry climbed into the driver's seat next to me. "Headlights broken on this one?"
Harry smirked. "I didn't want to draw any more attention to us. I usually always keep my headlights off when I'm picking someone up for privacy."
My mind suddenly flashed to the magazine article Ethan had showed me in the airport. I fought off the toxic thoughts, fears and doubts that were quickly infiltrating my mind, wondering who else he had been picking up in the middle of the night. I nodded and smiled as he grabbed my hand and rested it against the top of my thigh as he put the car in drive. He took one last glance at me from behind the steering wheel. We smiled at each other, both of our eyes sparkling with anticipation and we took off into the night.