Serendipity by the Sea

Chapter Twenty-Six

“This place is my favorite,” Sarah started as they got out of the car at a building that looked like an old barn.  “I found this place a while ago and the food is amazing.”

The pair walked inside, hand in hand, and the welcome sign said “Seat Yourself Please.”  Harry felt a sigh of relief as Sarah led him towards a booth near the left side of the restaurant.  The two sat down and Sarah pulled the menus out of the holder on the table

“Beer?”  Sarah asked Harry, who smiled at her with a nod. Sarah reached over to a sign on the table that had two license plates hanging from a nail. The red sign said “Got Beer” and the blue sign said “Need Beer.”  The blue sign showed visible towards the table to cue their waitress.  

Harry laughed as Sarah flipped the sign and smirked at him. He felt more comfortable here than at the previous restaurant and he could tell Sarah felt the same way.  He liked how she was vocal about the place he took her and it made him really appreciate the way she said he didn’t need to impress her with fancy things. 

“I really loved the flowers, Harry. Thank you for sending them.”  Sarah said as they waited for their meals to arrive.  Sarah ordered a cheeseburger and fries, while Harry ordered a steak.  The two were on their second beers of the night.

“I felt really awful about how our last date ended. I wanted to make it up to you somehow. But, it seems like you are showing me up by bringing me here.”  Harry laughed.

“No. No. No.  Don’t feel that way.  I’m just super easy going. I don’t need fancy dinners and expensive things.”  Sarah said as they held hands across the table.  Harry looked around the restaurant to see that no one was looking at them, no one was taking photos and no one seemed to be pointing in their direction.  He sat back in his seat feeling more comfortable here with Sarah than he had any other time in his life.

“I guess I’ll have to make it up to you some other way,” Harry winked.

The two took a long drink from their beers and Harry blurted out, “So, when are you going to ask me to be your date to the Monet event?”

Sarah blushed, “Oh. Well. How do you know I don’t have a date already?”

Harry instantly became nervous and embarrassed.  The two hadn’t talked about being exclusive, but he never felt that she was actually seeing someone else.  Before he could speak again, Sarah said, “I’m just kidding! Gosh, don’t take things so seriously!”

Harry pushed her hand away and crossed his arms. He had a smirk on his face as he jutted his bottom lip out in a pout.

“Harry Styles, the best looking man I know. Will you please accompany me to this amazing event at my Museum next weekend?”  Sarah declared to Harry in a way that was humorous, but with a serious face.

“No, I will not.”  Harry said, still with his arms crossed and still pouting.

Sarah played into his game and copied Harry’s expression by crossing her arms.  The waitress came over with their dinners and Harry quickly unfolded his arms to dig right into the large steak, potato and vegetable in front of him.  Sarah leaned forward and pushed his meal away from him, stood up from her seat and leaned across the table. 

“Please?”  Sarah whispered, about three inches away from Harry’s face.

He leaned closer and kissed her.  Harry’s hand caressed the back of Sarah’s head and held her close to him, as she leaned across the table and standing up from her side of the booth.  The two held their spot for a few seconds before he released her from his grasp.  “I’ll take that as a yes then.” Sarah smiled, as she sat back down.

Harry was amazed at this woman sitting in front of him and knew he needed to do things differently with this one.  The two spoke about the event and what else Sarah had to get done before the opening on the weekend.  As she spoke, he could tell she was excited about the whole thing and he daydreamed about her beauty, her laugh and how happy she made him.

“Do you want another beer?”  Harry said, as he flipped the blue license plate over on their table.

“Sure, but just one more.”  Sarah answered and slid her hand across the tabletop for Harry to grab. He laced his fingers through hers and noticed that they fit perfectly.  The past few relationships he was in, their hands never fit just right. He noticed Sarah’s smile, her eyes, and how easy she made things seem and he smiled at her.

“I’m glad you asked me to go with you. Even if it was sarcastically.”  Harry said sincerely.

“I’m glad you are coming with me.  I’m so nervous and it’ll be good to have you there to calm me down. I have a speech to give that night.” 

“I calm you down?” Harry questioned as their beers arrived and were placed in front of them.

“Of course you do.  These past few weeks, you have given me more confidence and spoken me through a lot of things. I really love that.  I mean, we talk every night on the phone and you do the littlest thing by just asking about my day. You may not even be interested in hearing the answer, but you ask and it makes my night to hear your voice on the other end of the phone.”  Sarah exclaimed.

Harry blushed, “I love hearing your voice get excited about the smallest thing like candles and table clothes.”  

They both laughed and Sarah hit his hand in a teasing way.  He lifted her left hand to his lips and kissed the inside of her palm.  The second his lips hit her skin; she felt electricity run straight to her head.