I Carry Your Heart [Harry Styles]

Chapter 17

Present Day-Harry

From Harry: Hi Cam. Can I spend some time with Rory this afternoon? Maybe take her to the beach.

From Camilla: Hey. Sure, I just need to pick her up from school and get her home. I can have her ready by 14h00?

From Harry: Perfect. See you then.

I pull in outside Cam's house and easily find a space to park. As I switch the car off, I take a moment to try calm my nerves. This is the first time I will be spending one on one time with Rory and I am fucking petrified, of a four year old....a fucking four year old.

Tapping anxiously on the steering wheel, I try syke myself up like I would before going on stage, except there's no alcohol or drugs.

After berating myself and my lack of courage, I force myself to get out the car and walk towards the front door, I have to do this if I want to be in my little girls' life, and I really fucking do.

I knock determinedly on the door and immediately I can hear a cacophony of noise, a dog whining, mumbling, music, laughing and a small voice shouting "Harry's here mama" excitedly, which definitely helps settle my nerves.

At least Rory is happy to see me.

The door suddenly swings open and right away I am charged by Poe who jumps up and down excitedly.

"Poe, boy! You have to come inside" Rory chastises him before she greets me eagerly "Hi Harry".

"Hi Rory" I answer brightly, I hope not too brightly.

I really need to calm the fuck down.

Having shepherded the over excited pup back in the house, I finally look at Rory, properly, and I'm met by the cutest sight, which immediately makes my heart swell. She is wearing a bathing suit, featuring a brightly coloured rainbow and sun, as well as a yellow sunhat over her brown curls.

I can just about hear Cam from another room mumble "Baby mouse, you can't open the door like that, it's not safe! You need to wait for me sweet pea".

"But its Harry" she argues.

"I know babe, but what if it hadn't been or Poe had got out" Cam points out calmy as she walks down the passage towards us and comes into view.

"Hi Harry" she says, and I can still heart the posh lilt to her voice that I always loved.

She is wearing a summer mini dress, black with red cherries and delicate tie sleeves. She looks a lot younger than she is, and I hate that my heart still skips a beat when I see her. Fuck I wish it didn't.

"Hey" I answer, simply, not trusting myself to say more.

"Sorry, I wanted to have her ready and waiting at the door when you arrived, but my meeting ran late, and then I was late picking her up and well it just snowballed from there" She says apologetically, avoiding my gaze.

"It's cool, we aren't in a rush" I answer.

She nods and nervously bites her lip, a habit she had that used to drive me crazy.

"Baby" she says to an excited Rory who is deep in conversation with Poe "We need to put your shorts and t-shirt on, over your bathing suit", indicating the clothes in her hands.

She kneels down next to Rory and helps her put her clothes on before she says "Ror? You have to be good for Harry, make sure you don't run off or talk to stranger and you must be careful of the water. And don't forget to say please and thank you".