Dahlia’s Point of View

The cab drops me off at Scalini Fedeli, an upscale Italian Restaurant in Tribeca, right before seven. My nerves are getting the best of me, and I was this close to getting right back in the cab and telling the driver to take me back to my apartment. But I’m here. And there’s no going back now.

There’s no sign of Harry outside the restaurant, so I go inside. He stands there, dressed in black slacks and a white button up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. My breath hitches.

“Lia,” he says quietly, his voice barely audible. “You made it.”

All I can do is nod. “The flowers were beautiful, thank you.”

I should’ve probably asked him how he knew I was in New York or where I was staying, but I’m currently in a trance looking at the beautiful man in front of me.

“Your table is ready, Mr. Styles,” the host announces. Harry and I are forced to look away from each other as he shows us to our secluded table near the back of the restaurant. Harry rests a hand on the small of my back as we follow the host, and even pulls out my chair for me to sit down.

“Thanks,” I blush; definitely not used to this chivalry.
“Thanks for meeting with me, Lia,” he says as he sits down. “I didn’t know if you’d come or not.”

“How else would I figure out how you knew I was here?” I tease.

Harry looks a bit uncomfortable after my joke, but doesn’t hesitate to explain. “I was on my way out of work and I saw you walking… I may or may not have followed you to your hotel.”

“Why didn’t you say hi?”

Harry shrugs guiltily. He’s saved when the waiter comes to our table to get our drink order. I’d been so focused on Harry, I hadn’t even looked at the menu yet. Thankfully, Harry speaks up. “We’ll take your best bottle of vermentino, chilled.”

The waiter nods and leaves the table. “Sorry, I hope wines okay with you…”

“It’s fine,” I assure him. “So, I didn’t know you lived in New York,” I admit.

“Yeah. I have office’s in LA and Miami, but I prefer it here… What are you doing here?”

“I’m moving here,” I announce. I suddenly begin to feel apprehensive about my decision to move here. Could I handle living in the same city as him again?

“Really?” He asks with an unreadable expression on his face.

I nod. The waiter returns to the table with our wine just then. He pours a little for Harry to test, and when Harry nods his approval, he pours us each a glass before setting the bottle in the ice to keep it chilled.

One he leaves the table, I continue. “I need to get out of London. Everywhere I turn, I think of Louis. And this is my home. Well, not the City, but America… New York. It’s just time for a change. Sorry, I’m rambling."

“No, you’re not, Lia. I think it’s great. I admire that you’re doing what’s best for you.”

“Thanks,” I smile before taking a sip of wine. “And hopefully I’ll have a better chance at finding a job.”

“You still looking into photography?” He asks.

“Yes. Although I’m not sure how that’ll work out. I should probably have a plan B.”

Harry smiles. “Lia, you’re a great photographer. I’m actually looking for someone to do a shoot for a new band I’m managing. I know you’re more into landscapes and stuff, well at least you were, but do you think you’d be interested in that?”

I suddenly become speechless. I don’t even know what to think.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to…”

“No, no, I’d love that. Wow, thank you,” I mutter.

“Trust me, you’ll be doing me a huge favor. The guy who usually does the shoots for me is a fifty-year-old dick who smells like ass.”

Harry and I both laugh as the waiter returns once again to take our orders. He orders for me again, and I find myself enjoying the gesture. Somehow, Harry remembers what I like, and I find it endearing.

We talk for almost two hours about everything, really. He tells me about a few of the bands and singers he’s managing at the moment, and I tell him about my apartment hunt in the city. I think it’s the most I’ve laughed and enjoyed myself in the last few months, and that worries me.

Harry and I have always had an easy friendship, but that’s what I fear. As much as I try to deny it from myself, I’ve always felt something more for Harry. I’ll never forget the first time I met him all of those years ago in Spain. My heart still races every time I see him just like it had the first time I laid eyes on him, but I’ve always pushed those feelings aside because of Louis. I loved Louis, always had, but Harry… I just always had feelings for him that I kept to myself because I knew it was wrong. I know Harry probably doesn’t reciprocate those feelings, but I guess that should make things easier.

Once the waiter brings out the bill, Harry doesn’t even look at it before pulling out his credit card and handing it to him. I begin to object, but Harry isn’t having it.

“Lia, I invited you. It’s my treat,” he tells me. “And it’s not like I don’t have the money.”

I roll my eyes playfully. “Thank you. I had a nice night.”

“Nice? That’s all I get?”

“Really nice,” I correct myself.

“I was thinking more along the lines of wonderful. Amazing, even.”

As soon as Harry signs the bill and gets his credit card back, he leads me out of the restaurant and starts to walk with me toward the direction of my hotel.

“You know, I have a few extra rooms at my place if you didn’t want to stay at a hotel while you’re here. You’re more than welcome to crash…”

Sounds dangerous, I think. “No, it’s fine. I’ve already paid for the hotel anyway. It’s not so bad.”

Harry seems disheartened at my response, but nods. “Well if you change your mind…”

“Thanks,” I tell him. “I’ll let you know.”

“How long are you staying anyway?”

“I’m not sure. I told myself I wasn’t leaving until I found an apartment, but so far, it’s not looking good.”

“Well you can always just move in with me,” Harry teases and nudges his shoulder into mine.

I laugh. “Only if I get the master bedroom.”

“Well we’d obviously be sharing, so done.”

“You’d get sick of me in like two seconds.”

“Not likely,” he grins.

“Oh yes it’s likely!” I laugh. “Don’t you remember the summer we were here for one of your tours? I came with because I had just graduated, and Louis insisted I stay on the tour bus with you guys? That was hell.”

I couldn’t help but smile at the bittersweet memory. I remember thinking those days were the best of my life—I didn’t have to worry about working, and I was with my boyfriend and best friends 24/7. Looking back now, I just remember being in everyone’s personal space, and vice versa. But more specifically, I remember how close Harry and I had grown that summer. Being with him almost every second of the day was a dangerous situation. I couldn’t help but imagine the risks we’d be taking if I really had moved in with him, whether he was joking or not.

“Best summer of my life,” he reminisces with a smirk. I got the feeling he wasn’t being sarcastic.

“Well besides the fact, no, I will not move in with you,” I tell him sassily. “I am meeting with my realtor again tomorrow, and I just know I’ll find the perfect place. I feel it.”

Just then, we reach the Hilton Hotel where I am staying, but I don’t go right in. “I could come with you, help you out? I’ve lived her for awhile, even I could show you around.”

“That’s sweet, but you don’t need to. I’ll be okay. Like I said, I feel it. Tomorrow’s going to be the day!”

Harry laughs. “All right, Lia. Then at least agree to hang out with me tomorrow. I’ll pick you up after your done looking.”

I pretended to think whether or not I wanted to spend more time with him, but in reality, I would agree. Although it was probably in my best interest to decline, I knew I couldn’t resist.

“Okay.”

“Okay?” He asks, surprised. I nod with a smile. “Great. I’ll just call you—hold up. I don’t even have your number.”

“All this just to get my number?” I tease.

“No shame, Lia,” he smirks, showing those deep, handsome dimples. He pulls his phone from his pocket, types something, then hands it to me.

I enter my number under my name and hand it back. “Hate to break it to ya, but my name’s Dahlia. Can’t forget the Dah,” I’m in the teasing mood tonight, and it feels good to joke around.

“Oh shit, is it really? Fuck, why didn’t you tell me that ten years ago? That’s so embarrassing Dahlia. I am so sorry,” he mocks.

I can’t stop myself from giggling, and he laughs too. “Admit it, you love it when I call you Lia.”

I just shrug. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Haz.”

“It’s Harry!” He yells back as I make my way inside the hotel.

When my mouth began to ache from all the smiling I had done that night, I knew I wouldn’t last long in the web that is Harry Styles. He held too much power over me, whether I chose to admit that to myself or not.

---

The day had flown by, and before I knew it, I was back in my hotel room and Harry was calling me. I had already changed into a pair of skinny jeans and a light cream colored sweater, and curled my hair into loose waves in anticipation for the night, but that was clearly too presumptuous once I had ended the call with him.

“Hey,” I answered on the third ring.

“Hey Lia. You back to the hotel yet?”

“Yep. Did you still want to hangtonight?”

“Of course, just seeing if you were back yet. I’ll pick you up in ten.”

“Great. I’ll head down.”

“Oh, and Lia,—“

“Yeah?”

“Wear your hair up, and bring a jacket. Preferably leather.”

Oh God, I thought to myself. If he is planning on what I think he’s planning, I should be nervous.

“Okay, see you in a few.”

I hung up my phone and quickly changed into my old Beetles T-shirt and put on the leather jacket that I had (thankfully) brought. I brushed my hair into a ponytail and ditched my purse, only bringing my phone and wallet.

Harry had been waiting for me by the time I got downstairs, looking as amazing per usual. His hair was pushed back with some sort of bandana, and he, too, wore a leather jacket. I swear my mouth was watering at the sight.

Get a grip, Dahlia.

“Hi,” I smiled.

“Hi,” I said, equally as happy. “Here.” I stood still as he tied a bandana similar to his around my head. “There, now we’re ready.”

“I can’t believe you have a motorcycle.”

“How did you know?” He frowned, as if I’d ruined the surprise.

I laughed. “You told me to wear a leather jacket. Why else would you make me wear this?” I joked, holding the lapels of my coat.

“I don’t know,” he shrugged, “maybe I have a thing for girls in leather?”

“And the bandana?”

“All right, you got me. I hope you’re not too afraid,” he taunted.

Oh, I was afraid. Not so much for the motorcycle, however, but rather the fact that we’d be forced to sit very close, and I’d have to hold onto him.

I ignored his question. “Where are we going?”

He smiled that incredibly irresistible smile. “You’ll see,” he winks.

I shook my head, reminding him how impossible he was and hopped onto the bike after him. “Don’t be shy, Lia,” he said and grabbed my hands so they were held tightly around his torso. “Hold on,”

I did as I was told, and held on for dear life as he took off. I don’t know how long we drove, but I felt too content riding along with him, my arms wrapped around him and our bodies touching.



Harry’s Point of View

I found myself taking the long way to my secret spot just so I could feel Lia’s arms wrapped around me for a bit longer. They were so small, yet they held so much comfort. They always had.

I finally stopped and parked in a vacant lot. I helped her off the bike before myself, then led her to the old small building across the lot.

“What’s this?” She asked as she tried to fix her wind-blown hair. I wanted to tell her she looked perfect, and that she didn’t need to keep running her fingers through her long, silky hair, but I figured I shouldn’t.

“Jay’s Bakery,” I stated as I held the door open for her.

I went straight to the counter and ordered two hot chocolates and two red velvet cupcakes as Lia went to admire the old photographs on the wall. I knew she would dig this place as much as I did. I knew she’d like it even more when she took a bite of this cupcake.

Once the worker gave me my order, I could only force Lia out of the bakery by promising her I’d bring her back.

“Those pictures are beautiful,” she said as I led her back outside and over to the grassy area beside the Hudson River. We were in an area where it was relatively quiet. A few cars had driven by, but no one else was in the park where we were sitting.

“I figured you’d like them,” I said and handed her a styrofoam cup of the warm cocoa. “Try this.”

I handed her the cupcake and watched her eyes go wide. “You really need to stop remembering all of my favorite foods. You’re going to get me fat.”

“Just try it!”

She complied, taking a big bite out of the cake. And fuck me for thinking this was a good idea—the moan that escaped her throat had me shifting uncomfortably to hide my body’s reaction. I was hard as a fucking rock by the time she finished the cupcake.

“Holy, that’s amazing! Best I’ve ever had.”

“I found this place the day I moved here. I didn’t have the label or a house, so I just drove around, and came across it. I was starving, and everything else was closed, so I went in. Now I come back all the time,” I admit.

“Well thanks for bringing me. I’ll definitely make you bring me back.”

My pleasure, I thought.

“Speaking of, did you find an apartment today?”

I had been hoping she would all day, only because the thought of her leaving literally made my heart ache. After the night we shared yesterday, I didn’t think I could be away from her any longer. I also wanted her to be happy, and I knew moving here was something that could help her with that.

“I did,” she smiled.

“Really?” I couldn’t contain my excitement, and seeing her that happy did funny things to my heart. “So you were right, today was the day.”

“Yeah, I guess. I can’t believe it, really. It’s perfect. It looks over Central Park, and it’s everything I wanted in an apartment.”

“I’m glad. And that means we can hang out every. single. day,” I told her, only half joking.

“You wish.”

Yeah, I do.

We ended up sitting in the quiet park, spending more time getting to know each other again. I noticed she tried not to mention Louis, or anything involving him, but I couldn’t decide whether it was because it was too painful for her, or she knew it might make things awkward between us.

I knew that if I ever got lucky enough to date Lia there would be a lot of talk and gossip headline the media, but I couldn’t seem to distance myself from her. On some level I knew it was wrong and selfish to be spending this much time with her when I knew I could never have her, but I couldn’t stop. She had always been someone I was pulled to; she always made me feel like I was actually Harry, the guy that grew up in a small town, not Harry Styles, ex One Direction member turned billionaire record label owner. She saw me, and she didn’t care about the money or fame.

Notes

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