Ashton's P.O.V.

I was lying on the beach the next morning relaxing when out of nowhere Harry sat down next to me. I gave him a smile, as confident as I could handle, and a simple greeting of "hey."

He smiled in response. "Sorry to interrupt your sunbathing, man. I was meant to be going souvenir shopping with Louis and Delia but those two have wandered off somewhere together," he explained.

I felt a flash of jealousy at his words. "Louis and Delia?" I asked.

He nodded.

"They aren't - I mean they're not -" I attempted to ask but Harry just cut me off with a shake of his head and a laugh.

"You seem sure," I stated. "They've always seemed so close, are you sure they aren't.." My voice trailed off. Harry shrugged in response. "Pretty sure, yeah. I mean Louis' my best mate and Delia is-" he started but I cut him off with "your ex-girlfriend."

Again he laughed softly, nodding this time. "Louis would've told me," he said, softly.

"He didn't tell you about Rachel," I blurted out without thinking. "I'm sorry, I didn't think," I added quickly.

Harry just shrugged. "He did eventually.. Which is something, I guess. But I get why he didn't. I can be a tad over-protective when it comes to my sisters," he admitted with a nonchalant wave of his hand.

"Oh I've noticed," stated, causing him to laugh again.

"You're good for her, you know," he stated, when he had stopped laughing. "You make her happy."

I felt a pang of guilt as I nodded. Harry wasn't lying when he had said he was protective. I knew he wouldn't take well to me cheating on his sister.

"She makes me happy too," I replied softly. "And hey, I'm sorry about Skylar," I added, in an attempt to change the subject. His eyes met mine quickly and he inhaled sharply.

"Sorry, Rachel told me," I explained quickly. "And I see the way you look at her, you care about her a lot," I continued.

"But so does Luke," he stated.

"So does Luke," I repeated.

Before either or us had a chance to say anything else, we heard laughter - Delia's laughter. I looked around and quickly spotted her and Louis walking toward us, her arm linked through his.

I felt my eyes narrow at their proximity. It was bad enough that Rachel and Louis had become buddy-buddy recently, but now him and Delia too? I had to refrain from rolling my eyes.

"You coming or not Styles?" Delia asked.

Harry snorted, muttering about how it wasn't him holding them up. Delia just grinned in response.

"Care to join us, Ashton?" Harry offered.

"Nah, I'm meeting Rachel here soon, we're going swimming," I indicated to the ocean. "But thanks," I added, with a smile.

Harry simply nodded in response, but Louis' eyes widened slightly.

"Watch she doesn't go in too far," he blurted out. I furrowed my brow, while Harry raised an eyebrow at him.

"I mean, you know, there's strong currents.." he said sheepishly. "You'd want to be careful. Both of you," he added hurriedly.

Delia smirked a little and I had to restrain myself from telling him that I could, in fact, look after my own girlfriend.

Instead I simply nodded, while Harry continued to look at him curiously.

"Well, we'll be off then. Bye Ashton," Delia was the first one of them to speak, dragging Louis along with her, her arm still through his.

"Goodbye," Harry gave me a friendly wave before he followed in their direction.

I groaned out loud once they were gone. I actually liked Harry. He was a good guy, someone I could really be friends with. However, I knew for a fact he'd kill me if he ever found out about Delia and I. I really didn't want to test just how much of a protective brother he could be.

Notes