In My Arms

“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re now entering our final approach to Heathrow airport. We ask that you now adjust your seats into their full and upright positions, stowing any loose objects underneath your seat or in the pocket in front of you.”

Elizabeth leaned over and plucked her brown and pink purse from underneath her seat, shoving her earbuds in the main pocket. Pulling out her compact, she quickly applied fresh eyeliner and mascara. She was used to the flight to Europe, between occasionally visiting her dad and various movie shoots or press tours, but the trip never got easier. Flying was miserable. The travel time was miserable. It was hard enough to relax, let alone sleep, on a flight and as far as she was concerned, it felt like she’d been awake for seventy-two hours or so.She’d blearily stared at the locator map—monitoring the slow crossing of the Atlantic, studied her script, watched episodes of “Chip ‘N Dale’s Rescue Rangers” but she’d never actually napped.There was nothing better than the combination of jet lag, too many inflight mixed drinks, and the sheer exhilaration of seeing Harry again.

She pulled her hair down from a messy bun and shook it loose, looping the hair tie around her wrist.Breathe in.Breathe out.Breathe in.Breathe.Final approach—on the ground soon.

“I think you look great.”

The voice of the man beside her made her jump.It was only the third thing he’d said the entire flight, falling right behind “I beg your pardon, I believe this is my seat” and “I beg your pardon, but I need to use the loo.”

She liked silent seat partners.Now was not the time to strike up conversation.“Thanks.It’s hard to look acceptable after a transatlantic flight.”

“Please, you’re gorgeous.Very exotic.”He ran his hands through his hair, a movement no doubt intended to be casual but definitely came off as creepy.

“Well, thank you.”She didn’t qualify a mainly British background as terribly exotic, but she also didn’t want to egg him on.“That’s very nice.”

“Business or pleasure?”

“Excuse me?”

“Are you traveling for business or pleasure?”

“I’m visiting my boyfriend.”She shoved her purse underneath the seat in front of her.It was hard to tell if he was just flirting to flirt or if he recognized her; she hoped he was just lusty and crusty.Move along.

“He’s a lucky man.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, but I really don’t care for flying and I need to concentrate.Uh, meditate.Sorry.”She settled her head against the seat and closed her eyes.Final approach meant, what, twenty minutes or so? Ten?

“I know who you are.”

Damn it.

“Look, I can be discreet.Let me buy you dinner.”

“Nope, no I’m good.I don’t really want to think about food right now.”She clenched her teeth together and forced herself to remain relaxed.Just be pleasant.Happy and sweet.“That’s quite kind but I have previous engagements.”

“At least let me buy you a drink at the airport.Maybe just a photograph?I’m not asking you to sleep with me or something.”There was a pause.“Unless your boyfriend is cool with that kind of thing.”

Elizabeth swallowed hard.The plane was bouncing around as it descended to a lower elevation.It was simultaneously horrifying and elating: fast on the ground, fast hightailing it off the plane.There seemed to be three distinct types of fans: nice, panicked, and creepy.He was definitely creepy.“He’s not.I can assure you.”

“Tom Hiddleston, right?”

“Um, what?” Elizabeth ventured a look at him.“No.I’m not dating Tom Hiddleston.”

“Sure you are.”

“Pretty sure I’m not.”

“Come on, Anna, you can be cool with me.I’m discreet.I’m not going to sell your story to the tabloids or something.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes.“I’m not Anna Blessing.”

“Bullshit.You look exactly like her.”

“I’m actually about five inches shorter than Anna.”

He was silent for a moment, no doubt looking her over to determine if she was lying—and just to look her over.“Okay, Anna, if you want to play that way, that’s fine.You’re not Anna and I’m not Jake.That’s kind of hot.”

He thankfully fell silent as the plane landed on the tarmac, the sudden impact enough to pitch her forward in her seat.She wanted to fist pump in the air.Fucking flights.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to London, England and Heathrow Airport.The local time is now seven-fifteen in the evening.Temperatures are a balmy 50 degrees and we’ve got a lot of rain and cloud cover.What can I say, folks, welcome to Britain.We’ll be coming in at terminal 3.”

Elizabeth snatched her purse off the floor and flipped her phone off airplane mode.She fired off a quick text to Harry.Longest flight of my life, but at least I’m on time.”

His response was almost immediate.I’m gonna rock you like a gravel road tonight baby.I’m at baggage claim trying to blend in with a plant.It’s working.

She grinned.God, she missed him.

“Is that Tom?”

“Nope.”

“Come on.”

“It’s not.”She unfastened her seatbelt and judged the passengers in front of them.The exit wasn’t that far and she’d run track in high school.She’d hurdle the old woman with the hat if she had to.

“Can I at least have your autograph?”

She nodded and took the pen and day planner out of his hands.The top sheet had a telephone number scribbled across the top; she ignored it.As the plane lurched to a stop, she quickly scribbled: Still not Anna Blessing.All the best, Elizabeth Richards.

As soon as the man in the front row of first class stood and approached the exit, she bolted from her seat and queued up behind him.Thank Jesus for aisle seats—and not bringing any carry-on luggage.

The wait for the exit door to be opened was excruciating, but finally the stewardess pushed it open and stepped aside.Elizabeth scampered off the plane, launching into full tilt speed walking.For a split second, she almost smiled.The only other time she’d walked this fast was after her first trip to the Golden Globes.She’d had too much to drink and had to pee well before the first forty-five minutes of the ceremony was over.A little jig had accompanied her acceptance speech.Nothing if not glamorous.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she pulled it out, glancing at the screen.It was Harry: Still with the plant.Fancy a threesome?

She texted back, maneuvering around slower people like a pro.Cheeky boy.I’ll be there in four minutes.

The baggage claim was bustling with all the incoming flight movement; people queued around the baggage carousels and hovered against walls, their faces turned down to stare at cell phones or scanning the belt for their luggage. She bypassed them all.At the far end, near the lost baggage office, she could see a huge fern in desperate need of pruning.Next the fern, however, was a bench.

And seated on that bench, was Harry Styles.

He was dressed in a baggy brown hoodie—hood up—and tight black jeans.From the distance she was at, she couldn’t see his eyes, but he noticeably perked as she walked down the center aisle. Her heart rocketed into her throat; her pulse shooting off at a ridiculous pace and cadence that didn’t seem healthy.Four weeks apart hadn’t been a lifetime, but it felt like it.

The last three yards away from him were the hardest; it felt like she was moving in slow motion as she rounded the final baggage carousel to where he was waiting.She broke into a run the last several steps and threw herself into his arms. Finally.

He lifted her up into his arms and spun her around, pressing his face against hers.“You smell amazing.”

“You’re not so bad yourself.”She stood on her tip toes and pressed her lips to his.His cologne was intoxicating; musky and spicy.“I missed you, Hazza.Four weeks was too long.”

His breath was hot in her ear.“You have no idea how badly I want you right now.”

“Why don’t you show me instead?”

Harry pressed his forehead to hers and smile, his dimples seeming to punctuate how happy he was.Before he could spoke, Paul clapped a hand on his shoulder.“Okay, guys, you two are cute and all, but let’s move it outside.There’s some girls two carousel’s down who, I think, are onto him.Head out to the car and I’ll wait for your luggage.Elizabeth, what’s your bag look like?”

“It’s purple with a black scarf tied around the handle.It’s hard to miss.”

If Harry was interested in Paul’s response, he didn’t make any movement to acknowledge him.He slid his hand to Elizabeth’s and laced his fingers around hers, leading her out of the baggage claim.The outside air was brisk compared to the comfortable airport.She nuzzled her face against his arm and sighed.It was like transitioning from purgatory to heaven—sheer, complete bliss.

After a few moments, a black SUV slowed to a stop in front of them.The window rolled down; Louis’s smiling face was on the other side.“Hello, love.Going my way?”

“LT! How’s it hanging?”She crawled into the back seat of the vehicle, pausing briefly to lean over and hug him.

“Always good when you’re around.”He waited for Harry to shut the door and then eased back onto the main road.“I, personally, enjoy spending my Friday nights circling the airport waiting to fetch Harry and his hot girlfriend.Admittedly, though, this is the first time I’ve been to the airport since 2011 without the paparazzi bothering me.It was quite refreshing!”

“We saw you on Jimmy Fallon the other night.”Harry slid his arm around her, pulling her against him.“I was especially fond of you talking about your new house and the ‘stuff and things’ you were doing on the kitchen island.”

God, she’d missed that raspy, deep voice.It was like listening to a cat purr.

“I was appalled because I,” Louis paused to emphaisis, “am innocent.I did’t realize the things you were doing included Haz.”

“Harry, studying my script, eating breakfast, you know.”Elizabeth shrugged casually.“It’s a multipurpose utility island.”

“I hope you cleaned with bleach afterwards.”

“Ignoring that squirrelly bastard up there,” Harry leaned over and kissed her, “is there anything you want to do while you’re in town?I mean, other than me of course.”

Not really.“I should probably visit my dad.Or, at least, call and see if he’s around to go visit.Want to come with me?I’ll understand if you don’t want to go.I mean, he’s intense.Drug addled.”

He cradled her face in his hand and studied her, caressing her check with his thumb.“No, I want to meet him.He’s Keith Richards.”

“Yes.He reminds me of that quite frequently.”She lowered her voice tried to make it sound gravelly.“I’m Keith Richards, damn it, and if anyone is going to critique your singing and give you a Grammy, it’s going to be me because I invented music back in 1964.How dare anyone say that you’re not the hottest piece in Hollywood right now?Do they know who you are?”

“Well, I think you’re the hottest piece in Hollywood right now.”Harry pulled her hand to his lips, first kissing her open palm and then individually kissing each finger.“If Louis would drive faster, we could get…ah…reacquainted.”

“Louis can hear, you know.”Louis flicked on his turn signal and merged lanes.“Fucking city traffic.Where are all these people going at seven at night?”

Harry smirked.“Probably to the airport to look for us.”

Louis made some sort of squawking noise in his throat and then chuckled.“Yes, well, you’re lucky I like her more than I like you.I’d have let you get cab.”

“We’re done talking, Louis.”Harry tilted her chin up and pressed his lips to hers, holding her face with both of his hands and locking her in place.He flicked his tongue against hers, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth and gently biting the soft flesh.

She felt like she could melt into this arms, the tantalizing pressure of his lips against hers was driving her crazy.He’d start to kiss her deeply and then pull back, lightly kissing the corner of her mouth or just brushing his lips against hers.She was vaguely aware of Louis talking, more to himself than to either of them, “So….okay, this is awkward.Harry, your flat is like, a mile from here.Please…please don’t do that with her shirt.I’ll have to pull this car over and insist I come back there and monitor your behavior.Harry.Harry, hand check.Where’s your right hand?”

Harry mumbled against her lips, barely moving his face from hers.“Watch and I’ll show you how I make my fingers disappear.”

“Christ, Harry, I can see your flat from here.Keep it together, man.”

####

Harry made love to her for as long as he could, then apologized that he hadn’t been able to last longer.They fooled around in the shower for a while and then, with a bottle of wine and a plate of cheese and crackers, they climbed into his bed to relax.

She pulled his black t-shirt over her head and popped a piece of cheese in her mouth.“So, Brent ended up calling me back and apologized for acting like an asshole.”

“Good.There’s no reason you couldn’t come visit me.You didn’t miss any of your promo events, did you?”

“No, I did all the West Coast shit last week and then finished up the East Coast interviews last night.I just have to be back in New York to start filming.”She paused.“I mean, assuming I learn my lines.You know, I’ve worked a lifetime to hide my New York accent and now what do they want?A New York accent.Brooklyn all the way, baby.”

He chuckled and gulped down a mouthful of wine.“How long will filming last?”

“Usually two weeks longer than they want it to last.Then producers are screaming about budgets and the director has us shoot until three in the morning and back onset at six.”

“Do you think you’ll get nominated for an Oscar for ‘Abducted’?”

“Hush, you.”She pressed her index finger to his lips.“I refuse to acknowledge that rumor even exists.”

He smiled coyly.“And what about the rumors about us?”

“Rumors, huh?”She took the wine bottle from his hand and took a drink.“I hope they’re juicy.”

“Eh, mainly the picture of us on Twitter and calling me a man-whore.”He took a bite of cheese and chewed it slowly.She’d seen that look before: intensity.He got that look when he fucked her and when he was debating something in his mind.That look by itself made her weak in the knees.“I don’t want to hide how I feel about you, but I want to protect you too.”

“I’ll be honest, the next few months will be chaos when I’m on set.If we can get to each other, I’m seriously doubting we’ll be leaving the bedroom.”She traced with butterfly tattoo with her index finger.“It’s possible to keep things quiet in LA, probably more so in New York because people in general have no interest in each other.”

“I just don’t want the paparazzi to hassle you.I’m just…I’m scared that you’ll get sick of it.I get sick of it.I can just hear them now, “oh, there she is Elizabeth Richards.Elizabeth, how is Harry?What did you and Harry do last night?How serious are you two?”

“I can handle myself around the paps.I have for years.”She hesitated, slipping her hands into his.“But…Harry, you’re worth it. Really.”

He swallowed hard.“That’s what they all say, at first.”

“Well, I’m a rebel.I fight for what I want.”She set the bottle on the bedside table and crawled onto his lap, pushing him down onto the bed.“And I want you.”

“It’ll probably blow up the internet.”

“Boom.”She kissed his lips several times and then pulled away enough to smile.“I love you, Hazza.When they find out, we’ll deal with it.But, whatever ‘they’ say, it’s not going to change how I feel about you.”

“Good, because I plan on being your date to the Oscars.”

She laughed and threw her arms around his shoulders, snuggling up against his chest.He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly, and pressed his lips to the top of her head.She wished there was something more she could say to make him feel better; surely he was panicking over nothing.

Right?

Notes