Catching Red Eyes

Putting the key into my front door was something I did a million times, but today it was different because of the beautiful specimen standing behind me with his hands in his front pockets. He had a look of curiosity and nervousness across his perfect face. I pushed back the door and was greeted with open arms from my awaiting mother.

“Rowan, thank God. Let me take a look at that cut. Oh, these sunglasses are gorgeous,” she said pulling them off my face and examining them before looking up at my face. “Oh, well, the TV made it seem so much worse,” she said pushing my chin left to right, looking at the cut.

“Mom, stop. Really, I’ve had much worse in the past, this is just cut.”

She looked at me again then turned to Harry.

“Well, well, well, finally I’m meeting the famous Harry Styles. You are much taller than I thought actually,” she said examining him now. She squinted her eyes before pulling him into a hug. I watched as she squeezed him and how he awkwardly hugged her back considering the height difference. I covered my mouth as a smile spread across it. This was a first for me. I watched the scene unfold in sort of a slow motion as she released him and I watched their mouths move in conversation. The person I loved with my entire heart and my entire world was in my home meeting my family.

“Well, come, let’s eat. You two must be hungry after driving. Rowan, your dad is still working but should be back after dinner. I told him we had special company tonight,” she said, eyeing Harry.

Harry looked over at me and I just smiled. “My dad is the best, he’s really cool,” I said, even trying to convince myself, considering I had never brought anyone home to meet him besides friends. We walked into my kitchen and as I had assumed, there was a full course dinner already made and ready. We each grabbed a plate and went to sit at the kitchen table. Thank God my mom didn’t take it too far and set up the actual dining room.

“So, tell me, how did you two meet again, Harry? Rowan has only given me bits and pieces but now that I have you both here, I can get the full story.”

I looked over at Harry and he smiled a small, crooked smile and turned to my mom.

“Well, Mrs. Emerson, I had an interview booked with her boss’ company and originally it was set up in New York City but it was a last minute change to London because I had a press meeting that afternoon in London. It actually almost didn’t happen but they decided to take the red eye to London that night. I assumed it was only going to Marc but then this pretty little blonde girl came in behind him. I could tell she was a bit overwhelmed but she hid it well. I was very taken with her from the minute she walked through the door.”

Hearing Harry recount the story in his own words was so intriguing. I never thought to ask him about his first impression of me and hearing it now made my heart beat faster and the blood rush from my toes to my ears. Never had I felt this kind of love for another person before.

“Well, isn’t that a sweet little story. Rowan, you’ve been holding out on me.”

“I-I never knew what he thought, Mom.”

“You’re always so wrapped up in your own head but you and your father are one in the same. I’m glad I have Harry here to fill me in on the details of you two now!”

I looked over my mom and gave her a warning look to not push too much. Harry, noticing, laughed.

“I will tell you anything you need to know, Mrs. Emerson.”

I knew my mom felt the effect of his sultry gaze as she giggled like a little school girl. I shook my head and laughed while taking a sip of my water. No one was safe when Harry locked eyes with them.

After dinner, we helped my mom clean up and waited for my dad to get home. I decided to take Harry on a home tour to fill in the time. I showed him the downstairs and then took him up to my room. I pushed back the door and it was just as I had left it. He quickly ran into the room and jumped onto the bed and laid with his hands behind his head.

“So, this is where the enemy sleeps.”

“I am not the enemy!” I said, crawling in next to him. He looked down at me and kissed my forehead. Remembering dinner I looked up at him and watched him push his hair back from his face.

“Harry…I didn’t know the first time you saw me was when I walked in…I thought it was
outside on the balcony…”

He looked down at me and smiled. “Love, I didn’t take my eyes off you from the second you walked in the room. I stepped outside to distract myself from the force field I felt when you walked in…but then of course you made your way to me anyways and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to stay very far from you.”

Was this real? My pulse quickened and I felt a tight sensation in my lower stomach.

“I also tried to keep some distance because I wasn’t sure you felt the same and this life I lead is hard…as you can tell,” he said grazing his fingers from my jaw to the cut by my eye. “I, obviously, did not stay far.”

I propped myself up on my hands and elbow and leaned in to kiss him. I felt the wonderful electricity that seemed to never want to die out. As I unlocked my lips, I heard my father’s deep voice and sneakers squeaking on the linoleum kitchen floor.

“Come on, let’s go meet my dad,” I said jumping off the bed and pulling Harry off the bed. I felt his body tense a bit but I gave his hand a quick squeeze of encouragement.

“Dad!”

I never got tired of seeing my dad and moving away from him was extremely hard the first months of college. I wrapped my arms around him and felt the familiar hug I felt the safest in. After releasing him, I took a step back to stand by Harry.

“Dad, this is Harry. Harry, this my dad.”

“Mr. Emerson. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Rowan is forever gushing about you.”

“Is she now? Well, nice to meet you too, Harry. I’ve heard some things about you here and there from her mom but my daughter is a bright girl so I know whatever she thinks is right. Usually right,” he said before laughing and shaking Harry’s hand. Seeing Harry shake my father’s hand was one of the best moments of my life because it was the two men I loved more than anything in this whole world together.

I watched as they spoke about everything from football to touring to horrific ER stories. They each listened as the other spoke as my mom made coffee. I sat with them in the family room and didn’t say a word, just listened, laughed, and watched.

Notes