Catching Red Eyes

“Harry.”

“Hello, love. It is wonderful to hear your voice.”

I smiled into my phone. “Yours too.”

“How are you today?”

“Fine, ready to get home and change out of these clothes and go running.”

“I wish I was there with you, love.”

“Soon. Ireland is next week.”

“Too far away.”

I laughed. “Yes, I know. Listen, Harry there are some things we need to talk about. It doesn’t need to be right now but soon,” I said, eyeing the back of Marsh’s head.

“I know, love. We will. Soon. I’ve got to go. Please, be careful with your phone this time. I’ll call you later. Love you.”

The phone call ended before I could reply. I brought the phone down from my ear and smiled. I had to accept the fact that Harry was in my life again. For good. He made me happy. He needed me and I needed him. Before I met Harry, I thought NYU and getting my internship was all I needed but now…now I couldn’t imagine not having him in my life. I took a deep breath in and looked out the window. Everything was going to be ok. I had to think positive.

My mind drifted back to Pryce. I needed to tell Harry but how? I knew the truth would be enough but I wanted to wait until I saw him in person to make sure he knew exactly how it happened. I pushed it from my mind because I had nothing to worry about now. The car slowed and Marsh quickly opened my door and hustled me inside my apartment. I waved and told him I would right back out to go for the run. I dropped my bags, threw off my shoes, and sat down on my bed. My muscle memory brought my knees up to my chest, but then I remembered I had nothing to cry about now.

I jumped off my bed, turned my iTunes on shuffle, turned it up way too loud, and starting getting undressed. As I throwing on a new bright pink tank top, my eye caught someone in my doorway staring at me.

“Shit, Laurie, I didn’t even know you were home!”

Laurie was leaning against my doorframe and laughing her head off. “I never knew you could dance like that!”

I shrugged and pulled my tank top the rest of the way down. I turned down my radio and faced Laurie.

“So…why the sudden uplifting mood? You finally feel better?” she asked, moving into my room.

I had completely forgotten that Laurie had no idea what was going on. I sat down on my bed and laced up my sneakers. I needed to look everywhere but at her face.

“Harry and I…we talked yesterday and, well…we are going to try to work on things. Take it slow, of course.” I could tell she knew I was trying to convince her that we wouldn’t rush into anything. I wanted to convince myself of that too. “Oh, and Pryce kissed me yesterday too. So…there’s that.”

“Woah, woah, woah, back up, what!”

I nodded and explained what happened the night before from Harry to Pryce. Laurie listened and her eyes went wide when I told her about the kiss.

“So, he just showed up, proclaimed his love, kissed you, and then left?”

“Kinda. I mean, I yelled at him then he just ran.”

Laurie was full on belly laughing now. I joined her until we both were in tears. “Wow. Fucking Pryce. Pretty ballsy of him. Did anyone see? You have those camera people out there like hawks.”

“No, it was 4 AM, remember? Besides, it would have been all over social media if anyone saw. I’m telling Harry next week when I see him anyways. Just in case.”

“Good idea. So, are you like officially back together?”

“Sort of. We have things we need to talk about, like how I need to relax and how he needs to know I am not going anywhere. I mean, I had nudes of me leaked and I’m still all heart bubbles for him.”

“Yea, that was fucked up. Well, you two are like soul mates I swear. Like, your guys’ love is crazy for each other. I hope Alec and I are like that one day. Honestly. I’m jealous of you, girl.”

“Funny. Not the first time I’ve heard someone say that about Harry and I,” I said, as I walked past her and smiled. “How is Alec?”

“Working. Figured I’d come check on you and it looks like you are doing just fine. I knew you two would work it out. You’re like Romeo and Juliet, minus all the killing and suicide.”

“Jeez. Thanks, Laurie.”

We laughed as I grabbed my water and headphones. Before I left, Laurie came up and pulled on my new running shorts so that they snapped back.

“Nice. Harry get them for you? I mean, I know why,” she said, eyeing my legs and laughing.

“Yes, he did. Oh, stop, haha, he actually hasn’t even seen me in them. Well, not in person.”
Laurie smirked which made me laugh as I waved to her and pulled back the front door and greeted the New York City sun.

Notes