**Flashback, 2014, San Antonio, TX Nicky’s POV**

I walked down the street, past all the screaming girls, getting more annoyed by the minute. One Direction was in town tonight and the place was mobbed.And all I wanted was a damn cup of coffee. Did I know who One Direction was? Yes, I haven’t been living under a rock. Was I going to the concert? No. A night listening to a bunch of girls screaming their faces off was not my idea of fun. Let’s end the night with a migraine, why not? Thanks but no. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy their music. Far from it, I did like it a lot, but I could listen to them on the radio or on my iPhone and enjoy it more. And I’ll be honest; they weren’t very hard on the eyes. What? Don’t judge me. I’m only human. Hot boys in skinny jeans? Enough said. Speaking of being human, I want coffee. I pushed my way into the Starbucks, laughing at the scene outside. Smiling at the over worked barista I asked,

“The Directioners keeping you busy today?”
“It’s been like this for two days now. Fan girls drink lots of coffee,” he replied laughing, “Are you going to the show?”
“Nah, not my scene.”

I gave him my order and stood back waiting for my coffee when there was a commotion coming from the door, I turned around to see a girl about my age trying to get through the door and she was getting mobbed by fans and photographers. She was trying to keep her head down and plow through, but was having no luck.

“Gemma!! Tell Harry I love him!!”a fan yelled after her
“Gemma, are you grabbing drinks for the boys?” one of the photographers asked, rudely.

She was trapped and I couldn’t stand it. So I moved over to the door, took her arm and shoved the photographer out the door with my other hand.
“Jesus Christ! All she wants is a cup of coffee, so unless ya’ll are buying it for her, fuck off!” and I pushed the door closed. I turned to the girl and smiled, “You alright, sweetie?”
“Yeah, fine. Haz told me not to come over here on my own. That’s what I get for not listening. Thank you, by the way. I’m Gemma.”
“Nice to meet you, Gemma. I’m Nicky”

And that was how I met my best friend, Gemma Styles.

**Spring 2015**

I woke up to my phone buzzing on the night stand. I ignored it and pulled the blankets over my head. My head was pounding from the drinking binge the night before. I rolled out of the bed when the phone went off again. I forgot to drink water, forgot to put my Advil on the counter, and I couldn’t find the damn light switch. Someone kill me, please. By the time I got to the phone, it had stopped ringing but, looking through one eye, I could see it was Gemma. I was about to call her back when a text came through.

Gem: Get out of bed, you drunk. We’re going through customs now.
Me: WTF? When did you get here? We? Who is we?
Gem: 20 mins ago...and you will find out when I get there…get up!

I immediately put the coffee on and jumped into the shower. She must be here on some assignment but usually she called me before she showed up. A year and a half of friendship and she never failed to surprise me. Luckily, I didn’t have to work today. After I showered I put some jeans and a T-shirt on and braided my hair. I looked around my little studio apartment and it was an absolute mess. I worked for a non-profit organization that worked with different charities focused on pulling women and children out of poverty around the country and the world. The money wasn’t that great, but the emotional rewards were amazing. But, we’d just finished a major fund raising campaign and I’d been busy as hell. And the state of my apartment showed it. I started to at least pick up my dirty laundry when there was a knock on my door. Before I could move, I heard Gemma,

“Open up, Nicky!! Or I’ll kick the door in!” I threw what I had in my hands in the basket and ran to the door, unbolted it and flung it open.
“God almighty, Gem….” And then I froze. Standing next to Gem was her brother. Harry freakin’ Styles was at my door, in his signature ripped skinny jeans and a red button down shirt that was barely buttoned. And that hair…I forgot how to speak and just stared at him. Gemma stood there grinning and said,
“You going to invite us in, love?” I nodded and stood back as they walked through the door. I shut it quickly and just stood there for a minute. Harry smiled at me and said,
“Hi, I’m Harry. Nice to finally meet you, Nicky.”I’d heard him speak before watching talk shows and performances on TV. But it was nothing like hearing him standing two feet away and speaking to me. His voice sounded like I imagined melted chocolate would sound. Smooth and sweet. I tried to gain my composure and managed to squeak out,
“N-nice to finally meet you, too.” I glared at Gemma, who was trying to contain her laughter. I was making a mental note let her have it later.
“Sorry, when Gemma told me she was going to surprise you, I told her I wanted to come along. I hope you don’t mind. Never got to properly thank you for protecting her that day.”

**Gemma’s POV**

I couldn’t stand it and burst out laughing. I loved surprising Nicky. She didn’t know what to do with herself. She was just stood there, her eyes wide as saucers. I could tell she was hungover so I moved to her little kitchen and grabbed her last clean mugs and started pouring coffee for the three of us.

“This place is a tip, Nicky. What the hell has been going on?” I handed a cup to my brother who was grinning from ear to ear, dimples on full display. He loved surprises, too. And he’d been dying to meet Nicky for months.Nicky seemed to snap out of it when I spoke to her, taking her cup from me.
“This week has been insane at work. We just finished a major campaign. I was out celebrating last night with everyone.Good lord, I feel like hell.”
“You look it, love.”
“Thanks, of course you look amazing as usual. I should really hate you right now.” She said as she rummaged around her cupboards for pain relievers.
“Never, you will love me forever, Nichole,” I teased her.
“Oh, there is a god,” she said as she found the elusive bottle of pills. She dumped four tablets in her hand, popped them in her mouth, and downed them with her coffee. Harry sat down on the sofa and said,
“Gemma, can you tell the poor girl why we invaded her home unannounced, or should I?”

**Nicky’s POV**

I stood there staring at Gemma and Harry. They couldn’t be serious? I sat down, trying to wrap my head around what they were offering me. Harry was offering me the opportunity of a lifetime, to be the director of his charity foundation. It was a dream come true for me. Of course the practical side of me kicked in and I thought of my responsibilities.

“What about my job? I can’t just up and leave. My parents, and the ranch…”
“Why not? I know it seems strange, but you will be doing the same thing working for Harry’s foundation that you are doing now. Just in London instead of San Antonio. I know your parents, Nichole…they would want you to do this. You are not needed at the ranch nearly as much as you think you are, love. Your father has your brother and plenty of people on the payroll to help him.Harry needs someone he can trust, and you and I both know you can do the job. I gave him your CV so he knows, too. Please, do this for me, Nicky.” Harry smiled at his sister and then looked me in the eyes and said,
“Gemma loves you. Why we haven’t had a chance to meet before now is unfathomable to me. And she trusts you. That is a big thing, trust. She’s right, I need to know that who I have running things can be trusted. All I ask is that you come see what we are all about, before you make a decision. See if this is a fit for you.” I looked at Gemma, then back at Harry. I am still blown away by this proposal. This would mean leaving Texas, my family, my country…but I think of the work we could do and the lives we could change. Harry’s green eyes haven’t left me, waiting for my answer. Finally I smile at them both and say,
“Ok, I’ll do it. I just need a couple months to tie up things here. Give notice at my job and pack up my place. And I have to see my family. Talk to Momma and Daddy…oh god, Dylan is gonna flip a bitch.”
“Dylan?” Harry asks, looking at Gemma.
“Her brother. He’s a bit protective. Good man though, just a bit…brotherly…not that I know anything about over protective brothers,” Gemma teased.
“You’ve met her brother?”
“I have spent some time with her family on the ranch, yea. Haz, you don’t have to know everything I do.”

Listening to them banter, I think of my brother. They were as close as Dylan and I are and he’s always looked out for me. Even if I didn’t need or want him to. Momma and Daddy were the easy part, Dylan was gonna be completely different. I was snapped out of my thoughts by my tummy rumbling. Harry looked at me and grinned.

“Okay, celebratory breakfast I think. Nothing cures a hangover like a huge breakfast.”
“And Mimosas.” Gemma giggled.

Notes

So, sorry anybody that started reading and suddenly it was gone...I realized this whole section was missing...everything is going back up right now...