All Again

CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
HARRY
THEN

K. I'll be there.

I finished up the message, hitting send and glanced back at Becca. She was still smiling sitting beside me in the small SUV. We were about ten minutes from my house and on our way from the airport.
Today was my day off and I had plans to meet my Dad later for dinner and as I finished up the text conversation with him, Becca didn’t know it yet, but I planned on bringing her with me.
It was a small surprise, though my dad was pretty lax and it wouldn’t mean as much if she met him before she met my Mum and the rest of my family.
With my Mum, I couldn’t lie. She would take one look at me and Becca and know there was something going on between us. She would know immediately how much I liked her, and I didn’t want her getting any ideas. Though she was very happy I was work driven, she worried about me a lot, and she knew a lot times I struggled with loneliness. Though she wasn’t ready for me to walk down the aisle or get serious with anyone, I knew she was waiting for me to get a girlfriend- at least someone she knew who could keep me distracted from the daily struggles of my life.
Becca had been doing a great job and it was crazy to think of the obvious progression from March til now.
It seemed like so long ago since we were in Bangkok and I could barely remember what it was like to just be friends.
We seemed so far from all that now and it had only been a couple of months.
Still, I didn’t know what was going on with us yet and where this was going, and until it was serious, girls didn’t meet my Mum.
Even Becca.

When we finally got back to the house, we both got settled and went to sleep. Me, from a slight hangover I was still nursing, and she, because she was suffering from small jetlag.
When we woke up, it was around five, and she returned a call to her mum, while I headed downstairs.
Looking for a snack, I nibbled on a banana until Becca found me.

As she came in the kitchen, she headed for my pantry, grabbing a warm energy drink.
I watched her.
“So love, are you hungry?” I asked taking a seat at my kitchen counter on a bar stool.
She had been nibbling on bird food since she woke up early that morning.
A bag of chips here, granola bar there…I hadn’t seen her eat one solid thing since we arrived back in London.
“A little bit, but I’m not starving.” she said.
“Well I want to take you to dinner today.” I said watching her. “I’ll barbecue tomorrow.”
“Really?” she asked. She yawned and stretched. “Can we actually not? We’ve been on the go so much in the last week with all your work stuff that I just want to rest tonight. Are you still heading to Tesco too?”
I nodded yes.
“I’m guessing you don’t want to go there either.” I asked reading her mind.
“No.” she said with a coy smile.
I leaned on the counter.
We needed to meet my dad in the next hour and a half, by seven-thirty. I had to coax her before then.
“Well let’s just go to dinner then…it’ll be quick. I really don’t feel like cooking anything today.”
“Well let’s order out.” she suggested casually. “Are there any good pizza joints?”
“I’m not really in the mood for pizza.”
“Chinese takeout? Are there any good places around here?”
I smiled and moved around the counter. I pulled her to me. I kissed her nose.
“No, let’s go to dinner. Please?” I asked, turning on the charm. “We don’t have to stay long.”
She stared back at me.
“I don’t feel like getting dressed.” she pouted.
“Then I’ll help you.” I said. I linked our hands together and swung them between us.
She sighed, faking annoyance and I pretended to pout with her.
“I’ll make sure the food is really good.”
She didn’t budge.
“And I’ll pay for everything.”
She still didn’t budge.
“And I’ll buy you a big delicious dessert.”
She smiled, but still didn’t budge.
Alright, new tactic.
I leaned and gently pecked her lips.
“Plllleeeaaassseeee.”
She smiled against my lips.
“Plllleeeaaaasssseeeee Becca.”
She smiled harder.
“Do you want me to whimper like a dog? ‘cuz I’ll do it.” And then I started making the noises, purring.
She giggled. She gripped my chin, wagging it back and forth.
“You’re kind of hard to resist like this.”
“I know.” I said, and then took it a step further. Getting down on my knees, I bent my head down, placing it against her stomach. I whimpered again, nudging her like a dog.
She laughed, placing a hand to the back of my head.
“Alright, alright…Jeez!”
I lifted back up, giving her an appreciative kiss.
She just shook her head at me.
I can’t believe you.
“It’s only because your cute.” she warned.
I just smiled.
“Am I? Thanks! Now lets go change.” I said re-joining our hands together.
She groaned instantly.
Since our hands were still interlinked, she pulled me with her as she headed for the stairs.
“Can’t I just wear this? People wear their pajamas as clothes now-a-days.” she argued.
I smiled.
I didn’t think that was going to work.
To me, she was beautiful and honestly she could have worn a lamp shade and I wouldn’t have cared. But if I was learning her, she would want to change her clothes before meeting my father.
Most girls were weird about stuff like that.
“Well I love whatever you wear. But you‘ll probably be more comfortable in jeans.”
“Ugh.” she groaned again, finally letting our hands ago. She finally began to climb the stairs.
“Why can’t I be like you? You can throw on anything and look annoyingly sexy. Sugarscape was right.”
I chuckled. “Sugarscape?”
She smiled. “Or whatever that silly site is.”
I smiled again. “Believe me, you are sexy.” I assured.
And for added affect, I slapped her ass.
She turned to me with a wide smile, and pouted again.
“Can I wear one of your shirts?”
We landed at the top of the steps.
“Hmm…depends on which one you choose.” I said.
I normally wouldn’t care, but all I needed was her to pick a shirt my father would recognize as mine and then we would have problems.
I would never hear the end of it.
He would be calling me whipped the rest of the year.
Though honestly I was.
Just a little bit though.
“Okay.” she said finally. “Good…Maybe some of all that with wear off on me.”
She gestured to me, making her hands like a fake wand, blessing me with her magic.
“Its disgusting how you can just be so hot all the time.”
I didn’t respond verbally, having the same thought, but not about myself.
I grabbed her shirt, gripping it and pulled her to me.
“Becca understand this…You baby…don’t need anything.”
I wrapped my arm around her and she instantly relaxed in my arms.
“Baby you’re perfect.” I said.
“Perfect huh?” she questioned as I gave her another soft peck on the lips.
“And baby I’m perfect for you…” I sang, humming a new familiar melody.
She smiled.
“That could be a song.”
I smiled wider. “It already is.”
She looked at me in interest.
“Really? What’s it about?”
“Us.” I said and her eyes immediately clouded.
She blinked. “I’m sorry….um what?”
I smirked and kept her pulled close.
“Well parts of it. You definitely have inspired me lately. Don’t be surprised if you end up on the album.”
She smiled and swayed in my arms.
“Sing some more to me then.”
“No. Get dressed. I’m hungry.”
She pouted again and I patted her butt, pulling away from her.
“Is that really a song?” she asked as we broke apart.
“It is.”
“And it’s really about us?” she questioned.
I moved past her, heading into the bedroom.
“It is. And our secret rendezvous.” I teased.
She smiled, but I could tell she still didn’t believe me.
She would be pretty surprised in a months time, when it came out.
For now, it was planned as our first single for the new album.
She followed me in the bedroom.
I opened my closet and she stood beside me.
“All yours.” I said.
She quickly began to rummage through the closet, while I took a seat on my nearby bed.
Like any normal warm blooded man I took advantage of the body in front of me, and stared at her butt as she shifted clothes around.
“Hmm…what to wear…?” she questioned aloud.
Then she turned to me. I didn’t even hide the fact that I had been staring at her butt, giving her a mischievous smile.
She wagged her hand at me.
“Don’t start. It’s either dinner or sex. You are not about to get both.” she said with a small dimpled smirk.
I playfully scoffed. “I’m not trying to sleep with you every moment of the day. Give me some credit. I do have some self control.“
“Good.” she said. “Because I’m only giving in once today.” she said and stuck her tongue out.
My smile didn’t leave my face.
“Well we’ll see how you feel later.” was all I said.
She turned from me and giggled.

She continued to rummage through my closet.
It was actually quite a sexy image.
Soon, every few seconds she would turn around and show me one shirt she wanted to wear.
“Sure.” I would say every time, but she wouldn’t pick one.
“I can do better.” she would say and start shuffling again.
“Baby just pick one.” I said after the tenth shirt.
“But I love all your clothes. They smell like you and feel good against my skin.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh jeez.”
Now she sounded like a Sugarscape article.
She turned and showed me another one.
“Sure.” I said again barely paying attention at this point. They all looked the same to me, and I didn't know a closet full of men’s t-shirts could be so interesting to a woman.
She moved to place it back in the closet.
“No. Not that one.”
I stood, finally having enough, and grabbed the shirt out of her hand before she placed it on the rack.
It was just a simple long sleeve white t-shirt but I did actually want her to put it on.
I was being selfish but I was picturing after dinner when we got back, and that being the only pair of clothing she wore.
I already grew excited at that prospect of watching her lie in my bed with my t-shirt on.
This isn’t the stain of a red wine, I’m bleeding love…I hummed internally thinking of another new song on our pending album.
That one was written by me.
“Put this one on.” I said looking back at her. “You’ll look beautiful.” I said.
I shifted her hair off her shoulder. “And with your necklace, it’ll go great.”
Her hands instantly went to the emerald and heart pendant that I had bought for her.
It sat in its permanent place.
“Fine.” she said giving in.
She pulled off her current shirt and then her bra a moment later. I felt like she was purposely trying to entice me.
“The bra is too dark.” she explained innocently, catching my eyes. “You’’ll see it through the shirt.”
“Yeah. Uh-huh.”
I was barely listening.
I wanted to touch her and her standing nude in front of me, didn‘t help.
“No. Dinner or sex.” she reiterated and I smiled.
I moved away from her.
I needed to text my dad anyway.
I looked down at my phone, unlocking it, and composed a quick message, confirming I would be at the agreed upon location.
Becca finished changing in front of me.
“Where do you want to go?” she asked when she finished.
“I’ve got a place in mind. I think you’ll like it.” I said cryptically.
She didn’t seem to care. “Alright. Give me a few minutes.”
I nodded okay and she headed for the bathroom.
She left the door open, so I watched as she brushed her hair and pulled it up in a bun.
There were a few wisps that hung down and rested on her shoulder.
They framed her slender neck.
Damn, she was beautiful.
I watched as she applied a thin layer of lip gloss and then left the bedroom heading to her bag.
She picked up a bottle, and sprayed something on her body.
Instantly the scent of Vanilla filled my nostrils.
So that was where it came from…
She headed back in the bathroom and then I watched as she applied eye liner.
“I’m almost done.” she said softly as she lined her eyes in a small wing, deeply concentrating.
I didn’t even respond. I just loved to watch her.
My mind wandered a bit and I wondered how many guys in the past she had did this with.
How many lucky guys had watched her putting on her makeup, or got to smell the sweet smell of her perfume?
How many had got to watch the way she moved around a room, keeping everything neat and tidy or rested their head in her hair while she slept beside them?
How many had got to just be with her, feeling her lips brush against their skin?

What we had was far from special and I was sure there were thousands of couples that did the same things we did, but it bothered me suddenly to think of someone else doing it with her.
I knew it wouldn’t be long until that day would be coming. We would have to part and she would move on with her life.
There would be another man in my place: watching her, thinking about her, missing her…
Someone else would get these perks, and not just for a couple of months- no Becca had the potential to stick around for a while. If she actually looked past her studies, there was no doubt in my mind she would be in a serious relationship.
She was truly a special girl and I was lucky that she was even here with me.
In this, whatever it was, she was Harry Styles, and I was just her devoted fan.
I was the one in awe of her.

As she continued in front of me, she started to hum, seeming to forget I was there, and I continued to watch her.
How many more times would I even get to do this? How many more days did we have together?
I knew we only had a few more weeks together-if that.
With my schedule the next few weeks, I knew I had a lot of things going on.
It wouldn’t be long before we released the new single, and from there, whisked off into promotion land.
Who knew when I would get to see her?

An uncomfortable rise sat in the pit of my stomach suddenly and it saddened me to think that our time may end one day soon. I already knew I wasn’t yet ready for that. I wasn’t ready for things to yet go back to the way that they were before.

I was so deeply lost in my thoughts that I didn’t notice when she came back out.
She stood in front of me completely finished.
“Ready?” she asked.
I looked up at her.
I had been right. Now that I was seeing the final product, with her emerald necklace and her makeup, she was stunning. And it was just a simple t-shirt.
I nodded yes.
She went to move, and I grabbed her hand suddenly.
“Wait,” I called gently.
She looked at me in confusion as I pulled her to me.
She relaxed her legs between mine and bent down.
Our eyes locked.
“Yes baby?” she called kissing the top of my forehead.
I lifted my head and caressed her chin.
“What is it?” she asked softly.
“Nothing.” I said. “I just wanted to look at you.”
She smiled her beautiful smile and I melted.
I just wanted to imprint this.
Long when she was gone out of my life, I just wanted to have the memory and remember how she had made me feel.
I wanted to remember this face and this moment.
I wanted to remember what this comfort felt like. The touch of completeness I felt when I was with her.
That wonderful touch of Becca.
I stared back at her studying the face I already had memorized.
So, so beautiful…
She turned from me shyly.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Your eyes.” she said, not meeting my gaze. “They’re so intense right now.”
“Sorry.” I said softly. I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.
“It’s fine.” she said bringing her eyes back to me. “Just stop looking at me like that.”
Her tone had a hint of humor to it and it made me smile.
I didn’t know how I was looking at her, but I would grant her request.
“Fine.” I said.
I pulled her back to me and kissed her.
Then, I was ready to go.

When we were in the car, first I drove to the gas station.
We were in my Range Rover and it had been a while since I had filled the tank.
“Do you want anything?” I asked when we stopped.
She shook her head no.
“I’ll be back.” I said. I filled up the tank and then headed inside.
I grabbed a pack of gum and a water, and as I was ringing up, my eyes caught something in the distance.
Smiling to myself, I picked it up and added it to my total.
Then, after I paid, I headed back to the car.
Becca was in her phone, texting.
“My mom says hi.” she said warmly.
“Tell her I say hi back.” I said and Becca turned to me with a smile.
Then I handed her my new gift.
She instantly giggled.
Twirling the Ring Pop in her hand she looked at me in amusement.
“Don’t say I never got you anything.”
She smiled, taking it out of the packet and then placed the candy ring on her hand.
“Fits nicely. Good job fake hubby.”
“You’re welcome fake wife.”
I leaned over licking the Cherry flavor.
“Taste quite good too.” I said and winked.
She just chuckled and tasted it herself as I started the car.
I pulled out of the lot, and then headed to the restaurant.
Both of my parents didn’t live close to me, so I had to drive a bit to meet him halfway.
Becca settled back in the seat, listening to the music and sucking on her cherry ring.
“Is this near where you grew up?” she asked.
“No. We’d have to drive a bit more to go there.”
“Will you take me one day?” she asked.
I mentally calculated my schedule. I had quite a few promotional things to do in the next few days and I had to do some more recording.
“I’ll try.” I said but it was probably not going to happen.
We only had ten more days together and then she was scheduled to go back to Los Angeles.
The month had gone by extremely fast and I didn’t want to make any promises.

When we arrived at the restaurant a half hour later, we still had fifteen minutes to kill until my dad would be there. I knew his car and knew he wasn’t there yet.
Becca moved to get out, and I stopped her.
“No wait a second.” I said.
She looked back at me curiously as I restarted my car.
“I want to take you somewhere quick.”
“But we’re at the restaurant.”
“We have time.” I said simply.
“Time for what?” she asked.
I didn’t answer as I pulled us out of the lot, and took a quick detour.
Luckily we were only five minutes away.
When we pulled up, she looked back at me in interest.
“What is this?” she asked.
She alternated her eyes between me and the short dark tunnel in front of us.
“Get out.” I said gently.
“Where are we?”
“We’re safe.” I said as she took in our surroundings.
We were by a park, but we were on a turnoff.
This place I had discovered on accident a long time ago.
It was a small tunnel, that was partially lit, and quite private unless someone ventured past it- which in my experience didn’t happen too often.
“What are we doing?” she asked again.
“Just trust me.” I said and climbed out of my car.
She climbed out as well, and I met her on the side of her car.
I gave her my hand and pulled her inside of the small tunnel. It was still light outside, and just starting to approach dusk.
We walked quietly, not saying a word to each other until we walked in far enough for me.
“I really don’t get what we’re doing.” she said with a smile.
“It’s just something I want to say that I got to do.” I said turning and looking back at her.
“And what’s that?”
We entered the tunnel, closer to the middle and the light from my headlights shined on us as I pulled her to a wall.
She looked back at me in curiosity as I lifted her hands above her head and closed the space between us.
“What are you doing?”
I silenced her concerns with my lips.
A slow, soft kiss.
She leaned forward, adding more to it, and I instantly closed my eyes.
As her mouth softly enclosed against mine, she gently moaned against my mouth and her hands fell into my hair.
Entering tongue, our mouths tangled together, savoring the gentleness of each other’s lips. Hers had an extra hint of cherry, and only further softened her sweet kiss.
It was one of the more passionate kisses we had ever shared and when we pulled apart, her face was slightly flush and her lips were a deep pink.
“What was that?” she asked.
I placed my hands against the wall above her and leaned.
“I just wanted to kiss you in public.”
“In public?” she questioned.
I nodded yes.
“Besides the park earlier this month, I’ve never kissed you out in the open like this.” I said gesturing around. “Someone could walk by at any moment.”
“And why is that significant?” she asked in confusion.
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I jut wanted to be able to say I did it. I don’t like having to hide you all the time.” I admitted honestly.
“I don’t think you hide me.” she said. “I’ve been to your concerts and stuff. I’ve traveled with you,” she pointed out. “We go out in the open sometimes.”
“We’ve been lucky.” I agreed. “But I can’t walk into that restaurant right now holding your hand. I can’t pull you in for a kiss all the time like I want too. There is still a level of secrecy between us and I don’t know…it kind of bothers me that people don’t know about you.”
She continued to look at me, trying to understand my words.
“I like my privacy,” I made sure to note. “But you’re one of my best friends, and no one even knows. It’s like I’m hiding an important part of my life or something. It just seems so stupid and unnecessary at times…though it is.” I continued. “I can’t share you with the world because then it’ll be ruined and rumors and bullshit… and it just…gets so old sometimes.” I said.
She continued to look back at me, not sure of what to say. I know she wasn’t expecting that answer, and honestly I hadn’t either.
I hadn’t meant to think about all this right now, but as the thoughts were passing through, it was just all coming out.
I smiled at her, and she wrapped her hands around my waist.
“I mean…don’t you think its ridiculous that I can’t even follow you on any social media?” I questioned.
She smiled this time and played with the hem of my black jeans.
“Well you know when its on Facebook, its official Harry.” she joked.
I smiled.
She ran her hands against my chest.
“I don’t mind the secrecy.” she said a moment later. “I’ve heard about how bad it gets for girls sometimes and I don’t want to deal with it. I’d rather be your dirty little secret then get the tons of hate that comes with being near you. I don’t need the world knowing I know you. For what? Too boast? I don’t care about any of that. Trust me, just having you is enough for me.”
I touched her cheek.
That was sweet and I was happy she was so understanding about it all.
“Yeah…I just wish it was different sometimes. You deserve more ya know.” I said.
“More…” she said rolling the word on her tongue.
“Yeah.” I said placing my head down, briefly studying our shoes.
“And what does that look like?” she questioned a second later.
I looked back up at her.
“More?” I repeated and she nodded yes.
I shrugged.
“Well I don’t know….I guess we would see each other more. We would definitely not hide as much, and it would be…a real relationship.” I guessed. “Ya know, the vacations and meeting of parents and—you yelling at me because I leave the toilet seat up.”
She giggled.
“I mean, I don’t know.” I said honestly. “I don't have a clue what I’m talking about honestly. I haven’t had it remember?”
She smiled and continued to trail her hands across my chest.
“Yeah…” she said, and then looked down herself, repeating my previous action. “Can I ask a question though?”
“You can ask me anything. At any time. “
She looked back up at me, her face took on a shy expression.
“Well…” she began, “I’m just thinking…” she prefaced. “In another time, another world actually…if you could-”She looked back at me.
“Yeah?” I questioned since she paused with uneasiness.
“Well…nevermind it’s stupid.” She said growing shy.
“Stop, don’t do that.” I said. “Tell me.”
“It’s stupid.”
“Tell me.”
I played with a string of her hair.
“Well…the more…” she trailed off, still not facing me directly.
“Yeah?” I questioned again.
“Well….do you think we would have it? You know if you weren’t you with this job and I didn’t have school and- do you think we…we could have it?” she asked completely shy and embarrassed.
I smiled slowly.
“Yeah.” I said.
She smiled unsure.
“Yeah?” she questioned uneasily.
I nodded yes. Cupping her face back in my hands, the absolute truth suddenly spilled out.
“Becca if I could, I would give you everything.”
She smiled then, the sweetest smile I had ever seen and I know she wasn’t expecting that answer.
Hell, I wasn’t expecting that answer but it was true.
I would make her the happiest woman if I could.

But I couldn’t.

She leaned forward, giving me another soft kiss. My hands remained cupped around her face and that was where we stayed for the next minute. For a second, the dream of what we could never be rested between us and I could tell we both wanted to pretend it was different for a second. As her lips curled around me, her kiss took on a new hunger, and when we finally pulled away, we were both regretful.

I could feel the buzz of my phone in my back pocket and I remembered our plans.
Shit, my father.

“We’ve gotta go.” I said pulling away from her and letting the last few moments finally fade away. “We need to eat.”
She woke up too, and broke the contact. Placing her hands in her pockets, she pushed off the wall.
“Deal.”
We hopped in the car, and I drove back to our previous location.
We both didn’t say a word as we made the five minute trek back.
When I eventually pulled back in the parking lot, I saw my fathers car.
Good.
We climbed out of the car and headed in together.
My eyes immediately scanned the place, and I saw my Father wave me down.
The place was smaller and quaint, and we wouldn’t be bothered here.
Well…hopefully.
Tapping Becca’s arm, I led her over to the table.
Before we reached my dad, I pulled up beside her and whispered in her ear.
“ Now, don’t freak out. This isn’t a big deal.”
She looked back at me in confusion and then we were near my dad.
He stood as we approached the table.
“Hey Son” he called, pulling me in a hug.
I smiled and hugged him back. “Hi Dad.” I said back.
When we broke apart, I glanced at Becca and all the color was drained from her face. She was an interesting shade of green.
“Hi. I’m Desmond.” My father said barely noticing.
“Becca.” she mumbled and cut her eyes at me.
I knew I was in trouble.
I pulled out her seat, needing a distraction from her stare and sat down as well.
“How you guys doing?” My father asked.
“We’re good. Been here long?” I asked keeping my attention solely on him.
Darts and daggers were to my left.
“No, no.” he said and took in Becca.
“This is my good friend.” I quickly explained.
Then I turned to her.
“And Becca, this is my father.”
She didn’t look at me.
I was definitely on punishment.
“It’s nice to meet you.” she said to him.
“Likewise. Have you guys been out and enjoying the weather?”
“No.” I said honestly. “We’ve been cooped up in the house. Just got back.”
“Where was it last night? Sweden?”
“That’s in a couple days. We just came from Oslo.”
“Oh well that’s no fun. You hear it’s suppose to get up to the nineties soon? It’s going to be a heat wave.”
“I did. I won’t be here.” I reminded him. By then I would be doing another show.
“Oh yeah.” he said and chuckled. “Keep forgetting.”
Then he settled his attention on Becca again.
“I hardly see him, but I still forget that my son travels the world all the time. I feel like he’s away at the University or something. ” He joked.
Becca smiled.
“So…what do you do?” he asked her.
“I’m a student in the states.”
“What do you study?”
“Literature. And writing.” she said and I picked up a menu.
“How long have you been studying?”
I already knew with these questions, they could have a bit too talk about, so I took the opportunity and scanned some food options.
Becca answered all of his questions and I could tell my Father tried to make her comfortable.
Until, he ventured into the elephant in the room.
“So how long have you guys been seeing each other?” he asked.
His eyes shifted between both of us.
Becca instantly looked at me for an answer.
Her eyes read a big, wide he knows
I ignored her expression.
“Um.” I said, closing my menu. “For a bit. March right?” I asked turning to her.
Her eyes went wider.
I guess she didn’t expect me to tell the truth.
She nodded and a slow smile built.
“I guess…yeah.” she said.
I smiled back at her. I guess the tunnel was still casting a temporary spell over us.
Playing imaginary relationship house was causing temporary insanity it seemed.
I turned back to my Father.
Why the hell did I just tell him that?
“Well its really nice to meet you. I feel lucky.” He cut in. “No one normally meets his girls. Secretive one this one is.” He said cutting me a look.
“Hey…” I said cutting in. “Let’s not get into that, yeah?”
He chuckled and we shared a smile.
We all ordered our food and it went surprisingly well.
Whatever nervousness Becca had in the beginning, quickly disappeared.
By the time, we packed up to leave, I knew I had his permission- whatever that might have been, though I wasn’t asking for it.
He patted my back affectionately and told me he liked her when she wasn’t paying attention.
I hadn’t brought her for his approval, I was just really tired of hiding her as I said.
Still, it all went very well and I was happy he liked her.

When we got back in the car, Becca immediately started on me.
“You are in so much fucking trouble. How could you do that to me? Look at me,” she said. “I look horrible, and you choose today to let me meet your dad? What is that shit?”
“You never look horrible. I haven’t seen you look any less than beautiful every day I’ve known you.” I said softly, purposely still not meeting her eyes.
I was being a shit and I knew it. I tried to stop myself from smiling.
She shook her head in disagreement.
“That wasn’t cool Harry. Not at all.”
My smile broke through, so wide I could no longer contain it.
I turned to her. I quickly came to my own defense.
“Would you have came if I told you?”
“No.” she said quickly.
“Well that’s why I didn’t tell you. I had to trick you.”
She pouted and crossed her arms, turning from me. I smirked.
“It’s not that big of a deal. Meeting my dad’s not that important.” I said.
“Um he’s your dad Harry.”
“So he gave me life?” I said casually. “He’s still nonchalant about things. You’re making a bigger deal about it then he is I’m sure.”
“Still.” She said “I would have liked to know.”
“Next time you will.” I said touching her leg. “Besides, now we’re even. I know your mum. You know my dad.”
“It’s not the same.”
“It’s totally the same.” I said, then finally started my car. “Now with my mum and your dad it would be a different story.”
“Oh yeah, you can’t meet my dad.” She agreed. “If you’re not my husband you’re not getting through the door.”
I smiled.
“See…But…I need to head to get the barbecue. Should I drop you off, or are you coming with?”
“Oh for the grocery shopping you actually ask me, but for your dad it’s a secret.” She said with a sassy eye roll.
I chuckled. “That’s not an answer Becca Johnson.”
“I’m coming with.” she said finally. “Seems like you can’t be trusted today.”
“Good.” I said. “Because I wasn’t planning on driving back home anyway.”
She playfully hit my arm and I laughed.
She settled back in her seat and I smiled.
We shared a quick kiss, before I pulled out of the parking lot.
Man, it was going to be hard to let her go.

Notes