After (Larry Version)

~*Chapter 35*~

Harry goes over to his dresser and opens the top drawer, pulling out a pair of blue-and-white plaid boxers, and holds them up in the air with a disgusted look on his face.
"What?" I ask, and prop my head up on my elbow and look at him.
"These are hideous," he says.
I laugh, but I'm also pleased that the earlier secret about whether or not there were clothes in the dresser is now settled at least. Liam's mother or Harry's father must have purchased all the clothes in the room for Harry. Which is sad, really, that they would buy clothes and fill the dresser in hopes that Hardin would come around sometime.

"They aren't so bad," I tell him, and he rolls his eyes. I doubt anything will look as good as Harry usual black boxer briefs, but then again I can't imagine anything looking actually bad on him.
"Well, beggars can't be choosers. Back in a minute," he says and walks out of the room wearing only his wet boxers.
Oh God, what if Liam sees him? I will be humiliated. I need to find Liam first thing in the morning to explain the turn of events. But, really, what am I going to say? It's not what it looked like. We were just talking and then I agreed to stay the night, and somehow I ended up in my boxers and a T-shirt, and then gave him the closest thing to a hand job that I know of? That sounds terrible.
I lay my head onto the pillows and stare at the ceiling. I consider getting up and checking my phone but decide against it. The last thing I need right now is to read texts from Elijah. He is probably panicking, but, honestly, as long as he doesn't tell my mother, I don't care as much as I should. If I'm completely honest with myself, I haven't felt the same about Elijah since I kissed Harry for the first time.
I know I love Elijah,I have always loved Elijah. But I'm beginning to question whether I really love him as a boyfriend and someone I could spend my life with, or if I love him because he has always been such a stable person in my life. He's always been there for me—and on paper we're perfect for each other—but I can't ignore the way I feel when I'm with Harry. I've never had these types of feelings before. Not just when we're on top of each other, but the way he gives me butterflies just by looking at me, the way I find myself desperately wanting to see him even when I'm fuming mad at him, and mostly the way he always invades my thoughts even when I try to convince myself that I hate him.
Harry has gotten under my skin no matter how hard I try to deny it. I'm in his bed instead of with Elijah. On cue, the door opens and I am snapped from my thoughts. I look up and see Harry in the clean plaid boxers and giggle. They are a little too big, and much longer than his briefs, but they still look great.
"I like them." I smile and he glares at me before turning out the light and switching on the television. He climbs back onto the bed and lies down close to me.
"So, what were you going to tell me?" he asks, and I cringe. I was hoping he wouldn't bring it up again.

"Don't be shy now, you've just made me come in my boxers," he jokes and then pulls me closer to him. I bury my head in the pillow, and he laughs.
I pull my head up and Harry pushes my hair back before giving me a soft kiss on my lips. It's the first time he has kissed me that tenderly, and yet it feels more intimate than when we kiss with tongue. He lays his head back on the pillow and changes the channel. I want him to hold me until I fall asleep, but I get the feeling Hardin is not a cuddling type of guy.
I want to be good for you, Tess. Hardin's words from earlier tonight play in my head and I wonder if he meant them or if he was just really drunk.
"Are you still drunk?" I ask and lay my head on his chest. His body stills but he doesn't push me off."

"No, I think our little screaming match in the yard sobered me up," he says. One of his hands is holding the remote and the other is hanging in the air awkwardly as if he doesn't know what to do with it.
"Oh, well, at least something good came out of it."
He turns his head and looks down at me. "Yeah, I guess so," he says, and finally puts his hand on my back. It's an amazing feeling having him hold me. No matter what terrible thing he says to me tomorrow, he can't take this moment away from me. This is my new favorite place to be, my head on his chest and his arm on my back.