The Weeks Between • HS

Week 16 • Nola *

There's a moment, when I'm sitting on one end of the couch listening to, and watching, Hope talk to Harry that I have to stop and soak it all in. The fact that this all feels so normal seems so unbelievable to me, when I really think about it. First, when I left America, it was never to find a partner. It was all about finding myself, and learning how to do this parenting thing on my own. Second, I never imagined that Hope would get along, so well, with the person that became my partner.

That being said, I'm not sure I'm ready to have Hope spill the dirty details of some of my most embarrassing moments, or share my middle school pictures with Harry. So, when Hattie starts to cry, ready for bed and hungry in a way that only I can satisfy, I huff in annoyance. "Can I leave you two alone?" I ask, staring straight at Hope.

"I'm offended," Hope gasps, sarcastically throwing her hand over her heart. "You don't even trust your own flesh and blood?" She has to be joking, right?

"You've met my parents. OF COURSE I don't trust my own flesh and blood."

"Nol, we'll be fine. I swear I won't try and steal your boy- PARTNER," she catches herself, but Harry heard her and is dying while trying to tightly hold in his laughter.

"This is exactly what I'm talking about. You two going to gang up on me."

"Darling, I really just need to ask Hope something that has nothing to do with getting any secrets from her. Trust me," Harry practically begs, so I leave them to talk, knowing that if it is anything huge, Hope will tell me when he leaves.

I feed Hattie quickly and curse myself for not having a way to spy on the two of them in the living room, because the playroom camera won't pick up their voices clearly.

"Are you two finish talking about me so that I can come back downstairs?" I ask, stopping in the top stairs when I see that they don't seem done with their conversation.

Hope turns to me and says in a serious tone. "Yeah. Actually, I think that you should maybe go spend the night with Harry tonight. I'm really tired and I was planning to just go to bed early." What a little... Did he seriously just talk to her for twenty minutes about getting time alone with me?

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Positive," Hope says, grabbing the iPad so she can keep an eye on the girls. "We will see you back over here for breakfast," she says with a wink and her now-go-fuck-your-boyfriend-eyes (because she has always hated that I don't use the word boyfriend).

I walk over to Harry and want to slap him upside the back of his head, but end up just lightly smacking his shoulder, hoping that he gets that I am into him. Then, I follow it up with a mischievous grin because I am grateful for the time alone.

"You know where everything is, and you know where I'll be, if you need me," I tell Hope. Harry has already walked before me to his backyard. "Probably call before you come over, though," I admit.

"Can I trade places with you, just for one night, then I promise to give him right back?"

"He's probably be into that, but it's a hard pass for me."

"You are no fun. Weren't you ever taught to share?" she teasingly asks.

"To be honest, I was never good at sharing."

With my last comment, I leave before she can reply. I find Harry next tot he pool outside- typical. I sit down in the chair next to his and pouts, but I stay put and reach my hands out for us to connect. He is the first one to speak. "So, we haven't really talked about the next three weeks."

He's joking, right? "Yes we have."

"Not like that, Nol. I mean us. What will that look like? I don't want to be the obnoxious guy who calls too much, or not enough..." he nervously spits out. At least he is keeping consistent with having his important talks outdoors.