Delicate

Chapter 17

HAVEN MCQUEEN

"So...what are you doing tonight?"

With the phone sandwiched between my ear and shoulder, I smile and keep pulling my laundry out of the dryer in the laundromat my complex shares. "I literally saw you yesterday, Harry."

"And? Are we limited to a certain number of times we're allowed to see each other?"

"I guess not," I chuckle and use my knee to close the dryer as I stand to my feet. "I just finished doing my laundry and I promised I would go see my dad for a bit, but then I'm free. What were you thinking?"

"It's a surprise, but can you be at my house by around seven?"

My eyes narrow as I consider the possibilities of what surprise it could be. "Yeah, that should work. Anything I should know about the surprise first? How to dress?"

"However you want," he casually responds. "I'll see you tonight."

"Alright, see you then," I hang up and drop my phone into my hamper on my way out of the room.

The weather is cool in Los Angeles now that we're in mid-October, but I can't quite describe how nice it is to be in the sunshine and out of the dreary rainy weather we had experienced in the last few cities before coming home. We have five more days of our little vacation, which I'm very much looking forward to, but I'm still getting excited thinking about visiting some foreign cities that I don't think I would otherwise get to go to. Sure, I might have to explore them alone, but there are worse things. I can't complain.

And as much as I hate my shitty little studio apartment, I feel somewhat relieved to have my own space and be on my own schedule for just this short time. It's not like my job on tour is difficult by any means, but I'm independent by nature. I like it when my time is my own and I'm not restricted to anyone else's schedule.

Once my laundry is folded and neatly put away, I opt to change into a little silk dress with a slightly oversized cashmere sweater thrown over the top to keep me warm when the sun goes down. It's a little more dressy than what I would typically wear to go see my dad, but now I'm keeping in mind that I'll be going to Harry's right after. I'm assuming we'll be staying in his house, but I still want to look nice for him. I don't think we're far enough along in whatever we're doing with each other for me to show up in sweats and a hoodie just yet.

I shoot my dad a text to let him know that I'm on my way as I climb into my car and drop my leather tote on the passenger seat, plugging my phone in to listen to music on the way.

Ironically enough, Kiwi is the first song to play on shuffle, and I didn't realize how triggering it was until my heart just nearly leaped out of my chest hearing Harry's voice so loud in my car. I don't think I'll ever be able to listen to him the same way I did before now that we've been physical, and I haven't dared to touch One Direction's discography. I'm not sure my inner teenager will be able to comprehend what the adult version of her has done with her favorite member just yet.

As I pull up to my dad's house, which is adorably decorated for Halloween with the same blow-up lawn figures we've had since I was a kid, I try to shake those thoughts of Harry and save them for when I'm on my way to see him instead. For now, I laugh at the little snoopy I pass on the path to the front door. The sad thing is that I know he put these decorations up for me, but he had to do it alone. Although I highly doubt it, maybe Candice helped.

I use my key to open the door, immediately overwhelmed by the scent of sizzling bacon as Blue comes trotting over to me from around the corner. My mouth is practically watering from the smell as I bend over to pet him, but my dad didn't tell me we would be eating...unless he decided to make my favorite and outrageously unhealthy snack of bacon and maple syrup.