I Still Got Love For You

X.

Midday the following day they are relaxing on the freshly made bed, Harry is sat with his back propped up on pillows on the headboard, while scrolling through his phone.

Taylor is reading a book, her head resting on his lap, when she hears the garage door open.

"Shit!" she exclaims suddenly, book forgotten, quickly getting up from the bed and hitting his arm in the process, his phone flying, and landing somewhere on the feet of the mattress.

"What?!" he responds, frightened.

"Shit, shit, I forgot... get up get up!" ... she gestures wildly at him to get up.

"What is happening?!" he asks as he obeys.

"Taylor? Are you here? The alarm was not on!", They both hear a deep male voice with a refined English accent shout from the entrance hall - Joe-.

Harry's eyes widen as he stares at her looking for an answer.

"I forgot he was coming to pick up some stuff he left in the house, I was supposed to be in New York by now..." she says rapidly as she walks towards him and pushes him back towards the bathroom.

"No," he utters, "you are not hiding me in your bathroom like a fucking criminal!" he protests as he stumbles backwards, her hands flat on his chest pushing him in that direction.

"Please, please it won't be long."

"Why are you still talking to him though? Thought you were done months ago, and why is he in LA?" he asks, agitated.

"Not now, baby" she says cupping his face, and giving him a soft kiss on the lips once they make it to the centre of the bathroom.

"Well, what if I don't want you there alone with him."

"Tay!", Joe's voice calls again, and she can see Harry's trademark jealousy starting to show all over his face.

"Tay??" he mocks, and she kisses him trying to distract him from it.

"I will be back soon. Please. We can then talk about this; I will do whatever you want. Please just stay here", she rushes out, leaving him in the middle of the ensuite, closing the door behind her.

He is staring at the door in shock, when she opens it 15 seconds later, and leaves the mug of tea he has been drinking from, on the bathroom counter: "there" she says, and she rushes through the door again, closing it silently.

He doesn't have his phone. So, he doesn't know if it had been a minute or 20, it doesn't matter. This is taking far too long.

He stares at himself in the mirror, he is wearing just a pair of shorts, and he thinks he should have put on a t-shirt. He thinks he hears her laugh coming from downstairs. Shit, he is jealous. This is fucking killing him.

He tries to slow down the range of images of what can be happening downstairs, between them, that are rushing through his mind. He thinks of taking a shower to cool down, but if he does, they will hear the water run. Fuck, what if he does. What if he does, and he comes to find him in here, and... no shit, he cannot do this to her.

He paces the bathroom floor for a while. How long has it been? He has no way to know. He can count the seconds. It is an option. What are they talking about?. What if he is here to win her back?. No wait, he doesn't know she was here. But what if she sees him and then realises that she still loves him. They have been together for 6 years, which is a long time loving the same person. The memories they must have together. Even in this house. They'd most probably slept together in the room, he thinks, eying the door, maybe even here, now looking at the bathroom counter where his teacup rests forgotten. You are winding yourself up, you need to stop this. She wants you. But she also loved him, he concludes with a groan. Stop. He tells himself, running his fingers through his hair.

After what feels like an eternity to Harry, just 30 min for anyone in possession of a watch, Taylor opens the door and walks in.

She expects to find him standing where she left him, but he is instead lying inside the bathtub, a towel as a pillow cushioning his head. His eyes are closed, a frowny expression on his face.

"Harry?" she asks, "Are you ok?" concern in her voice.

He opens his eyes then and she sees they are bloodshot. She knows he has been winding himself up, the same way he used to get worked out/up when his insecurities got triggered.

He swallows visibly. "Hold me?" he says in a hopeful, strained tone.

Nodding she steps in the bathtub, and cuddles against him, placing soft kisses on his shoulder. And He feels his heart rate slow down to a normal pace, as his body finally relaxes.