British Rose

4. I would walk 500 miles

H's house – West Hollywood, LA – Sunday evening

Despite having taken a few naps during the day, Charlotte fell asleep quickly during the movie they watched after dinner. Harry noticed the moment her head fell onto his chest and her breathing got deeper that he had lost his companion to the land of dreams. He watched the steady movement of her upper body for a while and reveled in the proximity of her body to his. Her skin still radiated some heat from their beach day, and her scent of sunscreen and salt water was the perfect summer memory.

After a good fifteen minutes, he decided Charlotte would not get a good night's sleep in this position and after shutting off the TV, he carried her to her bedroom.

Gently laying her down, he placed the cover over her and softly placed a goodnight kiss on her forehead. With a final look back at her, he quietly closed the door and made his way upstairs to his own bed again.

H's house – West Hollywood, LA – Monday morning

"Can my Mondays please always start like this?" Charlotte exclaimed when she entered the kitchen and saw Harry had already started preparing breakfast. She was wearing her improvised pajamas and had her hair put up in a messy bun, her face stripped of any make-up. Charlotte didn't usually wear a lot of it, and since she had taken it off after the concert on Friday, she hadn't put any on again. There was neither a desire nor a need to.

Harry almost burned the pancakes because his eyes were fixed on the sight in front of him. How on earth does she look so good in sweatpants and an old t-shirt? Is it because she's wearing my clothes? 

"Honey, you're burning our breakfast", Charlotte teased him, having noticed he was blatantly staring at her morning look. She walked towards him and hugged him from behind, placing a kiss on his neck.

"How did you sleep?"

"Was okay. You?" Harry flipped two of the pancakes and placed the third which was already done on the plate next to the stove.

"Like a happy baby. Sorry for being so exhausted yesterday, I think I fell asleep on the couch. At least I can't remember how I got into bed."

"I carried you", Harry answered, a faint blush on his cheeks.

Charlotte looked at him, astonished, searching for a clue in his expression that he might be joking. Quite on the contrary, his face and its colour were clear signs that he was very much telling the truth.

"Okay, that's embarrassing. I promise you won't have to do that again", she quickly assured him. Inside, her heart pounded upon realizing that he had had it in his powers in which bed to place her sleeping body yesterday and he had chosen to put her into her bedroom. Was he not aching for her as she was for him, more and more each day they spent together?

"Didn't mind it", Harry shrugged.

Maybe she would take matters into her own hands tonight. But before that, a new day awaited them.

"Thank you." Charlotte took the two mugs with tea and started to set up the table outside as Harry had yesterday. The sky was a bit cloudier than the day before, hiding the sunlight but not the warmth. Once again, the day set out to be perfect.

They sat down on the same chairs as the day before and quietly started eating.

Between bites, Harry occasionally looked over the table at Charlotte to find her eyes fixed on her plate every time. Not once did her eyes meet his.

"You okay, love?", he worried.

His voice suddenly breaking the silence startled Charlotte.

"What? Oh...I don't know", she replied quietly.