Sails and Styles (Completed)

Chapter 21

When I wake the next morning, Harry's presence beside me feels so natural that it would feel strange to not have him there. I peel him off of me and decide to do some early morning yoga outside. I put coffee on first and then head outside. It's the perfect temperature right now. I know it will be sweltering hot later, so I enjoy the cool breeze coming off the water. This is one of my favourite times of day. When the rest of the world hasn't quite woken up yet. I can stand here and look out at the water and have a quiet moment alone. These moments are important to me.

"I almost missed it," Harry says, breaking the silence.

"Missed what?"

"Missed yoga time. Might be my favourite," a broad smile across his face and a cup of coffee being raised to his mouth.

"Well maybe if you weren't such a sleepy head."

"Maybe if someone didn't wear me out all day and night."

I feel my cheeks flush at the memory of him and I from yesterday.

"Don't act chaste now Maggie."

"I wouldn't dare."

I look him up and down. He is wearing just his tight black boxer briefs. His messy morning hair might be my favourite. He has a sort of half-smile that seems to be permanently on his face for the last few days. I can feel my heart swell just by looking at him. He gestures to me to come closer to him and I don't waste anytime closing the distance. He wraps his arms around me, and I tilt my head up to him, and he leans down to kiss my mouth.

"So..."

"So what?"

"I know you have a plan for today. You always have a plan."

"Well, I should go to my parent's place. Maybe you can help me decide what to do with it."

"Okay."

"And I think if I'm going to London, I'm going to have to get some things in order so that I can leave here. I probably can't leave right away but maybe in a week?"

"Take all the time you need."

"I'll have to find the keys and the address for the apartment in London."

"Why would you need that?"

"So, I can stay there."

"You don't want to stay with me?"

"What if I'm there for a while? And then what? I'm just living with you? Isn't that moving a bit fast?"

"You know what I think?"

"What do you think?"

"I think that I couldn't imagine not falling asleep beside you and waking up next to you."

"Until you get sick of me."

"Is that what you think is going to happen?"

"I don't know. I've never lived with anyone."

"You were with your ex for four years and you never lived with him?"

"I never wanted to. I like having my own space," I say shrugging.

"And now?"

"And now what?"

"We've basically been living together for more than a week."

"I guess." I'd never really thought about that.

"Do you want your space?"

I think about his words. About my past. About how much I enjoy my solitude. That I've always loved living alone, even moving out of my parent's house when I was eighteen. I love the freedom that comes from living alone. The sense that everything is your own. That everything will be exactly where you left it. No surprises. And I think about Harry. About him coming into my life by chance and not changing it so much as just sliding into the place that I had been holding for him. I didn't expect him but somehow, he just fit. He knew to be quiet when I didn't want to talk. He knew when to tease me and when to be serious. He pushed me when I needed pushing and supported me when I couldn't do it alone. It was like how I used to watch my parents operate the boat. One always seemed to know where the other was. Filling the gaps and being in the right place at the right time so the boat always traveled smoothly. He did that for me.