E l l i e

"Harry, why have we left your mother alone in your penthouse? And why are we at a townhouse in the middle of a random neighborhood? Oh god, please don't tell me you're dealing drugs now. Has the music industry gone that bad?"

Harry sends me an unamused look before turning to look back at the house in front of us. I keep my eyes on him, wary. There's no possible explanation for coming here.

He turns to me, ease written all over his face.

"Ellie, I want to move in with you."

My breath catches at his careful phrasing. He wants to move in with me. He doesn't want me to move in with him.

"I'm confused. You were just telling me I should live on my own?"

He smiles as if he was expecting that. "I know. First, I want to know–do you think we're at a stage where we can move in together?"

"Yes... Why the sudden change of heart?"

"Because I realized that I want to wake up next to you every day, not only the weekends. I want you to sleep in my clothes. I want you to be waiting for me when I come home from trips, and I want to pick you up from work every day. I want to live life right next to you."

I stare at him in awe, raw emotion bubbling in my chest. The words can't crawl up my throat so I settle for a nod instead.

His smile widens, showcasing his dimples that I've missed so much. He leans down, kissing me with a sense of lightness.

"I said that when we live together, it won't be in that bachelor pad."

My breath hitches in my throat once I realize his implications. I look over at the house and notice the For Sale sign. Then I whip my head back toward him. "You bought this place?"

Much to my confusion, he shakes his head. "No."

"Then why...?"

"We're in this together, El. That means everything." He gently grabs my hands and squeezes. "I want to go house hunting together. I don't want to buy a place that we both don't love."

I stare at the man in front of me with complete awe. It feels like only weeks ago he was sabotaging my apartment hunting experience because he was jealous. But now, I saw development. Maturity.

A warm feeling erupts in my chest.

"Harry, you cheeky boy," I laugh. "How did I get so lucky?"

"I should be the one asking that," he smiles warmly.

"So romantic! Now, can we hurry it up, please? I have other showings I need to get to!"

At the sound of a new voice, I notice for the first time that the door is now open and a familiar blond is standing in the doorway.

Alex smirks at Harry and smiles at me. "Gorgeous! Long time no see!" In quick steps, he bounces down to us and envelopes me in a hug. "Your boyfriend tends to change his mind a lot, no?"

I nod as we pull away. Harry scowls but softens when Alex pulls him for one of their weird bro-hugs.

"Alright, let's take a look, shall we?"

I grab Harry's hand and squeeze before following Alex in.

~~~

"Jesus, Ellie. You're picky. Weren't you totally okay when it came to an apartment that had mold issues?" Alex stares at me exasperatedly.

"First of all, I couldn't afford to live anywhere nice," I bitchily point out. Alex doesn't soften like I expect. "Second, I don't know. I'm not really feeling this house."

Ah, the house. I have to say, it's a nice house. It's cozy, but by no means small. If Harry were to live somewhere, he wouldn't choose a cramped up cottage. There are lots of windows letting in light. It has two stories and plenty of bedrooms for guests. There's even a small backyard surrounded by a fence. It's a typical family home.

But it's just not something I can picture us living in, at least not now.

Alex flicks his wrist to check his watch impatiently. "Look, I have to head back to the office. Can you guys please decide what you want before calling me again?"

Harry and I exchange glances. Part of the reason I wasn't feeling the house is because Alex's mood has soured significantly over the last 45 minutes. I'm not exactly sure what's gotten him down, but he doesn't say. He attempts to act as professional as possible but there's a permanent scowl etched on his face.

I've never seen him like this. He's always looked so cheerful and happy. It's slightly terrifying if I'm being honest.

"Thanks, Alex," I say with a smile. He doesn't ease up. He curtly nods in our direction before striding away, his blazer flapping behind him.

"Christ, what's gotten into him?" Harry asks as soon as he's out of hearing range.

I turn to him and shrug. "No clue. Maybe he's stressed about something."

"Maybe," Harry warily mumbles before shrugging. "Whatever. I promised mum we'd take her out to dinner tonight. She wants Japanese so I was thinking Nowza."

I pretend to know which restaurant he's talking about, even though I have no clue. "Whatever you want."

We silently walk back to Harry's car. I can't help but glance at him. Does he seem upset that I don't like the house? If he does, he doesn't show it. Then again, it's not like he's an open book. I can never tell what he's thinking.

"I'm sorry," I say when we're halfway back to his house.

"For what?" Based on his flippant tone, I can tell he's hurt.

"That I didn't like the house. I thought I'd prefer a cute family home but I couldn't picture a future there. Maybe it just makes me feel old."

He glances over at me, a bit shocked. "Really?"

"Yeah," I shrug and lean back into the seat. "We're still in our twenties. Do we really want a house?"

"I suppose it does make me feel much older than I am."

"Exactly! Plus I never imagined myself to own a house until I was at least twenty-eight."

"Oddly specific," he muses as he grabs my hand and entwines our fingers, resting it on the console. "So what you're saying is...?"

"I still want to live together," I laugh lightly. "Just, maybe an apartment? It can be a big one. Or we can just move into your penthouse. I really don't see what the big deal is."

"Hell no. It's too far from your job and I know you hate driving. I'll look for someplace else."

I smile as he realizes my priorities. "Anywhere will be spectacular with you."

"Yeah, yeah," he teases, lifting up our hands to kiss the back of mine. "And don't worry. We'll still have a house. We can buy one near the beach so we can visit in summer."

The idea of a beach house actually excites me. It always seemed like such an islander thing to do. Audrey had a beach house in Florida, although we rarely visited. I'm not sure why. Still, instead of complaining about how expensive it would be, I simply smile.

"That sounds perfect."

When we reach Harry's building, I'm so bubbly with excitement that I forget to mock the doorman today. Hell, I don't even realize that I showed up at Harry's place with nothing but work clothes.

"Harry! I don't have any clothes for dinner!" I say in a panic once we reach his door.

He grins. "I had Tom run some errands for me."

"You know, it seems like Tom and I do the same amount of work. Maybe I should be promoted to manager," I joke. When he focuses his intense stare on me, I drop my smile. "I was kidding."

"Why not?"

"Because..." I trail, realizing that I don't really have an answer. It would be impossible. Daffodil would never promote me. She likes being her own boss, she'd never go for someone managing her.

Anne flings the front door open as if she's been waiting for us. I expect her to hug her son but instead, she pulls me inside with an excited smile. "Come on! I'm excited to catch up with you."

I look at Harry over my shoulder as his mom drags me to his room. He grins at the two of us. I realize then how much this means to him. It means a lot to me too.

Half an hour later, I'm dressed in a tight baby pink dress that reaches mid-thigh, paired with silver strappy heels. Tom had sent over a few options, all new of course. I felt bad that the poor man had to run to a store to pick these up, but they were so worth it. All the dresses were all so beautiful, if not expensive. I hope Harry will return the others but we both know he wouldn't.

My hair falls in loose waves to my waist, the subtle highlights I got when I first moved here still showing. Surprisingly Daff hasn't sent me to retouch them yet. Overall, I think I look amazing–but I haven't really thought I looked less, at least not recently.

And man, I will never need male validation in my life again, but damn Harry's reaction makes me feel good.

He's in mid-conversation with Anne when I walk in with the grace of a swan. Lips parted, his eyes zero in on my form. They darken, not only with lust but with awe.

Anne stops talking as she spins around to face me. Her eyes gleam the way my mother's did when we had dinner with Harry. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

How did I go from having no mother figures to two in a matter of weeks?

"You look stunning!" Anne beams.

"You too," I smile, taking in her appearance. She's wearing a red cocktail dress that modestly falls below her knees. Her hair's tied in an elegant updo with a few tendrils framing her face.

"Oh, I wish Gems was here. Then it would be a huge family reunion," Anne sighs wistfully. My stomach clenches.

Gemma Styles. Harry's sister.

The first time we met, she immediately hated me. She was fiercely protective of her older brother, which was totally reasonable. It sucked a little but I understood. It's not like she knew we were a thing anyway.

Eventually, she warmed up to me once she found out I was actually his soulmate. She's a kind person, if not a little standoffish at first. She isn't scared of being blunt and barely has a filter. It freaks me out to know her current opinion of me. Does she know what happened between Harry and me? Will she hate me for what I did?

Anne waves a dismissive hand and squeezes my shoulder. "One day you'll have to come back to London. We'll throw a huge party in your honor."

"We'll plan something." Oh God, please don't throw me a party.

As we pile out of the penthouse, Harry grabs my wrist and pulls me a good distance away from his mother. Then he bends down, his breath caressing my ear.

"You are breathtaking."

My breath hitches in my throat. It's just a compliment. Three simple words. Yet Harry's low tone makes it seem like he's putting all of his feelings on the line and that he's seconds away from ravishing me.

And for the first time ever, I wish Anne wasn't here.

He smirks slightly when he sees me flustered. Before I can even stop my heart from beating erratically against my chest, he jogs to catch up with his mother.

Prick.

He pulls the same move again when we arrive at the fancy Japanese restaurant. He tells his mom to go check-in while he pulls me to a shaded corner of the room.

"Don't shower me with too many compliments now," I sarcastically drawl with a smile.

He rolls his eyes. "I will never run out of compliments to give you, but that's not why we're here. I want to give you something."

I pause and assess his expression. It seems like he's... nervous?

Oh, God.

His hand slips into the pocket of his suit jacket and he pulls out a long, velvet box. A gasp escapes my lips. He nervously eyes me before slowly prying open the box.

In there lies one of the most beautiful necklaces I've ever seen. It's simple, a silver chain with a pendant, but the gem on it seems to sparkle on its own. It's a knot formation, with a diamond in the center and smaller gems looping around it.

"Harry-"

"I know you don't like expensive gifts, or gifts in general, but you better get used to it."

I raise a brow, peeling my eyes off of the necklace. "So you're admitting it's expensive?"

He shakes his head as a small smile threatens to take over his face. "A priceless gift for a priceless girl."

"Cheesy," I grin. I'd never admit it out loud but I'm swooning a little.

He twirls his finger and I spin around. With my back almost flush to his chest, he slowly gathers my hair and pushes it over my right shoulder. His large hands clasp the necklace on. Then, soft lips meet the base of my neck in a kiss.

The pendant falls right underneath the dip of my collarbone. My hand instinctively reaches up and touches it delicately.

I love it and I love him.

I spin around to face him. "You need to stop spoiling me. I feel like I don't do anything for you."

He smirks as he entwines our hands and leads us inside. "You pay me with your body and that's enough."

Way to make a girl feel special.

Still, he says it with complete seriousness and I know he means it. That doesn't mean I can't do other stuff for him.

Then again, what do you get someone as magnificent as Harry Styles?

Anne's awaiting us when we walk in. The hostess looks at us in surprise, and it's then that I realize this is a public appearance. It very much so looks like Harry and I are a thing. My hand instinctively lets go of his but he holds on tight and squeezes.

Right. Okay. We're doing this.

The fact that this news won't necessarily spread is the only reason I'm not freaking out. So what if a few waitstaff and patrons see us? It's not like they know who I am. Unless the paparazzi flood this place, we're totally safe, minus a few quick phone pics.

We're seated in a private corner – thank God. Harry sits next to me while Anne sits across from us. The hostess switches to professional mode and jots down our drinks before walking off without a second glance.

"So, I actually have a friend that's been pestering me to visit her so I might spend the night," Anne tells us as soon as she's gone.

"That's great, mum," Harry says enthusiastically before squeezing my knee under the table. I swat his hand away.

"So you two will have the place to yourselves," she continues, a teasing glint in her eyes. My face sets aflame at the insinuation. I know she probably knows we're having sex, but I'd never want her to acknowledge it. It's like when your parents find out. It's totally weird and awkward.

"Oh, actually I was gonna head back to my place tonight," I admit.

"What?" Harry asks, looking crestfallen. "Why?"

I shrug. "I feel like I should take advantage of the place as long as I have it."

"But," Harry's bottom lip juts out into an adorable pout. However, what he's doing under the table isn't as innocent. His fingertips are slowly trailing up and down the exposed skin on my thigh.

I narrow my eyes at him. I know exactly what he's doing! He's trying to rile me up so I have sex with him tonight and spend the night.

Then again, it's been six days since...

I grab his wrist and send him a warning look. He cheekily smiles back. Idiot.

"El, that's a lovely necklace," Anne goes on, oblivious to our acts.

My hand reaches up and touches the delicate chain. "Thank you! Harry got it for me. Who knew he had good taste?" I tease, grabbing my wine and bringing it to my lips.

"That'll come in handy when he picks out a ring for you."

I choke on my drink.

Woah.

I did not see that coming. But I should've. Harry once told me he didn't want to tell his mom about us until we were engaged, only because he didn't want to hurt her if it didn't work out. That plan's obviously out of question now.

But marriage? Now? I want to get married to Harry someday, but we've only been going out for three months and we haven't even hit the hardest part of our relationship: the publicity. There's no way I'm ready to be proclaimed as Harry Style's fiancée.

Although Ellie Styles has a nice ring to it.

"Excuse me." I manage a polite smile at the two before slipping out of my seat and scurrying to the bathroom to recompose myself. Why the hell does marriage always make me feel so flustered? I felt the same way when Alex had implied that Harry would be buying me an engagement ring one day. It's completely ridiculous.

After freshening up and applying another coat of lipgloss, I'm ready to go back out. I'm willing to forget the entire engagement scenario if they are too.

On the way, I pass by the bar and freeze. There sits a familiar body, but I can't be too sure.

I should leave it. I should go back to my table and enjoy a nice dinner with my boyfriend and his mom.

But I can't. If it's who I think it is, I'm going to have a nice word with them.

I walk up to the bar, two stools away from the person. I lean forward and order a whiskey. Then I casually look around.

It's him. It's fucking Alexander Walker.

"So much for having a meeting, huh?" I bitterly drawl as I occupy the seat next to him. Okay, maybe I'm still upset about this evening. He didn't have to lie about his whereabouts though.

"I had a meeting. It ended," he curtly responds before downing his drink and waving for more.

Okay, the bad mood hasn't passed yet.

"Shouldn't you be with Daffodil or something? I swear y'all are joined by the hip." When he tenses, I realize something's wrong. Unfortunately, his face gives nothing away. "Why... what happened?"

He takes a huge sip of his new drink. I notice mine hasn't arrived yet and I can only assume it's because of his authority. He probably threatened to bankrupt them if they didn't keep his glass full. After all, it seems like he's drowning his sorrows and his liver.

"That's none of your business."

My brows quirk as I look at him in disbelief. "None of my business? You made it my business the moment you interfered in my life. Sorry buddy, but you get the same courtesy here."

He doesn't even look at me as he speaks his next words. "I proposed to Gina."

My first instinctual emotion is anger. Anger that we went through all the planning just for him to spontaneously propose to her, ruining all my stupid effort.

Then I realize that I'm shocked that she got proposed to and I wasn't even there! I wanted to see the look on her face! Would her robotic mask fade for a brief second? Or would she curtly nod and not even smile?

Finally, I decide to keep my mouth shut. Odds are, it didn't go as planned considering he looks like the Great Depression hit him hard.

But I still have every right to know.

"Okay... and what did she say?"

I have never seen him like this before. It's a weird mix between anger and anguish. His appearance has seriously deteriorated since the hours I saw him last. Even the suit he wears is no longer immaculately wrinkle-free, but bunched up in all the wrong places.

He winces as he recalls the moment. "She needs to think about it."

My eyes widen in panic before I quickly recompose myself. I can see why he's pissed, but he doesn't really need to be. If it were anyone but Daff, yes. But it's not.

I breathe out an extended sigh of relief. "Great! That's not a no."

For the first time he looks up at me and his eyes are anything but reassured. "That's not a yes either."

"Alex..."

"I don't get it. I did everything right. I chose the perfect ring, asked her in private because I knew she doesn't do romantic gestures, I even drafted a prenup!"

The prenup is impressive. Anyone else would find it insulting but I'm sure Daff was flattered he knew her well.

"I thought she loved me enough to be sure that she wants to spend the rest of her life with me. I guess I'm just some cosmic joke."

His shoulders sag as if he's carrying the world's heaviest burden, which I guess he is. I feel myself softening by the second. The poor guy has been dealing with rejection all day and put on a brave face. Now, with the loosening of alcohol, it's clear to see he devastated.

"She does love you," I say as I put a reassuring hand on his arm. "You said it yourself, I know her super well. Well enough to see she's besotted by you."

"Then why did she hesitate when I asked?" He bitterly laughs and continues before I have the chance to answer. "I'd do anything for her in a heartbeat, no hesitation. She doesn't feel the same."

Hurt. He's hurt.

I realize then that he's not talking to me as Daffodil's assistant. He's talking to me as his own friend, and his friend I'll be. I'm not going to defend my boss. In fact, I kinda want to kill her right now.

"Hey, Harry and I are having dinner right now. Come eat with us." When I see the dread on his face, I'm quick to add, "His mom's with us too, so you wouldn't be third-wheeling."

"Ellie," he sighs, dragging a hand down his exhausted face. "Thanks for the offer. I appreciate what you're doing but I'm not the best company right now."

I want to argue but it's useless. I'm not sure how Harry would react to a drunk Alex and it's not even my dinner to offer.

Still, I don't like the idea of Alex sitting alone at a bar.

"Okay, then can you please promise me you'll go home?"

"Gina's there."

Of course she is. See? This is why I was always hesitant to move in with Harry. Where would we go if we had a fight and needed space?

"Go to her place. I'll give you the key. I'm staying at Harry's tonight anyway so it's all yours," I suggest.

"I don't know..."

"Okay, well I'm not asking. You're going right now. I'm calling you an Uber as we speak," I say as do exactly that. He can't drive drunk. "And I'll call you to check in later. If you don't answer, I'm going to stop by and pound on the door until you throw me out."

With a confirmed ride and my key in the palm of his hand, I wait for his car to arrive.

"She's lucky to have you," Alex mumbles so quietly that my ears strain to hear him.

"Hey, she's lucky to have you too," I say as I playfully punch his arm. Aside from my raging emotion toward Medusa, I feel a warmth for Alex right now. And a super-duper heavy urge to murder my boss.

The car arrives and I have to walk him out just in case he decides to bail. He compliantly trails along. Outside the car, he pauses and turns to me. Before I know it, his arms wrap around me in a hug.

Surprised, my arms lay limp by my side. Before I can react, he's pulling away and patting my shoulder.

"Thank you for being there for me."

Then he's gone.

Oh Daff, please don't hurt him.

When I go back inside, I'm tempted to crawl back to the bar and finish off the whiskey that never arrived. However, I'm frozen in my tracks when Harry's leaning against the wall in the waiting room.

Crap! How did I forget about him?

"Were you ever going to come back?" His tone is hardened as he stares at me with icy eyes. His arms are crossed, presumably to hide his tenseness.

"Of course!" I attempt a light smile that doesn't faze him at all. I drop the pretense and shuffle toward him until we're inches apart. "I'm sorry..."

"I cannot believe that one mention of marrying me has sent you running to Alex." His jaw flexes.

I give him a flat look. "Alex proposed to Medusa."

He blinks, clearly taken aback.

His lack of response urges me to continue. "She didn't give him a straight answer and I coincidentally saw him at the bar so I decided to comfort him like the good friend I am. I just sent him back to Daffodil's apartment because I told him I'm spending the night with you... but I guess I'm sleeping in the guest room."

He curses under his breath and barely processes me storming out of the restaurant. I'm in a pissy mood. Not only did Alex get undeservingly hurt, but Harry won't stop assuming I'm going to run away every time something serious comes up.

Sure, I went to the bathroom when his mom brought up engagement, but that was because it caught me off guard. He's making it seem like I don't want to be with him at all. Does he really think that? I'm not sure what more I can do to prove I'm staying.

"El!" he calls out when the cold air outside prickles at my skin. When I keep walking, he catches up and grabs my wrist. I whirl around to face him, my face blazing with annoyance.

"What?"

"Fuck, I'm sorry! I just thought–"

"What? What did you think?" I mockingly tilt my head. "That I'd run into Alex's arms the moment you brought up the future? Oh, I'm sorry. Did me going house hunting with you not prove I'm in this for the long run? Or maybe the fact that I'm spending time with your mother? God, Harry! I don't know what else I can do to convince you I'm staying!"

In a swift tug, I'm pulled against his chest as his arms wrap tightly around me. I find myself doing the same, shamelessly inhaling his masculine scent.

"I know that I've broken your trust a million times but I promise I'm staying. I think I'd literally die if you were gone. This past week has been hell enough, I can't imagine a lifetime," I mumble against his chest.

"I know," he whispers. "It's not you. I'm scared of pushing you too far."

I pull away and gently cup his face. His eyes flutter closed as he leans into my touch. "Trust me, I'd tell you if you're pushing."

"Promise me."

"I promise."

He relaxes and gently pulls me in for a kiss. I remind him that his poor mom is probably starving and he reminds me that she's probably assuming we're having a quickie in the bathroom.

Needless to say, I run back.

~~~

When we finally leave the restaurant, minus Anne, I pull out my phone and dial Medusa immediately. Dinner with Harry and Anne could barely keep the rage at bay and now's the time to do something about it.

"You've reached Daffodil."

"You need to think about it?!" I seethe into the phone with no context. Harry glances me through the corner of his eye but I pay him no mind.

"Elizabeth," she breathes into the phone.

"No. Don't Elizabeth me. Where are you right now?"

Please don't be at your own place.

"I'm at the office."

I let out a breath of relief before turning to Harry and mouthing 'office'. He makes a face but listens regardless, making a risky u-turn.

"Elizabeth, it's none of your business."

Hah. The same words Alex's said earlier. They really are a match made in heaven.

"You're right. It's not." I say before hanging up. It's solely because I don't want her to escape before I ambush her. Hell no! I'm going to corner her.

"Ellie, are you sure about this?" Harry asks warily when we pull into my office building.

I bite my lip and nod. "Yes. I need to do this. Pick me up in twenty?" Without waiting for him to answer, I lean across the console and kiss him.

"I'll be waiting here."

"Good, keep the engine running," I joke, but with tonight, who knows how it'll end up?

I concentrate on the rage portion of my brain and not the logical part that screaming at me to escape before I make things shitty. I could. I could turn back and run to the car and Medusa wouldn't even know I'm here. But I won't.

Every time I feel weak, I remember Alex's not so cheerful face and my resolve strengthens.

"Daffodil!" I yell into the unlocked office. A bright glow escapes from the crack of her door. I force myself to move onward until my hand touches the knob.

I hesitate.

Is this really a good idea?

Yes.

The knob turns and before I can stop myself, I walk into the office.

I'm not sure what I expect. Maybe Daff doing yoga? Sitting at her desk, surrounded by paperwork?

What I don't expect is her hunched over in her chair, perfect makeup now flawed.

From the looks of it, she had really nice makeup – keyword being had. Where once bright colored shadow sat is now replaced by smudged eyeliner and runny mascara.

Oh my god...

"Are you crying?!" I stupidly blurt out. It seems my filter disappears when I witness the strong with tears in their eyes.

She sniffs and defiantly juts out her chin. "No. I was just testing to see if this mascara is really waterproof. It's not, obviously."

In half of a daze, I go to sit in front of her desk. "For some reason, I thought you'd cry tears of oil. Or glitter."

She chokes out a curt laugh before dabbing at her eyes with a tissue and adding it to the ever-growing pile. Her desk is covered with snot-filled tissues. Apparently, her trashcan is already full. I didn't even know she owned tissues.

"What happened, Daff?" I say softly, looking at her kindly. At least I hope I managed to wipe the stupid awed expression off of my face. I've never seen her express emotion, let alone one that she considers 'weak'.

"You know what," she pointedly replies before crumbling her tissue in the palm of her hand.

I take a long look at her tear-stained face. Not only is she crying, but she looks just as bad as Alex. Ruined-Makeup Daffodil is scarier than any other I've had the pleasure of witnessing. We're talking about the beauty guru who refuses to be seen bare-faced unless it's pre-makeup. She's skilled at what she does, hardly ever messing up. To see she's messed up her work, with tears especially, tugs at my heartstrings. There's also the fact that her eyes are redrimmed, you can see a hint of bags poking out from her concealer, and her hair's in a ponytail!

Daff hates ponytails.

"Why'd you say that? Do you realize how much you've hurt Alex?" My voice doesn't hold the planned conviction. I planned to storm in here and blow up at her but seeing her so... pathetic has weakened my resolve. Damn it!

"I just–"

"You treated it like a business deal," I wryly laugh. "What's there to think about it? You love him, he loves you. You're soulmates, for fuck's sake!"

"I... I was ambushed. I don't do well with sudden gestures," she weakly argues.

"You felt ambushed?" The previous rage reappears, coursing through my veins. "Do you even realize that he had a different plan for you? He was going to surprise you when we did our 'Christmas in Malibu' shoot! Then he realized that you wouldn't like that so he chose the perfect moment, one where it was private! Because he knows you, Daff. And you have the audacity to say you felt ambushed?"

My breathing comes out in huffs as I glare at her across the table.

"I cannot believe you! The poor dude is devastated and drunk and you have the audacity to look hurt."

She blinks at me before a steady stream of tears flows down her face. "I didn't know. I was just so surprised he asked that I blurted the first thing that came to mind!"

"Do you want to marry him?" I ask calmly, bracing myself for her answer. I swear if she says no–

"Yes."

"Good," I sigh. "You need to fix this."

"Oh God," she whispers in horror. "I fucked up badly, didn't I?"

"Yes, but he's in love with you so it's okay. You just need to explain yourself." I then quietly add, "Daff, he's hurt. He thinks you're not 100% sure about him."

"I am!" she quickly interjects. "Oh God, I am. It's just... I'm so scared." Her words come out so quietly I think I imagined them.

Daff and scared don't mix.

And we may be having a sappy – for Daff – talk right now but I'm not ready to see Daffodil with emotions. Watching her cry, as robotic as it may be, is something I'd like to keep for my imagination. There's no way I want to hear her deep-rooted fears, as shallow as that is.

"I think you need to tell him that," I say.

She slowly nods as she comes to terms with my words. Before I know it, she's standing up with a newfound resolve. Her hand shoots up and pulls a cheetah print scrunchie out of her hair, allowing it to cascade down her body.

"He's at your old apartment," I tell her as I stand up.

"Good. And Elizabeth?"

Oh my god. This is it. She's finally going to thank me!

"Make sure you clean up that mess," she says nonchalantly while waving a hand in the general direction of her snot-covered desk.

Oh, fuck me.

~

The book's almost over, hence why I'm not updating as frequently... I'm not even in the process of writing anything publishable, so I don't know what I'll do once my other book (unrelated to this one) is over :(