Harry noticed the goosebumps on her arms and handed Avery his jacket as he pulled off onto the road and started driving. She looked at it and then at him in confusion.

He glanced at her before looking back at the road. "You look cold. I'm freezing my nuts off, I can only imagine how you're feeling in those clothes."

She smiled slowly and chuckled, "thanks." She slipped it on feeling much warmer.

She continued to give him directions and navigate the streets. It was almost two in the morning now. After twenty minutes they finally reached Claire's street.

She took a breath, "ready for phase three Dimples?"

He stayed in his seat a little while longer before he answered, "yeah."

They got out of the car, "wait−"

She beat him to it, "don't worry, I'll catch the nightrider to the subway and make my way back." She pointed to the bus stop that was only several metres away.

"Are you sure?" He furrowed his brows, not comfortable with sending her out late at this time to trek across the town.

She smiled. "Here," she started to take his jacket off and return it.

He raised his hand stopping her, "it's okay. Keep it."

She furrowed her eyebrows, slipping it off her shoulders and feeling the cold air hit her again, "what? No, I can't. It's expensive, I'm sure you'll want it b–"

"It doesn't matter. Please, it's cold tonight. You'll need it more than me."

She was taken aback by his sweet gesture and a slow smile spread her lips. "Thanks." She said appreciatively. "But what about you?"

"I'll be fine."

"Your nipples say otherwise." She smirked, looking at his pecs. He glanced down and you could see how hard they were through his shirt. He laughed and crossed his arms over them. Avery's attention was now focused on his arms and biceps bulging through the raggedy shirt that was too small for him. It took her a moment to stop look away from his muscular, toned limbs.

When her eyes glanced up she noticed that Harry was busy looking at her chest as if trying to find the same thing. He quickly looked away when he realised she realised.

She tried not to smirk but her lips couldn't help pull up at the corners, "it's called a bra, genius."

His stammered awkwardly, embarrassed from being caught staring at her chest. "Sorry, I didn't mean to stare, I just...--"

Harry looked adorable to Avery and she laughed. "You're cute when you blush Dimples," she slipped the warm jacket back over her torso. She winked at him as she started walking backwards to the nearby bus stop which was only several metres away, "don't blow phase three. I can't help you with this one."

He half laughed and glanced at Claire's door before looking back at the woman whose name he still didn't know. "Can I get your name now? Or will that cost me too?" He joked.

She paused, pursing her lips. "I like to leave a little mystery."

The corner of his lip twitched up and his dimple reappeared. "Does your pimp not want me to know or something? I got the feeling he didn't like me very much."

She laughed, "Marcus is not my pimp. I'm my own pimp." She smiled with pride.

He nodded approvingly. "Well, thank you... mystery woman."

She bowed her head and continued walking back, "you're welcome... Heath lookalike."

She winked at him before turning and walking to the bus stop and sitting on the bench. Harry laughed, looking at the ground and rubbing his neck as he walked to Claire's door. He was grateful for this woman helping him tonight and he felt bad for misjudging her so quickly. Who knows how things could have turned out if she hadn't helped him see his situation a little more clearly and get him to where he needed to be.

His faint smile wore off when he reached Claire's door and he took a deep breath before knocking heavily with his uninjured knuckles. He wiped his face with his hands, thinking of what he was going to say to her. Avery was watching him from the corner of her eye, hoping it worked out for him.

He may have been a jerk to her but she could tell he had a soft side. Avery could tell he really loved this Claire girl and she wanted this stranger to be happy. She was very happy herself with how much money she'd made tonight, and she didn't even need to take her clothes off for it. I got lucky, Avery thought. Although, he was probably the first person she wouldn't have minded taking her clothes off for.

She saw the door open slowly and a petite blonde step out cautiously and in alarm, wrapping her gown around her tighter from the cold air. Claire was beautiful, she thought, it made sense that Harry was with her. They were both very attractive people. Avery watched her lips to read her mouth, and Claire asked Harry what he was doing here before glancing at his appearance and asking what happened to him. She must've noticed the shirt and missing shoes and bandage on his hand. Her eyes grew even wider when glancing at the sight of his scratched car behind him.

Harry started speaking to her and Avery was glad he wasn't yelling. But she was worried about Claire's expression. She looked...scared. She shouldn't be looking scared she should be looking relieved that her boyfriend was here and willing to give her another chance.

They spoke for a moment before she noticed Harry's face turn cold. Claire turned to look at the ground muttering something with tearful eyes. He pushed past her and stormed into the house as she tried to stop him. Avery heard Claire call out his name, "Harry, wait!"

She bit her lip nervously and looked back out to the street. She continued to wait for the bus while her mind was creating possible scenarios of what was happening in the apartment a few metres away. Only half a minute passed before she spotted the nightrider bus making its way to the stop. She stood as it pulled up closer to her but she turned her head when she heard muffled screaming and shouting coming from Claire's.

As the bus pulled to a stop and the doors opened, she heard crashing and smashing sounds of things breaking and being thrown around. She took one step up, halfway into the bus thinking, it's their problem to sort out.

"In or out?" The driver asked.

She looked at the driver unsure. But when the shouting increased she stepped off the bus, "out," and hurried over the front door that left was wide open.

She let herself in quickly and followed the sounds of the commotion, glad that the floors were carpeted so the clicking of her heels couldn't bring extra attention to her.

She could hear Harry's thunderous voice booming through the hallway, "You have no idea what I had to go through tonight just to talk to you and get here! I have been bending over backwards just trying to fucking get to you and the whole time I was doing that, you were doing this to me!"

"It's not what it looks like−" She heard an unknown English voice say before there was another crash and thud followed by shouting and grunting, Claire crying in the background, "Harry, stop!"

Avery walked into the bedroom to see Harry wrestling a half naked man on the floor with the blonde screaming and crying, trying to pull him off. Her eyes widened and she rushed over to help Claire pull him off. "Harry!" Avery shouted, trying to get him to calm down.

Claire looked at Avery with wide red eyes, "who are you?"

The man on the ground got to his feet, panting as heavily as the rest of them with a busted lip and bruising eye.

"I... um, no one." She answered honestly.

"You were wrong." Harry's chest heaved up and down as he whispered heatedly to Avery. "She wasn't worth it." He glared at Claire and shot a scowl at Liam who was avoiding his eyes before storming out of the house.

Claire fell on her bed and held her head in her hands, sobbing. The man in his boxers went over to comfort her and Avery awkwardly left them to each other, chasing after Harry. She stepped outside to see him pacing to his car. "Get in," was all he said.

She looked at the bus stop, the nightriders only come every hour and she just missed the last one. She really didn't want to wait out here in the cold for that long. She got in the passenger's seat and Harry sped off heedlessly. They drove in silence, Avery wasn't sure what to say, but she could sense he didn't want to talk.

He drove recklessly and turned the corners sharply, not feeling the need to slow down. She could tell his mind was racing but she didn't try to lecture him or say anything that might upset him more. The fast driving didn't really bother her, especially since the roads were deserted.

After a short while she recognised her street as he slowed down and pulled over. She unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to look at him to see he was staring straight ahead with his jaw still tensed. She didn't want to leave but she knew she couldn't really stay or help.

"So... phase three was a bust huh?" She tried lightening the mood, but it didn't work.

He stayed silent; unmoving; barely even blinking. Avery's sympathy smile faded and she looked down. "You know for what it's worth, you deserve better." Harry listened but stayed unspoken. "I know you loved her and all... but you deserve someone who cares about you as much as you care about them."

She wished he would move a fraction or show some sign of life, but he still continued staring in front of him. She placed a hand on his shoulder in a comforting gesture when she solemnly said, "I'm really sorry Harry."

He responded to her touch as his gaze dropped down and he turned his face a mere inch over; showing he'd heard her and appreciated what she said without looking at her or needing to saying anything. She smiled small, "don't do anything too reckless, okay?"

She opened the car door and got out. Closing it, she leant down to say goodbye, "drive safe." Avery hoped he would at least listen to those last two words of hers. She was worried about him in the state he was in. He continued to avoid her eyes and stare blankly in her general direction and still say nothing, but she knew he heard her.

After she thanked him for the ride  Avery left to go home while Harry sat there, unmoving. Instead of driving away, he turned the engine off and just sat there for a while, looking at his steering wheel but his eyes were unfocused and everything was a blur. He wasn't sure if it had only been a couple of minutes or an hour when he suddenly got out of the car and unconsciously made his way upstairs to knock on Avery's door.

She opened the door cautiously but became surprised when she saw him. "Harry?−" She was cut off by him barging inside and closing the door behind him. "What are y−?"

"How much for the night?" He pressed her against the wall and she gasped, taken aback by his firm but gentle grip on her hips.

~~~

❤ PLEASE VOTE IF YOU LIKED IT ❤

Also feel free to check out my first book Captive To Captivated :)