[ASTRID REESE]
London, England

★ ★ ★

After a very filling and adventurous dinner, Astrid decided to take the remainder of the night into her own hands. Not necessarily because it needed mending. Everything went perfectly, from the moment Harry dropped her off at home after work, to being right on time arriving back at her place, then getting to the restaurant where he chatted her underwear off with such charm that Astrid was surprised, she could still walk by the end of it.

They ate. They talked. They danced. They laughed.

So, yes. All aspects of the date night seemed achieved—and exceeded. Going into the night, she felt extremely nervous about certain things but now that they were out of the restaurant, and walking down the cold, almost empty streets of London, Astrid could conclude that she had one of the best dates in the history of her dating life, ever.

Glowing buildings kept the night awake, cars stopping then moving forward as traffic lights gave sound to the evening. It occurred to Astrid then that she'd usually be in bed by now, exhausted from work. While she had a busy day today, she was still out now, and experiencing her city in a completely new light—in a light that she hasn't for a very long time.

She couldn't help but glance at Harry. Sparkled by the lights, flushed from the cold evening air. The movement of his left arm caused the street lamp to catch the face of his watch and glint light into Astrid's face. She squinted and it drew Harry's attention immediately because she stepped backwards and pulled her head away.

"Are you alright?" he asked, concerned. Reaching out with the aim to run his hand down her arm, he stopped himself as if unsure. Astrid nodded as her answer to his question and he let his arm fall beside him again.

"I just realised something," she said eventually. They came to a stop at the crossing because the light was red. Even though no cars were coming, they halted. Astrid took that moment of stillness to breathe, deeply until her lungs completely expanded. Patiently, Harry awaited her to continue, never the one to rush her to say or do anything. She appreciated this, even if she couldn't quite grasp it yet. "I haven't seen the city like this in a very long time."

Without words, they agreed to move on. The man in the traffic light switched from red to green and so they crossed. Until they reached the other end of the short crossing, neither of them spoke. Astrid didn't know what to say, or if she should've said anything, and Harry seemed to be deep in thought.

"Thinking about it now, I haven't had the chance to be out like this in a long time, either," he admitted and it caused Astrid to furrow her brows. Really? What were the chances of that? Then again, she had to conclude that she wasn't the only one with a heavy schedule—if anyone could've been busier than her, it had to be Harry. A surgeon. A very in demand surgeon.

"I think it's crazy that most of us live our lives during the day and we retreat to our homes once it starts getting dark outside," she began to talk, and knew very well just how insane she sounded. This part of her brain... she kept this side of her locked away. And now, perhaps at the most random stage of her life, partnered with a man by her side, for whom she did not plan on falling for at all, it all just came out of her. "I mean, I understand the responsibilities we all have to complete to make ends meet, and provide for ourselves and our families. But I always thought it to be a waste to not use the evenings... does that make sense?"

If anything would drive someone away, it would be this. Astrid's lack of filter when it came to the thoughts in her head. Sharing such things with Sofia and sharing such things with a man she wanted to bed and essentially use for her benefit were two completely different things. Scenarios. People. She needed to detach them and act appropriately.

At the same time, she couldn't help it. How could she? Harry made her feel incredibly welcomed, and comfortable. In a way she couldn't understand, he provided an environment for her where she didn't feel rushed or judged or underappreciated like she once did. Falling for him never entered the cards but what if she made a mistake not considering it?

Did Astrid set herself up for failure?

Could the possibility of her falling for this man be considered a failure in the first place?

"Actually," she laughed as she aimed to distract herself from her thoughts, and Harry from the ones she spoke out loud. "Ignore me. It's stupid."

Just when she knew he would laugh it off and say 'okay, whatever', he'd only gone and said, "No. It's not stupid. Please—continue what you were saying. I want to understand."

Astrid Reese blushed. Butterflies invaded her lower belly. The cold air had nothing to do with her shaking legs—knees. What was it about him that turned her into mush?

"I don't know..." she began, sighing a big breath that swirled into the night as white smoke. "I think I've always been someone who preferred the night. Not because I'm a big party person or anything. I just... I think it comes with a sense of comfort that I can't find in the day time. I don't feel the pressure to be perfect, and to abide by rules—and I sound insane, once more," she chuckled, kicking a small pebble across until it tumbled off of the pavement.

"Please don't say that," he spoke gently. Like it pained him to hear her say anything negative about herself. It shifted something in her chest, made it feel heavier than it was. "I think it's interesting that you feel such connection to it."

Astrid hummed and noticed that she doubted what he said. That she doubted herself and what she said. Why did she even say anything at all?

"Anyway," she shrugged. Persistent on moving on with this conversation as embarrassment flooded her for no reason. "I like being out at night a lot more but I don't always get the chance. So this... it's very nice."

"I agree," he smiled, stepping his next step closer to Astrid's. "Maybe we should make this our... thing."

She grinned. From ear to ear. Teeth barred. "Our... thing?" she asked back.

"Yes," he nodded, stealing a glance from her, perhaps thinking she wasn't looking. But she was. Oh, she most certainly was. Astrid couldn't physically tear her gaze from him—this man. This gorgeous, funny, generous, kind man.

Astrid Reese was down. Bad. She didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing, though she knew it certainly was not a part of her plan.

"We could spend Friday nights walking around until our feet give in," he suggested excitedly but still appeared nervous like he knew the idea could be shot down at any given moment. Whilst it didn't appeal to Astrid to do that, she had no choice but to continue on.

"My Friday nights are sacred, I'm afraid," she sighed, and they passed by an empty bus stop. Harry breathed a quiet 'oh' as he realised what she meant so she continued to say, "But I'm okay with Saturdays. I think Saturdays would be much more fun. A lot more people go out on Saturday night. It could be entertaining as fuck to watch them stumble across the city."

"People watching on a Saturday night?" he chuckled. "I'm sold. I'll put it in my calendar."

Grinning like she hasn't before, Astrid could barely control her emotions. The rapid beat of her heart. Perhaps the alcohol she consumed at LaRue's also added some extra adrenaline to what Harry already brought out of her.

If she had to be honest, she needed to realise she was having a great time. A wonderful time, actually.

With the flower shop in mind, she moved them closer and closer to the destination. Until she stopped in her tracks. Frozen to the asphalt. No more heel clicks next to Harry's silent movements. The wind blew her hair from one side to the other. Suddenly, the trench coat she put on before she left was not enough to keep her warm.

"I'm so stupid," she mumbled. "I'm so fucking stupid," she repeated, now turning to Harry as she began laughing. Yep. She definitely had a lot more to drink than she should've allowed herself. Harry kept his attention on her, his eyebrows raised in a silent question. Astrid sighed before she said, "I had a small fight with my best friend before I left, so I wanted to get some flowers for her to apologise. But the flower shop I love closes at five and—well, I just realised it's almost nine in the evening so that's not an option."

"Oh, I see," he responded, nodding. Harry cleared his throat and said, "So, we walked all this distance for you to realise now that our destination is no longer our destination."

"Sounds spot on."

Harry looked at her like he wanted to chase her down and into the road so the silver car that passed on his left side could run her over. Astrid could only smile at him, and bat her eyelashes as her form of apology because let's be honest here—she did still have a great time walking with him, and he never once complained.

As they stood across from each other, Harry's phone screen lighting up his face from below, Astrid looked from side to side then behind her to make sure no one was around. The panic that erupted in her while she checked their surroundings made her feel weak and upset. If there was a downside to being out at night, it had to be the lack of security she felt—even though the darkness also provided her with the feeling of comfort.

It was almost as complicated as her ever-growing non-feelings for Harry Styles, the man she had to seduce to reach her goal.

"What are you doing?" she asked him in the end. A minute or two had gone by since they stopped and other than the noise surrounding them from motor vehicles in the distance, and the odd people laughing far, far away from them, it was complete silence. Astrid could only focus on making sure they were safe and the way her breath intertwined into the cold night.

"I..." he started as he dragged out the sound, his thumbs moving over the screen with precision. "...just ordered us a car to the nearest supermarket so we can buy your best friend some flowers."

Astrid's jaw fell to her feet and she clasped her hands to her chest. Drunk. Drunk. Drunk. "Aw—you didn't have to do that."

"I can't, in good conscious, let you go home without doing what you set out to do," he smiled at her. Damn you, my heart, she thought as he stood there and glowed in the night. Not a second later, his touch engulfed her wrist as he directed them back towards the bus stop. "Besides," he started speaking again. "I want to spend more time with you."

"Even after I almost choked on my meal earlier?" she asked, unable to help herself as she brought up the incident. Astrid may or may not have inhaled her food too fast and somehow, it ended up going down the wrong hole. She sat there, coughing her lungs up until her face turned red, and not even Harry's calming hand rubbing circles into the middle of her back could help. Or the water he desperately tried to make her drink because he seemed helpless.

Harry smiled. "Especially after that. I need to make sure you're alright, don't I? If something happens to you, that's on me."

She enjoyed the sound of that response. For some reason, the way he took such care with her, touched a part of her soul that she didn't expect to feel tonight—or at all. Not with him.

Now sitting before her, Harry appeared shorter. Legs spread, his back slightly hunched. Hands spread over both of his thighs. The bus stop covered him from the light but she saw him perfectly. The openness of his shirt that revealed his chest, the necklace that sat between his pecks and slid between the hair peeking through. The navy blazer that highlighted his broad shoulders but sucked in at his waist when he stood. Secured to his hips by a belt, the trousers fitted him like a dream and his shoes were clean and made him look incredibly put together.

Astrid decided she also enjoyed that.

And the way he looked at her. Failing to put her finger on one emotion, she concluded she found hunger in those green eyes, similar to the night they shared a hotel room. Curiosity. Amusement? Excitement, perhaps. A form of happiness for sure.

"C'mon—sit down," he said, nodding beside him and she felt a surge of panic brush down her spine. Harry must've noticed this, for he called, "Astrid..."

"It's just," she began. Then pointed at the seat. "Isn't it cold?"

But of course, she didn't need him to answer. It was cold. It had to be cold.

"Come here," he put his right hand out, wiggling his fingers to make her move closer to him. Even without his touch she felt allured to him, her feet taking her closer in two steps. Once their hands touched, he lifted his other hand to her waist and pulled her onto his lap, her legs between his. Astrid's breath caught in her throat as she heard him ask, "Good?" his mouth dangerously close to her neck.

"So... I assume this also works like a charm," she mumbled, repeating her words from earlier. Needless to avert her gaze, she knew for a fact that Harry smirked while his left hand moved over her legs to rest on her lap.

"Tell me, beautiful," he began quietly, carefully, almost sounding sensual. The woman perched on his lap barely caught her breath, and it worsened when he lifted his hand from her back and tucked her hair behind her ear. His fingers grazed her cheek ever so lightly. "Does any of it work on you?"

"Well," she inhaled and turned slightly so she could put her arm around his neck. If Harry felt surprised by this, he did not show. "I won't say it's not working," she continued as her right hand pushed his from her upper thigh, down to her knees. Wandering hands might've been too early.

"There's your answer, then," he said, giving all sorts of ideas to Astrid to consider. Did he really not date? How on earth was he so easy with it all, then? There was no way he didn't go around, flirting with people constantly because—, "Not what you expected?" he asked, probably seeing the confused look translate over to Astrid's face.

"Definitely not," she laughed.

Harry shrugged. Astrid's arms moved with him. While he said, "I'm busy. It's not my priority to be on the hunt for a partner," the only thing she could focus on was his lips. The way they moved. So perfect and pink. Faintly, she remembered their softness. The flawless fit of them between hers—moulding into hers.

She almost said it. I want to kiss you. It sat on the tip of her tongue, ready to dive head first. But then the car rolled up on the side of the road and slowed until it completely stopped.

Harry turned backwards and looked through the bus stop glass, Astrid's arms still holding onto him while his tightened around her waist. "Think that's our ride," he mumbled as he turned back, his hand tapping the side of Astrid's thigh so as to get her moving.

Hating to have to move, she got on her feet and Harry followed right away. Not thinking about it, he slid his warm hand to hers until it engulfed hers completely and she grinned, rolling her lips into her mouth. Astrid felt as giddy as ever, unable to control how amazing it felt to be around this man.

The driver rolled down the window and Harry greeted him, then asked who he was here for. Once he made sure the car was indeed for them, Harry opened the door and ushered Astrid forward, him following in after her. She couldn't help it but giggle as her foot got stuck in the middle compartment in the back, the divider higher than she expected. Harry chuckled while he gently lifted Astrid's foot by holding her ankle, then he made sure to fasten her seatbelt.

Being so close to her, she could smell his perfume, the familiar warmth that radiated from him. Astrid couldn't help herself from leaning forward and pressing a kiss to Harry's cheek and it caught the man completely off guard. Even if it only happened for a moment. The corner of his lips itched upward and his eyes shot to hers immediately. Astrid winked at him and she instantly turned red at what she'd done.

What's going on? What's going on? What's going on?

★ ★ ★

When they got to the supermarket chosen by Harry, it came as a sort of surprise to Astrid to find herself in the very same establishment where they met that night. She didn't mention it but she did look at Harry with a knowing look, and he only smiled at her like he didn't do it on purpose. But she knew that he did.

In all these small ways he kept invading her life and maybe that was a coincidence. How Astrid felt about this—she didn't know yet. In terms of her long-standing goal, it worked perfectly. As for how it affected her on a much more personal, private level... she needed some time, and a clear head, to think it over.

For now, she followed him into the store. Hand in hand. Giddy as she had been the entire night. Specifically, after the dance they shared at LaRue's.

Astrid's heels were clicking against the tiled floor, and while the shop wasn't chocker with people, it wasn't dead, either. People in work clothes—ranging from builders whose trousers were spotty with paint or cement, to office workers in suits and dresses and polished shoes and high heels—passed by her and Harry. No one in particular paid them any attention, but Astrid still made the effort to stand a little straighter and act like she didn't have an entire bottle of wine almost an hour ago.

That, and the fact that she wore her fanciest outfit while she walked on the arm of the most handsome man she has ever met in her entire life. 

"Does she like chrysanthemums?" he asked while he looked through what they offered, making Astrid hum in question. She didn't quite catch what he said, and when Harry turned to face her, he smiled and stepped closer to her. "You okay?" he wondered, running the back of his fingers against her cheek.

"Tired," she sighed, pouting her lips a little bit. She felt Harry tense, his chest puffed out like he suddenly sucked in a breath. She smiled at him and touched his wrist, sliding her palm up against his until she locked their fingers together. "She is a lilies person. Even her middle name is Lily."

Harry's eyes lit up, his lips parting softly. "No way," he whispered in amusement, then looked to the side and pulled Astrid behind him as he ventured to the other side of the stand. Like a duck she followed him, refusing to let go of him. "Well... there's one bouquet left—it's not the nicest, though, is it?"

"No," she huffed. "Four pounds for them as well," she hissed. "Nope. I thiiink she'll just get a bottle of wine instead."

"What about these roses?"

"She hates roses," Astrid scoffed. "This boy once got her roses before a date, and—," she laughed, and it quickly turned into a hiccup. Eyes wide, she looked at Harry to find him with an entertained smile on his face, playfulness shining in his eyes. "Oh, fuck," she cursed, then another hiccup came. "Okay, wait," she put up a hand and took a deep breath.

Hold.

Hold.

Hold.

Hold.

Ten seconds. Came and gone. Astrid exhaled and she was fine. Until she started hiccupping again.

"C'mon, let's get you a drink before you throw up," he said, gripping his hold on her hand tighter so as to make sure she would follow him.

"I'm okay now!" she promised.

Hiccup.

"Maybe not," she mumbled... hiccup. "This is so annoying."

Harry chuckled under his breath until they reached the front of the store once more. Thankfully, they had some bottled cold drinks left, and Harry wasted no time grabbing a carbonated one for her. Just until he opened the lid, he let go of her hand then passed her to drink, telling her to have as many sips as she could take.

Astrid counted until seven. The bottle's lip detached from hers, now stained with lipstick, and she pushed it back to Harry so he could screw the lid back on. His eyes never left her face, not even when she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Better?" he asked.

The both of them waited... waited... waited...

"Yes," she grinned, happy to have gotten rid of that annoyance. "All good. Thank you."

The bottle hung from between Harry's fingers while he placed his other hand on her lower back. Surprising her, he leaned down and kissed her temple once, twice, three times, then moved them forward to grab the make-up present for Sofia.

Thinking of her best friend, Astrid realised she never finished her story. And so, she began to tell Harry about how upset Sofia had been when the boy who was going to take her on a date brought her roses instead of lilies.

Safe to say, the process of actually getting the story across to Harry wasn't as easy as it should've been. Not when Astrid started talking about one thing, then branched off into three other stories, only to realise Harry had paid for the ugly lilies, the wine, the sushi—for her—, the three different types of chocolates—also for Astrid—, and they were outside of the store, awaiting the Uber that would take them back to her apartment. 

★ ★ ★

[A.N.]

[Happy Saturday! I forgot to update again and I'm blaming Harry because of Coachella.] 

[I think I'm absolutely in love with Harry and Astrid. After this chapter, I feel like there's no going back. Everything will intensify x 10.]

[I've also been getting some amazing feedback from you guys, and it makes me so happy <3 Thank you so much for reaching out, it really does make a difference :).] 

[With love, B.]