Harry's POV

"Well, you took your time to call me back." Indignation is seeping through his gritted teeth. He is clearly angry but then I didn't expect anything less.

"Hello to you too." I respond sarcastically, partly due to his attitude but mainly because I am tired.

"Don't hello me! Where the FUCK are you and what the HELL was that at LAX?" Oh, he is more than angry; he is seething and his voice is uncharacteristically raised to an almost shouting pitch.

I don't think in all the years I have known my best friend he has ever been so annoyed at me; it feels disconcerting. "I am only going to speak with you Jeffrey if you are calm, otherwise I will hang up." I stress seriously.

"Hell you will! My phone hasn't stopped ringing trying to fend off the Press who weren't present to witness 'live' your mini-psychotic episode at the airport. Noelle and I haven't slept in 24 hours. You've got some explaining to do Harry, I'm all ears."

"Ok." I respond matter-of-factly. If he wants the truth he can have it with no holds barred. "You overstepped the mark the night we dined at Ysabel."

"What? What are you talking about?" He stutters incomprehensibly.

The sudden surprise in Jeff's voice suggests I've caught him off guard. I know him better than he knows himself. I can visualise the scene; his back straight and arms folded across his chest. In his worried pondering, his phone will be trapped between his left ear and shoulder as his fingers stroke his stubbly beard and a deep burrowing frown line streaks across his forehead.

"You tipped Kenny off that we, or should I say I, was going to be at the restaurant that night."

Continued silence at the other end suggests I have rendered him speechless.

"I said low-key dinner Jeff, just you and I, so why did you invite her?"  Quiet determination is in my voice, after all, he is my best friend first and my manager second. I know on both counts he only ever has my absolute best interests at heart.

He sighs before launching into his spiel. An unruffled demeanour is now evident though his tone.

"Look, you know that I didn't warm much to your going away idea. Before you left, you and Kendall were the closest you've ever been. I was shocked when you then announced your intention was to still go ahead with your disappearing plans. I really thought you'd change your mind and stay in LA."

"You keep bringing this up. I knew your thoughts Jeff, you made them clear enough, but following through with my plans was my decision and something I needed to do. I make no apologies for that."

"If you let me finish. When you came back to LA two weeks ago, I noticed a big difference in you. You seem, I don't know, happier in yourself, more at ease than you were before you went away. The alone break seems to have done you good so I hold my hands up and concede defeat on that one decision. You were right and I was wrong on this occasion."

"Okay, thank you because that is exactly how I feel and more to be honest but what's that got to do with Kenny and Saturday night?" I am totally confused at the tangent he is following.

"I thought once you were back in LA you'd realise how much you'd missed the place and would decide to stay longer. When you were adamant it was only a fleeting visit, I was disappointed. I had hoped you would pick up where you left off with K but with her working out of town, the timing of your return couldn't have been worse."

"Jeff, please understand, I didn't come back to see her; I came back for work purposes only. I told you that the first night when you asked me."

"That's as may be but it had been over three months since you'd seen each other. I thought getting you together again might reignite those feelings."

"It didn't and your intrusion was unwelcome."

"Come on Hersh, you know how I feel about you and her. I've known her since she was a little girl. She fucking adores you and you adore her. Stop stalling what's inevitable and just be together. It's what she wants and until your little outburst, I thought that's what you wanted too."

"Tell me, how do you know that is what either of us want? You are making some huge assumptions here based on the past. Have you actually asked her because you certainly haven't asked me that question?"

Another period of silent contemplation hangs awkwardly over the miles between our mobiles.

Jeff sighs, his voice back to its normal rhythm. "I've spent enough time with both of you separately and together to just know. You're always saying that you dream of finding your very own Glenne. She's been right there under your nose this whole time but for some reason you just won't make the commitment. The sooner you admit that you know I am right, we can put this episode behind us. You are made for each other and meant to be."

"Really? Well go on then, ask me the question Jeff."

"OK, do you want to be with Kendall?"

"No." I answer monosyllabically.

He pauses, plainly attempting to hold his nerve once more. "Oh right, and which part of you thought announcing that fact to the whole world was a good idea, eh Harry? Have you lost your mind, not to mention shown her a total lack of respect?

"Last time I looked in the dictionary under the definition of Harry Styles, 'complete and utter shit' wasn't amongst the descriptions. If you speak to Kenny, which I have no doubt you will, ask her the same question. I guarantee she will give you the exact same answer that I just have."

"Whilst you may have been able to appease her Harry, may I remind you that Kris certainly won't be impressed. Expect a backlash of the hugest proportions." He is now in full manager mode.

"Do you know what, I couldn't really care less. This is not some business transaction; it is our lives. Perhaps that is why this had failure written all over it from the very start because too many stickybeaks couldn't refrain from interfering and giving their opinion even though it wasn't asked for. What I did at LAX wouldn't have been a shock to Kenny. I already spoke to her and if you must know, we appeased each other. It was a mutual decision and we are fine. That's it, end of. She is not my Glenne and never will be. A line had to be drawn and I was the one to do it. Now it's about time you did too." My composed response even shocks me a little. It occurs to me though that the reason for my spirited passion over everything at the moment is down to only one source. Lily.

"But Harry, I don't get it? What is going on with you? You've never commented to the press about personal matters. Why now? And what's with the tweet. What 'Matters Always?' Why does it feel like you are keeping something from me? Talk to me. We don't have secrets, remember?" He also reads me like a book and his exasperated plea pangs a sense of guilt in the pit of my stomach. Jeff and I have always been so close and honest with each other but right now we couldn't be more polls apart.

"I don't want to argue with you over this. My personal life is mine and this situation had gone on for far too long and got out of hand. I needed to put an end to the speculation. Now this conversation is finished. I am tired after my flight and you must be exhausted if you haven't slept for which I am truly sorry. Please pass on my sincerest apologies to Noelle."

"You needed to put an end to it, why? Harry, where are you exactly?" He questions.

"Back on hiatus." I answer truthfully.

"How long for this time?"

"The original plan still stands. For at least another two months. Now I'll speak to you later in the week. Goodnight."

"For fuck's sake, will you just talk to me? Don't hang up! Hersh-"

I end the call and my mobile slips out my hand landing with a bang onto the kitchen work surface. I rake my fingers through my hair, pulling my head back to look up towards the ceiling and the sigh that blows out between my lips is long.

Truthfully, I am unjustified in blaming Jeff because he doesn't know about Lily. It bothers me but somehow our conversation didn't seem like the right time to mention us.

I need a drink; a strong drink. I pour a double shot of whiskey over some ice. Swirling the reddish brown liquid around so the cubes bang together, I down a massive swig. The alcohol burns as it hits the back of my throat but as it slides down into my stomach, it distinguishes some of unease that has been flaming inside of me.

I glance around at my surroundings. It is unbelievably good to be back here at Summer Haze. The quietness of this house looms welcomingly large. The recessed lights are dimmed in the kitchen, creating a calming ambience. The glass bi-fold doors are both pushed back allowing the late evening breeze to flutter in. The vast garden beyond is mysteriously hidden by the darkness. Over the last two weeks I have really missed the tranquility this place brings me.

Of course, I liked being back in LA. It was fun catching up with friends and the adrenaline rush when I went back to work behind the mic was immense. But, the honest-to-gods truth is that for the first time in my life I longed to be with a person more than a place or my work.

Lily was at the forefront of my thoughts the whole time I was away and my main focus was keeping us connected every day.  The strong bond we share helped when the onset of my ear infection delayed my return for a week. The Kendall incident though shattered everything in an instant.

In the past, I would have just waited until Wednesday as instructed by the doctor and flown back to face the music. Not this time though because Lily has become the centre of my world and that is why I returned immediately.

She looked so goddamned amazing today. To hold her again was what I'd wished for and I am still counting my blessings that she didn't push me away. But, the mere fact that she even uttered the words, 'you came back to me' suggests she doesn't comprehend the depth of my feelings for her. I believed she did but after all the confusion with Kendall, I'm worried she now questioning everything.

She is vulnerable at the moment and doesn't need me adding to her worries but she has to know she comes first in my life. I am going to do everything over the next two months to show her.  Absence from her made my heart grow fonder; in fact a swell to bursting fonder. That's how I know we are meant to be and destined for happiness, together.

I take another swig from the whiskey glass. The longing ache in my chest that I felt constantly in LA has dispersed. All I wanted to do earlier was crawl into bed with her, breathe her in and lay wrapped around her. I know I will get that chance again, soon. As the saying goes, patience is a virtue and we have all the time in the world.