BEAUTIFULLY UNFINISHED novel Chapter 14

THIRTEEN

"Take care of Miranda for me." Niall tells Harry while we head out of the front door.

Harry smiles at Niall and I was just completely quiet the entire time the two of them were together. I don't know why I get insanely quiet when Harry is around. It's like my tongue curls to the back of my throat or either I swallowed it and my mind doesn't work at the same time. I just become a zombie when Harry is around me.

So many questions run inside my head. Questions like... Why is he in New York? What did he come here for? Who did he come here for? Because of me?

Oh don't be silly Miranda, you really think you're that special to Harry? He just helped you, that's it. He has a fiancée, he'll be married someday. He's getting married and stop daydreaming that he will like you or he likes you cos he doesn't. He won't. He will never. I scolded myself.

I found myself sitting inside Harry's luxury car right next to the driver's seat. I watch him as he gets inside and slams the door gently. I think a few paparazzi were around but were far from where we were.

I can't believe they still follow him.

"How's dinner with Niall?" He asked as he swerves his stirring wheel.

I feel his car moving out of the parking lot.

"It was amazing. He's pretty talkative which made the entire dinner comfortable." I speak.

He nods, "That's wonderful. And how's that job he promised?"

"It's set. I'll be having my interview tomorrow. I'm pretty excited." I answered but my eyes were glued on my fingers playing against each other.

"You'll do great."

I moved my head to him and his eyes were busy looking at the road.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

He glanced at me.

"Sorry if it sounded rude. But I meant, I'm just curious why you're around New York." I added.

He grins. "I wanted to come to New York."

My brows creasing. "That's it?" I was internally hoping he would say he wanted to see me.

He nods.

"Aren't you busy back in England?" I asked.

"I'm always busy but I really just wanted to come here. I can always get back to work anytime I want to." He answered.

True, he is the boss.

"Have you had dinner?" I asked shyly.

"Yes. Thanks for asking." He smiles at me and my heart just started beating fast with his smile.

"Shall I drop you off the same place as before?" He asked.

"No. I'm going to pick my son from a friend who's at work and then I'll buy groceries before we head home." I say.

He nods.

"You can just drop me off the nearest subway station. I'll be good to go then." I added.

"Where does your friend work?" He asked.

"Just around the corner." I tell him.

"Since I picked you up from Niall and I promised him I'll take care of you, I need to make sure you're safe home."

My eyes widened. "You're going with me on buying groceries?"

He nods. "It's really not a big of a problem, is it?"

"Actually it is." I tell him.

"Why? You told me you don't have a boyfriend."

"But you do. You have a girlfriend." I trailed off.

He didn't answer.

"A fiancée." I corrected.

He takes a deep breath in and sets his eyes on the road.

"It's not good for your part to be seen with another woman if you're about to be married. And God, you're Harry Styles. Any woman photographed with you will automatically get hates." I say.

"That doesn't get old, does it? There's nothing wrong with what we're doing. I'm just making sure you're safe."

"You can just drop me off from my friend's work and we'll do groceries alone."

He looks at me.

And I'm feeling guilty again as I think about it that I'm pulling the chance that Ben and Harry could have right now. But it would be okay if he was single, I could allow that. But then he's about to get married and how am I gonna give him the chance to become a father to Ben?

"Can't two friends do some groceries together?" he asked me.

They can if the guy isn't Harry Styles.

"And I need to buy some foods for myself too. If you don't know, Im staying in New York for a while."

For a while? For how long?

"I have some business to attend to." He adds.

I nod.

"So, are we still fighting about doing groceries together?" He asked.

I glance at him. "Fine."

It would be a once in a lifetime chance to do grocery shopping with Harry.

When we arrived outside the building where Vivian is working, I saw her and Ben waiting for me. My heart was pumping hard on my chest and knowing that Ben is going to be with us, I don't know how to hide my excitement about the fact that we will look like a happy family's at least to my knowledge.

I just wish Ben would grow fond with Harry's company. Harry's not a bad man and back in the day I know he likes kids.

Ben's curly hair was blowing against the wind and I quickly hopped off from Harry's car. I marched towards them and kissed Ben's forehead.

"Hey little fella." I tell him.

He yawns. "Hey mom."

"He just woke up." Vivian kissed me cheek to cheek.

"Oh poor thing. Have you had dinner already?" I asked him.

Ben nods. "The pasta aunt Vivian bought me was amazing."

I smiled at Vivian. "Thank you Viv."

"You're welcome. Who's car is that?"

"I'll tell you about it later. Long story. But we need to get going now. Let's go Ben."

Both of us started walking towards Harry's car and I opened the passenger door for Ben. Harry stares at him the second the door opened. He looks at Ben intently and Ben looked up to me.

"Why are you together mom?" He asks.

"He offered me a ride to pick you up." I answered.

There's no lying about it, now that Ben is with Harry, I can try to say that he is the exact copy of Harry Styles. Everything from Ben, he got it from Harry.

As I look at them, Ben would point to some foods and some chocolates that he likes and Harry would quickly put it inside the cart, like they've known each other for a long time. They were that close right away. They were getting along and as much as I want to tell Harry that he's his son, I can't. I'm so scared. I was just enjoying on observing them from a far while they get close.

I quickly wiped my tears off my cheeks once I noticed it rolling down.

I exhale heavily.

I turn my back to them. I didn't want to look more over such great view cos I would look like a freak that I'm crying in public.

Suddenly two huge hands held my shoulders that made me flinch. "Hey."

I quickly looked over my shoulder to find Harry standing next to me.

"You alright in here?" Harry asked.

I nod, "Yeah. I'm almost done."

I noticed that the cart was already next to me. I glanced at Ben at the same time my eyes widened when the cart was filled with foods that Ben loves.

"Ben, why is the cart filled with chocolates?" I asked him.

Ben points at Harry.

My eyes moved to Harry as he starts pulling his hair back into a man bun. His eyes were glued on me while he was doing it. Gosh the way his fingers do it so effortlessly makes me swallow my saliva hard. And the good thing is, I've got to watch him do it personally up close.

"Uncle Harry, do my hair like that. Please. Please." Ben grabs Harry's suit.

Harry finishes and chuckles. "Let me see if I have one extra hair band."

Harry pulls his hand out from his pocket and got one. Ben chimes and I watch Harry do Ben's hair into a man bun.

When Harry was done, he was smiling. The longer he stares at Ben eagerly, the more his smile fades. He slowly moved his head to me and the two of us were just staring at each other.

"How do I look mom?" Ben asks.

I smiled at Ben. "You look adorable honey."

"Mom are we done? I'm really tired." Ben whines.

"Yes. I'm done. Let's go pay." I say.

We headed to the cashier and I started carrying Ben on my arms since he was already sleepy. Harry starts pulling out cash once everything was scanned.

"Let me pay mine." I insisted.

"Don't worry about it." He pushes my hand back to me.

"But--"

"Miranda. It's okay." He insisted.

When he was done paying, he pushed the cart out of the mall and placed everything inside the trunk of his car.

"Give me Ben." He says.

"I'm fine." I insisted again.

"Come on. Let me help you." He carried the sleeping Ben on his arms and placed him at the backseat. He opened the passenger door for me and we started leaving the mall.

Finally we arrived right outside my house and Ben is still sleeping at the backseat.

"Here I am." I say.

I gaze at my house then moved my head to Harry who was staring at me eagerly.