"I don't want to sleep alone tonight… I'm too upset," Harry admitted, his voice low and honest.
"Okay… you can sleep with me tonight," Airam said gently.
Harry's eyes lifted to hers, slowly, deliberately. "Do you know the meaning of what you just said," he asked with a crooked smile, "or… was that a mistake?"
"I... I mean… you could… I just meant..."
Airam tried to explain, but the heat flooded her cheeks, the words tangling on her tongue. Embarrassed, she spun around and hurried away.
Airam turned to leave, but she didn't get far.
Harry caught her wrist gently, pulling her back just enough for her to face him. The shy blush on her cheeks only made his smile widen.
"So…" he said, stepping just a little closer, lowering his voice, "should I bring my things to your room, or was that you running away from your own invitation?"
Airam looked anywhere but at him. "I just meant you don't have to sleep alone. You said you were upset."
"And you want to comfort me," Harry finished for her, leaning down so his lips brushed her ear. "I like that."
She swallowed, her heart racing.
"But," he continued, pulling back slightly to look into her eyes, "I don't want you offering me a place in your bed because you feel bad for me being upset."
Airam blinked. "Harry… that's not why. Besides, not my bed but my couch,"
"Then why?" he asked, his voice low, teasing but sincere.
She opened her mouth...nothing came out. Her cheeks burned hotter.
When she finally found her voice, it was barely a whisper. "Because I… I want you close tonight."
Harry's expression shifted instantly, softening, deepening, warming.
"You want me close," he repeated slowly, savoring the words like they were the sweetest thing he'd ever heard.
Airam nodded.
Harry released her wrist only to place both hands gently on her waist.
"Then I'll stay," he said, brushing a soft kiss against her forehead. "But only with whatever you're comfortable with."
Her breath caught. "I know."
Harry's smile turned boyish again. "Good. Now go, you before you change your mind. I'll be at your door in five minutes."
Airam tried to glare at him but ended up smiling instead.
She turned, walking toward the hotel entrance, still feeling his eyes on her.
And Harry? He stood there in the soft glow of the lights, grinning to himself like a man who couldn't believe his luck.
Harry lay beside Airam, staring up at the ceiling.
She had fallen asleep almost instantly, peaceful, soft breaths, her hair spilling over the pillow like a trap designed just for him.
Every tiny shift she made was torture.
He tried to stay still. He tried to control himself. He tried everything. But it only made things worse.
Finally, with a frustrated exhale, Harry slipped out of the bed and retreated to the couch. He ran a hand over his face, mentally cursing himself. This was his brilliant idea. He had insisted he could handle it.
Now he was spending the night wide-awake, restless, and painfully aware of the woman sleeping a few feet away.
By morning, he hadn't slept at all. Airam blinked awake, eyes still heavy. When she spotted him sitting on the couch, fully dressed, staring at nothing, she frowned.
"Did you sleep well?" she asked gently.
Harry nodded but the dark circles under his eyes completely betrayed him.
Breakfast was quiet, filled with the clink of cutlery and Harry's occasional, exhausted sigh. Then they headed straight to the airport.
On the plane, they sat close knees brushing, shoulders touching but Harry didn't dare move. Even half-asleep, she still made him feel too much.
By the time they landed back home in Lincoln City, Harry was convinced things couldn't get any worse.
Until he saw her family waiting.
The moment Airam spotted Jane, she subtly pulled her hand away from his. Harry blinked, stung.
"What, you're going to hide me from your family now?" he asked, trying to sound joking, but the hurt leaked through.
"You know they hate you," Airam whispered quickly. "I can't tell them yet… not until they start liking you again."
Before Harry could respond, Jane barreled into Airam, almost knocking her over with a hug.
Then her eyes snapped to Harry, cold, hostile, unwelcoming.
"Did he bother you? Should I teach him a lesson?" Jane demanded, already rolling up her sleeves like a cartoon bouncer.
"Jane!" Airam grabbed her arm. "He is my boss!"
"And so what?" Jane snapped, planting herself between them like a guard dog as she dragged Airam toward the car.
Harry stood there, jaw clenched, watching them pull his girlfriend away like he was some criminal.
He had expected hostility. But seeing it, feeling it cut deep.
For the first time since he met her, Harry felt something he wasn't used to.
Fear. Fear that her world could so easily push him out of hers.