After our small conversation we lapsed back into silence. I picked at my meal and across from me Harold did the same, deep in thought. Besides us Ryan and Hannah were in their own little world. Harold and I's drama long forgotten as the pair chatted feverishly with one another.
Hannah had moved to sit closer. Their hands intertwined on the table, the food long forgotten between them. I watched jealously. They both were so into each other and I was right in easing Hannah's nerves about Ryan not liking her. By the way he was gazing at her the man was in love. She didn't know it but she already had him wrapped around her finger.
"They may a cute couple." Harold said, making me jump slightly. I hadn't realized how full on staring I was doing.
"They do." I murmured. While I was slightly jealous I was happy for my best friend. She deserved it.
"I promise you he is a good guy. Probably one the best guys I've ever met." Harold looked at the couple before looking
We spent the rest of the meal swapping old stories, laughing at some of the stupid things we did. It almost felt like old times sitting there laughing along with him. The earlier tension between us long gone.Being around Harold was just so easy. It always has been from the moment we met. He always just had this thing about him that made you feel so comfortable. It was why I fell so hard and fast for him. That and the fact that he made me feel like no one ever has.Before Harold I had two boyfriends and neither of them were that memorable. One was my junior year of High School. I wouldn't even classify it as a relationship honestly. We 'went' out, and by went out we went to get ice cream like three times, for maybe a month. We only had one class together and had totally different friend groups so we rarely ever saw each other. We only kissed twice too. t was a weird random relationship and after maybe a month we both kind of just stopped talking.My second boyfr
I was up pretty early the next day not having slept much. My mind raced back and forth about everything, replaying what happened earlier with Harold. Laying there staring up at the ceiling I had to almost pinch myself to make sure I didn't make up last night.It was so surreal seeing Harold again. It was a bit surprising that I haven't run into him in the past five years. With him playing for the Patriots the stadium was literally half an hour from my apartment. It was a pretty good chance of me running into him but I haven't until now.However I have seen him plenty of times on TV. It was probably some sort of self-punishing but once in a while I would watch his games or his interviews, slightly keeping up to date on his career.It wasn't healthy but when he started in his very first game, maybe 8 months after we broke up, I sat with my mom on the couch and watched him play. The entire time my stomach was in my throat seeing him get hit then get right back up f
"So have you heard from the happy couple?" Harold asked after our little awkward staring."Not yet. But I doubt I'll see Hannah the rest of the weekend." We both shared a look as we sipped our coffee."I'm surprised they even let us know they were leaving last night." He commented."It's a bit...crazy to see how smitten she is with him already. She isn't really the type to fall for a guy.""Ryan's been talking non-stop about her." By the way he was talking Ryan had been annoying to be around. "He seems to really like her."We weren't exactly talking about dating but the one question I've been dying to ask came back with vengeance. I was torn between asking in fear of the answer. But before I could stop myself I was already asking it."So...no one special in your life at the moment?" I asked trying to be nonchalant. I took a bite of my muffin to downplay my question, but my entire body was tense as I waited for his answer. I wasn't sure how I
After our slightly intense talk about my mom we turned to lighter conversation. Pretty much just talking about things that have happened in the past five years. I talked about how I enjoyed running my mom's bridal shop, adding in funny mother/mother-in-law stories, and how I came to become friends with Hannah.Harold talked about how intense football training was compared to college and how he threw up everyday for a good week when he got drafted, the workouts being that intense. He talked about how he had to prove himself to each of the 'senior' players. When he said how proud his parents were and how they always came to his games, I tried my absolute best to not grimace. It seemed he had absolutely no idea about what went down with his parents and me.It was just nice sitting there chatting and learning how his life turned out since I last saw him. Compared to him my life was severely boring but he still listened intently, never interrupting. It felt like no time had
"Woah." I breathed staring up at the stadium. It was even bigger in person. In all of my 26 years I've never been to the stadium. With it just being my mom and I we weren't that much into football and if we were we didn't have the money to go to any games."Come on." Harold reached for my hand and tugged me towards him. My eyes went to our hands, a tingle shooting up my arm. His hand easily engulfed mine and I could feel the calluses from years of playing ball, some of them rougher than they use to be back. I always use to love how our hands fit together.I drew my attention away from our hands and looked around me. Harold lead me through a set of double doors, holding the door above my head as I walked through. Our hands were disconnected for just a moment but the second I was through he was lacing our fingers once more.I took everything in as we walked down an empty hallway, our footsteps echoing around us."Where are we?" I whispered feeling like I ha
He had to be talking about the stadium....right? It was probably a coincidence, I mean I did say it was incredible and he agreed. Just because he was looking at me doesn't mean he was talking about me. Yeah that's it. I mentally told myself.Harold shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. I looked away from his eyes and back to the field. It looked so much bigger than it did on tv. The fake grass looking insanely green."The best place to view the whole stadium is at the 50 yard line." Harold said following my gaze down the field.Before he could do anything I found myself yelling, "Race you!". I was already mid-motion as I yelled it, giving myself a heads up. From behind me I heard he curse before he took off after me. I grinned like an idiot as I ran my faster, trying my hardest to get to the 50 yard line before him.My attempt was futile because we both knew who would win. Harold had years of training under his belt and the only running I ever did w
HaroldI was a goner as soon as my lips touched Bella's. I wasn't going to kiss her but when those bright green eyes looked up at me, begging for me to do something I lost the battle. I didn't regret it though. There was no better feeling than kissing Bella. Nothing. And that came from a guy who's won the Super Bowl three times.Last night I hadn't planned on asking Bella to see me again today. But when she started walking away from me I knew I had to do something. Besides all the questions I wanted answers to I couldn't just let her walk away, not again.The day I met Bella five years ago I felt something instantly. When those green eyes looked up at me that day I was hooked. She had no idea that in that moment I was in.I had no clue what happened that day. I never missed a throw not even just passing the ball back and forth with some friends out on the lawn. But somehow the ball veered to the right and headed straight for a red hair gi
BellaThe entire walk up to the top of the stadium I cursed at Harold. With my legs burning like no tomorrow I hurled insults at him but he just laughed them off. It was pure torture and add on that I was wearing a sweater I was dying of heat. Sweat running down my chest, back and my face, plastering a few pieces of my hair to my forehead.The only thing that made the whole thing better was seeing Harold struggle as well. We were about halfway up when he started to pant and little beads of sweat appeared on his forehead; at least he had some common sense to leave his jacket in the car. It was nice seeing I wasn't the only one struggling up the stairs. Proved he wasn't invincible.Harold hadn't meant to but as he hiked beside me my gaze kept going over to his tattoos. Without the jacket I could clearly see the sleeve of tattoos running up his arms. I wanted to know what made him get them since he didn't have any the last time we were together. Bu
"Make sure to tell her the dress will be ready in a week. She'll have plenty of time to try it and make any more adjustments before her big day." I spoke loudly into the speaker phone as I placed another pin in the dress in front of me. Grabbing another piece of fabric I placed it where I wanted it to go, holding multiple pins between my teeth."How is Hannah's coming." Rina asked."I'm almost finished with it." I spoke around the pins."Bella are you still working? Don't you have a date to get ready for?" Rina questioned through the phone."I wanted to add one more piece, I'm practically ready.""You work too much Bella." Rina sighed."Once this dress is done I promise I'll take a few days off." She wasn't wrong. For the past four months I have been working non-stop on this wedding dress and I only had about a week to go before it was finished."You better. I'll go ahead and call Ms. Anderson to let her know. Anything else you need?"
"Harold I told you to pick up your socks!""I did!""No you didn't! I am staring right at them." I stared down at the three pairs sitting in the middle of the living room. Harold had a bad habit of taking his socks off wherever he was and leaving them there until I pick them up."I put them away!" Harold yelled from the kitchen."Harold." I placed my hands on my hips. We've had this argument at least once a week since we've moved in together four months ago."I swear it wasn't me." Harold came out of the kitchen. I pointed to the socks sitting in the living room and gave him a look."Everyone is going to be here in 5 minutes and we don't need these front and center." I scolded."I put them away like you asked ten minutes ago.""Clearly not.""Why would I put them away and then take them back out." Harold raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms."They don't magically crawl out of the closet.""Bella-" The sound
"Damn these are great seats." Hannah practically gasped as she looked around us. I had to admit these were amazing seats. We were literally right above the player and in the middle of the stadium. From here we would be able to see everything happening."It pays to have two well-liked boyfriends." I nodded along with her. Harold and Ryan got the two of us front row seats and we literally were able to by pass the crowds which was super nice. At first Harold wanted us to be in one of the booths high up but I wanted to be front and center to watch. Being up in the booth you can't see as well as down here."You okay Bella?" Hannah asked after her gawking was over."Yeah I...it's just the first time I've seen Harold play in person in years. I'm kinda nervous.""Why?""I don't know." I really didn't know why I was nervous. "Maybe I'm nervous he'll get hurt or something." I chewed my bottom lip."He'll be fine, trust me. And with you here to watch h
"Harold told me you are in a nursing program. That's really cool." I made conversation with Harold's sister Haley."It's been a lot of hard work but I enjoy it. And helping people is something I've always been passionate about."It was a bit crazy sitting here beside her after all these years. She was so grown up it baffled me."I could never. I get squeamish around blood.""It actually took me awhile not to want to pass out when I drew blood or say something horrible during my internships." I couldn't imagine the things she saw, definitely not for me. Before I could say more an arm wrapped around my shoulders."So what are you doing with my brother gorgeous?" Harold's younger brother, Dylan spoke above me as he perched on the side of the couch next to me."Are you seriously flirting with Bella?" Haley rolled her eyes at her brother."What? Someone's got to free her from our brother. Bella," He used his arm to turn me to face him. "Bl
4 months later....."Five more!""No!""I said. Five. More.""I can't. I'm done. No more." I panted, my arms falling to from underneath of me as I fell to the ground. I laid there on the cool grass with my eyes closed as my poor arms felt dead."You are cruel, like so cruel. Worse than a dictator." I panted, making myself roll onto my back. As I gazed up at the sky a head came into view, blocking the sun in my face."You're the one who asked to train with me." Harold chuckled looking down at me."Yeah before I realized how hard you workout. I can't feel my arms.""Come on it wasn't that bad." I glared up at his beautiful face."If I could lift my arms I would punch you but thankfully for you I can't.""Did you kill my best friend Harold?" Another familiar head came into view. One of Harold's teammates, Ben, grinned down at me.I hadn't known it at the time but getting back with Har
I didn't want to have this conversation but the look on Harold's face told me I wasn't going to get out of it. We were finally going to have this talk."Harold." I sighed placing my fork down. "Your parents never liked me. From the moment they laid eyes on me they deemed me unworthy.""What the hell are you talking about?""You never saw it!" I snapped. "You never saw the looks or the comments made about me. Every single person hated that I was with you and trust me they made that well known." He started to talk but I held a hand up to stop him."You never noticed the way all the girls made fun of the way I dressed, the way I looked, even my hair. Everyday I had to hear about how I wasn't good enough to be with you, the star quarterback. The guy who deserved someone better, prettier." I could feel tears wanting to gather in my eyes but I pushed them back."Your own parents said the same thing. The moment your mother laid eyes on me she deemed me un
Harold followed behind my car as I lead him back to my apartment. I kept glancing through my review mirror every few seconds to make sure he was still following and didn't turn around. The fact that he said yes and was following me filled my heart with a bit of hope that he was feeling something. What that something was, I'm not sure yet.My palms were slightly sweaty as I parked my car and got out, meeting Harold at the front of the car. Silently we walked towards the elevator and as soon as the doors closed I could feel the shift between us.Our bodies turned to face one another and I stared up at him, desire pooling in my stomach. All my pent up emotions were slowly coming to the surface as I looked at him. Harold's eyes were a midnight blue as he gazed down at me intently.Thoughts that I had been suppressing from the moment I saw him last night rushed forward. One second we were looking at each other and the next my lips were pressed against his. My hands r
Harold followed behind my car as I lead him back to my apartment. I kept glancing through my review mirror every few seconds to make sure he was still following and didn't turn around. The fact that he said yes and was following me filled my heart with a bit of hope that he was feeling something. What that something was, I'm not sure yet.My palms were slightly sweaty as I parked my car and got out, meeting Harold at the front of the car. Silently we walked towards the elevator and as soon as the doors closed I could feel the shift between us.Our bodies turned to face one another and I stared up at him, desire pooling in my stomach. All my pent up emotions were slowly coming to the surface as I looked at him. Harold's eyes were a midnight blue as he gazed down at me intently.Thoughts that I had been suppressing from the moment I saw him last night rushed forward. One second we were looking at each other and the next my lips were pressed against his. My hands r
BellaThe entire walk up to the top of the stadium I cursed at Harold. With my legs burning like no tomorrow I hurled insults at him but he just laughed them off. It was pure torture and add on that I was wearing a sweater I was dying of heat. Sweat running down my chest, back and my face, plastering a few pieces of my hair to my forehead.The only thing that made the whole thing better was seeing Harold struggle as well. We were about halfway up when he started to pant and little beads of sweat appeared on his forehead; at least he had some common sense to leave his jacket in the car. It was nice seeing I wasn't the only one struggling up the stairs. Proved he wasn't invincible.Harold hadn't meant to but as he hiked beside me my gaze kept going over to his tattoos. Without the jacket I could clearly see the sleeve of tattoos running up his arms. I wanted to know what made him get them since he didn't have any the last time we were together. Bu