July 9, 2018

Nataley froze at his words. She'd been teasing him, and he'd dropped those words on her -- "I love you." That was huge. Playing back their conversation, it occurred to her what he meant.

"Silly boy," she chided, "Noah and I love you too. You're my favorite male friend. In fact, you're kind of my only male friend." Rapidly approaching him, she hugged him around the waist, laughing off his words by gesturing towards his package in front. "Aren't you afraid you'll impregnate a fan or two with that thing hanging like that tonight?"

A flash of emotion crossed his face, but it was gone before she could analyze it. He swiveled his hips in her direction, and her eyes were drawn to his cock prominently displayed in the outfit.

"It wasn't like this with the other jumpsuit, was it?"

"I think I would have noticed," Nat reassured him. "Maybe choose something else for tonight? I mean, you must have a variety of other clothing options."

"You know what?" Harry grinned as he stalked towards her, causing Nataley to start giggling as she put her arm out in front of her in an attempt to stop him.

"What, you dork?" Laughing so hard that she had tears streaming down her cheeks, Nataley backed up until she was against the wall. Literally.

"I think I'm gonna wear this tonight just as it is." Despite her hand on his chest, Harry kept moving closer until only a half inch or so was between them. "Drive the fans crazy."

Nataley slid her hand up his arm until her fingers tickled the hair at the base of his neck. Fuck. Something in the air had shifted, and she couldn't seem to catch her breath. What was happening to her? It was almost like -- she and Harry were flirting.

Her eyes rose to his as the air stilled in her lungs, and he zeroed his gaze onto her lips, causing her insides to flutter. Lips parting without her permission, her tongue darted out to wet them as Harry licked his own. His stare was intense.

This was her longtime friend. They had no business -- fuck. He used his fingers to brush the hair from the nape of her neck, and her pulse began a steady pounding beat that mimicked the rhythm of two people --- Nope. Her mind wasn't going to go there -- shit. He was leaning forward. Was he going to -- Was she going to let --?

As the dressing room door burst open and a hyperactive and wide-awake Noah surged forward, Harry sprang away from Nat, and her eyes flew to the door to see who might have witnessed that moment. Luckily Ellie had been several paces behind Noah, only appearing in the doorway several moments after the boy who was loudly and excitedly explaining to Harry all about the hotel room.

"And it gots two beds so I get to sleep in Mama's bed with her, and the tv is right there across from the bed and there's a pool and I want to go swimming, but I don't know if Mama packed my swimsuit, and are we going to stay in another hotel when we see your next concert and can I stay with you in your hotel room cause I don't wanna share a bed with Mama? Or maybe Mama and I could come stay with you and you could share a bed with Mama so I could have the other bed cause Aunt Ellie says she already slept with Mama enough when they were growing up but you never slept with Mama before, Harry, so that way Aunt Ellie could stay in her hotel room, and Mama and you and me could all share a hotel room. Okay, Harry? Okay? Is that okay, Harry?"

Mortified considering what she thought had very nearly almost happened, Nataley covered her mouth until Harry made eye contact with her, an amused expression on his face.

"I second that idea," Ellie contributed, causing Nat's head to swivel in her sister's direction, a message of exasperation silently communicated between the women. "I mean," Ellie backpedaled, "I wouldn't complain about a room to myself."

"I've got an idea," Nataley proclaimed rapidly in an attempt to change the topic. "Let's go check out the lighting booth!"

"Seriously?" Ellie scoffed, her eyes roaming Harry's body in its silver jumpsuit, lingering a moment too long on Harry's assets before her eyeballs barrelled to Nat's face.

With all the sisterly affection and history between them, Nataley attempted to telegraph a message to Ellie in the next few moments until finally the other woman sighed. "Ugh. Okay. You're such a junkie for lights."

As relief coursed through her body, Nataley gathered Noah's hand, moving towards the exit. "Come on, N. Let's allow H to finish getting ready for the show." The emotions coursing through her echoed both her son's plaintive call of "NO! Wanna stay with Harry!" and the expression of disappointment on Harry's face.

But this was best. Whatever was in the air tonight wasn't the right chemistry. Nataley and Harry were friends. There must have been some sort of aphrodisiac in the halibut at lunch. Nothing else would explain the moments she'd just experienced with her favorite male FRIEND. Exiting the room, she glanced back to spy him slouched on the wall, his shoulders back, his crotch forward, a pout on his face.

Passing Hélène in the hallway, Nat grasped her elbow. "Maybe don't photograph him right at this minute please?"

Despite the photographer's nod, it didn't take long for Nataley to hear the shutter clicking as the Frenchwoman ignored the plea. She hoped not to ever see that photograph. It would forever remind her of the anomaly that had been that moment of weird tension with Harry.

Stu Dingley welcomed Nataley and her tiny entourage into the lighting booth with great enthusiasm. "I've heard so much about you!"

"From Harry?" Nat queried, certain that her friend had been bragging about her again.

"Harry? No." His expression was puzzled. "From the industry. You've been the assistant lighting director at Late Late for a while, right? Word is that the job's yours when Hugo decides to retire. That's quite the regular gig."

Shrugging, Nat blushed. "Not quite the same as what you and Baz are doing with tour. And I've seen the live shows. Harry's unpredictable in some ways."

One eyebrow raised, Stu regarded her. "In some ways? Others would say he's completely unpredictable."

"Eh. But you and I know that his patterns can mostly be anticipated. Even when he does something out of the norm, it's not entirely unexpected. Everything goes largely according to plan."

Shrewdly, he gives her a side eye, "True. He's a creature of habit. But don't tell him that. He likes to think he's spontaneous."

Together, they laugh, and Nataley relaxes from her earlier tension. Why couldn't she build a relationship with someone like Stu? He was handsome enough, and they shared a passion.

"Can you run me through some of the cues?" she asks as she keeps an eye on Noah running through the rows of chairs as Ellie pretends to chase him. His giggles reach her in the booth where she attempts to surreptitiously spy Stu's ring finger.

"Sure! It's fun to geek out on this stuff with someone else who gets it." He runs through the sequence from Only Angel from the moment the screen rises, and Nataley observes closely.

"Why the backlights on the stands for the band? Why not bigger ones?"

"They're just there for ambiance, you know? Harry is a big personality, and he needs big lighting so there's not much that's subtle.

"Bullshit." Nat interjects. "The lighting on the B stage is entirely understated. Has a retro feel."

"Ah, yes." Stu drops the arena lights and brings up the lights on the smaller stage as well as those outlining the catwalk between the main stage and where they're standing. "You're right. Baz designed the lights, and he wanted a large format light source for the space beyond the front of house."

"Makes perfect sense," Nat cooed as she watched the play of lights on the smaller space.

"Yeah, my boyfriend prefers the B Stage lighting."

And there it was. The hint Nat had been expecting to hear. Not that she was truly attracted to this lighting director, but damn. What had happened in the dressing room had shaken her. Right in that moment, she merely wanted to confirm that her reaction to Harry was due to her recent celibacy and not Harry himself.

She needed to get laid. That's all it was. Her reaction was a natural one being near a virile male. Nothing more.

With a glance at his watch, Stu straightened to his fullest height. "Gotta get things set for Kacey. The audience will be in soon. Thanks for letting me show off."

Nataley scoffed, "Anytime. You've got an important job. Have a great show tonight!" Calling for Noah, she smiled when he ran to her to grab her hand. "Mama, can we please go eat now?"

"Sure! Where do you want to go for dinner?"

"SARAH'S!" The child's screech hurt her ears, and she covered them while Ellie winced.

"Guess he knows what he wants," Ellie laughed. "Which is more than I can say for you," nudging her sister's shoulder.

Sharply, Nataley twists her head towards her sister like an owl hearing a mouse moving in the underbrush. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Shit, sis. If you're not going to make a move on that man, I will."

"Good luck," Nat murmured.

"What does that mean?" Ellie plants her hands on her hips. "I'm a hot woman with a smoking bod. Why wouldn't he be interested?"

"Not saying he wouldn't be into your body, sis. Cause you're right. You look amazing, especially with all of that makeup you plowed on when you and Noah were at the hotel."

"NATALEY!" Ellie pulled on Nataley's arm while they continued to walk, and she didn't stop until her older sister halted.

"What?"

"Are you saying I have no chance with Harry Styles?"

Contrite, Nataley hugged her sister. "I'm sorry. That makeup comment was rude of me, and you can get any guy. If Harry is what you want, I wish you luck. Truly. He's not your average guy. Or even your normal celebrity."

"You like to think you know him so well, but you've never asked him out."

"Because we're friends, you dolt!" Nataley whisper-yelled at her sister as she eyed the variety of crew in the halls as they approached Sara's Kitchen.

"Ever heard of 'friends with benefits'? Ellie accused with the same tone and volume.

"Yep. He's had that before with someone, and it didn't sit well with him." Nataley put her hand on her sister's shoulder, stopping her. "Look, I've watched him go through all kinds of phases with women, and right now he's hurting. So I don't think anyone has a chance of anything lasting with him right now. But I won't stand in your way. If you are what he desires, I wish you all the best."

"Why are you being such an idiot about this? Just take the bull by the horns and kiss him already."

"Because," Nataley seethed, pushing the words through her teeth, "I have a son who loves Harry, and I refuse to do anything to mess with their relationship. No one Harry dives into bed with at this point is going to be anything other than a rebound."

"You can't possibly know that!" Ellie hissed.

"No, you're right. It's merely a suspicion, but I'm still not taking any chances. We have a close friendship, and he just split with his first ever longtime girlfriend. With any other guy, you would tell me it's poor timing and to move on. Why the change for Harry?" Examining her sister closely, Nataley sighed. "It's cause he's a celebrity and has money, isn't it? Ellie..."

"Don't give me that tone," Ellie threatened. "He's special, and you know it. And he's totally into you."

"That's where you're wrong, and I'm tired of discussing it, El. I'm not fucking up my son's relationship with this man who is closer to a real father to him than his birth father. Plus we have a good friendship. So drop the topic. If you want to go after him, I won't stand in your way, but I say the timing is as bad as it could ever be. At most, you would be aspiring to be his temporary fix, and that simply isn't fair to you."

"Okay, I won't say anything more tonight, Nat. Other than you're blind, and I won't pursue him. He's hot, but he's made it clear that I'm not on the menu." Ellie approached the counter at Sarah's and ordered a salad.

Lost in thought about her sister's comments, Nataley barely noticed Noah tugging on her pant leg. "Mama, can I please have cereal for dinner?"

Puzzled, Nataley turned her head to where Noah was pointing at a row of cereal dispensers. With a smile, she considered her son's normal diet, knowing that sugary cereals were never on her grocery list. "Okay, but tonight only." As he started to jump up and down, she tacked on, "With fruit."

"Okay," the boy gleefully agreed, leading her to the station where Nataley took a bowl and filled it half with Capt'n Crunch and half with Fruit Loops before slicing a banana over the top and adding milk.

"Dinner?" Glenne inquired over Nat's shoulder. "Looks delicious."

Throwing her head back, Nataley laughed. "Yep. Just not mine." Walking to a table, she placed the bowl and a spoon down while helping Noah clamber into the chair.

"What about you? Having some cereal?"

"I'm actually not hungry. You?" Nat asked.

"Nah, just looking for some company before the show. Jeffrey's busy with H, so I felt the need to seek out a friend."

"Awwww..." Nataley's smile was genuine. She'd made some comrades through Harry, and there was no way she was going to jeopardize any of those relationships by crossing the line with him.

"You, your sister, and Noah are hanging with Jeffrey and I tonight," the executive said, and Nataley's heart warmed.

"We'd be honored."

"Mama, this is so good," Noah gushed, stuffing another spoonful of sugar into his mouth.

"I'm sure, and the crash that comes afterwards will be spectacular. Just hopefully not until after the show." Indulgently, she smiled at her son, his excitement similar to the first time he'd gone to DisneyLand.

"Huh?" her child asked, a bewildered look on his face.

"Never mind, little man. You've got quite the experience ahead of you."

"Didn't he see H at the Troubadour? And at the first LA show last fall?" Glenne inquired, peeling an orange for her own dinner.

"Yep. But nothing like a show this big. He's going to be overwhelmed. Need to remember to grab his headphones from Harry's dressing room before we go out."

"Wow," Glenne grinned, "This is a special night for Noah then."

"Indeed," Nat smiled back. "A very special night."