September 10, 2022

Nataley holds her breath to hear Harry's response. When he makes eye contact with her and then sips his drink, she knows he's stalling. She's witnessed that move too many times for any ambiguity.

"Noah..." she begins, drawing her son onto the sofa between her and Harry. Chuck hops onto the sofa and joins the three of them like he belongs. Which he does. "Harry is going to be busy working, but I'm sure if he has time, he'll come visit you when you're not at your dad's."

"Really, Harry?" The boy focuses on the musician, and Nat doesn't miss the surprised glance Harry sends her way. Casually, she nods at her ex, indicating her full support. God only knows why she's agreeing. Actually that's not true. She's saying yes because Noah needs Harry. Pushing away the thought that she might need him too, Nataley takes a gulp of her own drink.

"Your mum is right. I'm only staying in Los Angeles to help out at her work, but if I have time while I'm here, then I'll help you with the guitar lessons."

Throwing himself at Harry, Nataley's son laughs and screams, "BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!"

Nataley can't stop the smile that spreads across her face. It's nice to see him so happy again. He had been crushed when she and Harry broke up even though Harry continued to call and Facetime with Noah during the tour and the quarantine. Honestly, it was more than she could ask of an ex, but Harry was the one who insisted on remaining in contact with her kid. It was one of the few positive outcomes of her relationship with Harry.

"Can you stay and read me a book?"

"Of course he can! Why don't you go pick one? Harry will join you in a minute."

"YAY!" With typical exuberance, Noah bounces around the coffee table and rushes off to his room.

Strategically, Nat takes another sip of her Manhattan. She can wait out Harry. Her gaze slides to the side, and she sees that he's staring into space, his sock-covered feet still propped on the coffee table. "Thanks, Nat. It means a lot that I can still be part of his life."

"Harry, you know I would never deny you access to him. Or him to you. No matter how many issues it might create for me."

"And does it? Create issues for you?"

"HARRY!" Noah calls from his bedroom. "Got my book!"

"Coming!" Rising, he makes a beeline for the boy's bedroom. "I'll be back."

"Thanks, Arnold," she teases with a grin at the old 'Terminator' joke. As soon as her boys are out of the room, Chuck trailing behind, her smile fails. Of course his presence is a problem. He's so hard to resist. If he were dating someone or she were dating someone, things would be different. But here they are, once more both single, and he knows her so well. Closing her eyes, she rests her head against the back of the sofa while she practices some yogic breaths. Maybe this is the perfect time for her to sign up for one of those online dating services? Or she saw an advertisement for a place that does in-person match-making. If she starts dating again, Harry's draw will be lessened. Besides, she's a babe. A true catch. Any guy would be lucky to have her.

But she doesn't make a move to pick up her computer or phone and reactivate her account with that online site. She'd met a couple of worthwhile men through it. Maybe she would finally meet the right person. The one that is perfect for her and Noah.

You've already met him.

Shut up.

You love him. He loves you.

Yes, and where did that get us?

But...

No. Stop it.

"Stop it," she repeats the words out loud this time. It's a strategy she learned from one of her brain training apps. If you feel yourself spiraling, verbally and loudly tell yourself to stop. Usually it works for her. It's how she managed to quit biting her nails. Holding her hands out in front of her, she examines her manicured fingers. With a shudder, she recalls how they used to look when she bit them to the quick. Because of her work, she keeps them short, but they're always polished and healthy now. A habit that stretches back to her time with Harry.

Fuck. Why does every topic eventually swirl back to him?

Because he's an important part of your life.

Hush.

All you have to do is let him back in.

And deal with the exact same problems as before. No.

Maybe the situation is different this time?

"Stop it!" she snaps at herself again just as Harry re-enters the room. When he freezes and stares at her curiously, she releases a nervous laugh. "Sorry. Talking to myself."

"Mhm. That's a new symptom."

"Oh ha ha. It's actually advice from brain experts, you jokester." Rising, she holds out her hand for his drink which has been sitting on the table with the ice melting while Harry was reading to Noah. "Want me to refresh that?"

A hopeful light appears in his eyes as he picks up the glass and holds it out to her. "Does this mean what I think it means?"

"If you think it means we're going to spell out some ground rules, then you are 100% correct."

His cheeky shrug accompanies his words. "Yeah, okay. I can live with that. As long as I get to start."

Nataley smiles, moving to the kitchen and preparing new drinks for each of them. "I'm fine with that. Go ahead. What's your first ground rule?"

"You're not allowed to call me 'Dear' at work. I have my dignity."

Hands on hips, Nat shakes a finger at him, trying to hold back her giggles. "When have I ever called you 'Dear', Honey?"

"Oh, you're so clever, Doll."

At the pathetic return, Nat holds up her hands in surrender. "Done. No pet names. Harry or H and Nat or Nataley."

"Uh..." Pinching his lip, his head lowered, Harry moves his eyes only to look up at where she's standing holding his drink. "At work, right?"

"At work. At home. In the park. In the car. In public. In private. Everywhere, Harry."

"Dammit." It's a familiar tone of voice because he used it on the Late Late Show back in 2017. It drags a smile to her face despite the topic. He always was one to start things off light before they dug into the heavy.

Which is where she's prepared to go now. "My turn. No sex."

"Without mutual consent?" Harry presses, taking a sip of his drink immediately after.

"You know I'm weak when it comes to you, Harry."

"So the amendment stands?"

Nataley pauses, considering his request. It's a silly addendum to her statement because she's well aware that he would only ever have consensual sex with her. Plus he knows damn well that her statement was about HER and not about HIM. His addition allows her to be weak and fall into old habits, and he knows it. Maybe she would try that rubber band therapy thing where you wear a band on your wrist and snap it when you need to be distracted? Perhaps then she could flick it whenever she found herself wanting sex with Harry?

Of course the simple answer is to not accept his amendment.

"Does it really matter if we add that wording?" Nat inquires. "I mean, we're always going to be tempted to fall into old patterns."

"Yes, and when we're tempted, I want to be protected from you forcing yourself on me." Harry doesn't laugh, but they both know that the language change means Nat will end up in his bed again. Probably often. She should have waited until he had more liquor before she brought up the no-sex rule. Not that it would have mattered. She's the one who will cave. In their history, she is always the one that surrenders. He's irresistible. The bigger problem is that he's entirely aware.

"Oh, really?" Raising an eyebrow at him, she tastes more of the whiskey, rolling it on her tongue. When he uses his right index finger to trace an x over his heart, Nataley relents. "Ugh. Fine. Amendment approved."

"Do we need to write these down?" Harry asks, his fingers kneading Chuck's back where the pup is settled on the sofa lightly snoring.

"Are you afraid you'll forget them?"

"Nope. They're already indelibly etched in my brain."

"Okay. So no pet names. No sex without mutual consent. And I'm going to ask that we not enter each other's personal spaces without knocking."

"Well that works with some of the spaces. What about on set?" Damn him. Always bringing up exceptions that make sense. This is precisely why ground rules have never worked for them in the past. Nataley feels ridiculous for attempting to introduce them again, but she decides to press forward anyway.

"Hmmm...excellent point. How about a 'pardon me?' or 'do you have a minute?' to prepare for the encounter?" It makes sense. What if she actually signs up for that dating program again and some hot guy is drooling over her during work hours? She deserves to have a minute to prepare herself for dealing with her ex in those circumstances.

"Done."

Nataley creases her forehead and stares at Harry. "You're being awfully agreeable."

"Nat, you know that we don't need any of these. So why are we doing them?"

Shit. Harry never hesitates to call her out on stuff like this. "You're right." Reaching for her drink, she's disappointed to find that her second one is nothing but ice.

"Want another one?" He reaches for her glass, making a move to rise.

"Yes. But I'm not going to have another one. My panties are staying on tonight."

His eyes roll. "No one said otherwise." Sitting back, he crosses his legs.

"You're picturing me without panties right now aren't you?"

"Maybe." The pout that draws his mouth downward makes Nataley laugh.

"That's why I want the ground rules, Harry. We're each other's kryptonite, and I'm terrified that we're going to end up falling back into old patterns which simply isn't good for us. Or for Noah."

Harry's eyes roam Nat's face. "That's not true, and you know it. We were always good for each other."

Looking away, Nataley bites her lip, her teeth worrying the skin as she considers his words. "When it was just the three of us -- yes. But the world doesn't work that way. It's not ever just the three of us, and you know it."

Scooting closer to her on the sofa, Harry rubs at her back. "What if it were? What if we could live in a little bubble while I'm in town? I could ride to work with you. I could sleep here."

"They would look for you here." She doesn't have to designate who 'they' are. Nataley cannot believe that she's even remotely entertaining this thought. It's too bizarre for consideration. "Besides, someone at the studio would say something eventually."

The movement of his hand on her back stills. "Wait. You didn't say no." His eyes widen, and he twists his body to face her. "You didn't say no! That means it's possible. Wait." His brain is churning ideas; Nataley can see the wheels spinning. Dammit. She should have given him a flat out 'no'?

"What if I parked somewhere and made the switch to your car? I could park in a different place every day, and no one would suspect. Every morning you would drive me to my car, and every evening you could pick me up. I'd sleep here on the sofa so Noah and I could work on his homework and his guitar lessons." Sitting up straighter, he runs a hand over his jaw. "And on the nights that Noah is with his dad, we could stay at Rande and Cindy's. Or Jeffrey and Glenne's. Shit, Nat. It would be so amazing. We could get our fill of each other, and at the end of the two weeks, I would return to London with some amazing memories. And you would be completely satisfied."

He's getting carried away, and Nataley doesn't know how to stop him. Or herself. Fuck. The thought excites her to the point that she has to cross her legs.

"Nat! Don't you see how perfect it would be? We could spend time together, use each other for sex, and Noah would have some support from a male figure he respects. It's genius!"

Had he lost his mind? Genius was decidedly not the word for what he was describing. Insanity certainly fit. This time when he moved his hand to touch her, it was to trace circles on her knee. Fuck. His touch on her body feels like that moment when you've been on a low carb diet and someone puts a giant bowl of macaroni and cheese in front of you with it's layers of glistening pasta goodness. Comfort. Happiness.

Shit. She's going to say yes, isn't she? Clarity. Nataley needs clarity. Harry has to stop with the figure eights on her thigh that are keeping her from thinking rationally. It's the craziest idea in the world.

"Nat..." he whispers, brushing her hair behind her ear, cupping her neck in back. "You know you missed me as much as I missed you. Without you, my life has been a gray day with no rainbows or sunshine. It's temporary, love, with a definite end date. Let's scratch the itch."

Leaning into his palm, Nat tilts her head to gaze into his eyes. "You're evil, Harry. You realize this, right?"

"Is that a yes?"

"I regretted last night. Why would you think I would regret this less?"

"Is that a yes, Nat?"

"Harry, there are so many reasons not to do this, and only one reason to do it. Horniness shouldn't be grounds for something this idiotic."

"Is that a yes?" His tone of voice hasn't changed since the first time he asked the question, and she's reminded that he knows her well. Probably too well.

"What would we tell Noah? He's going to be heartbroken when you leave again."

"We tell him the truth."

"That his mom and his favorite adult male have the mutual hots for each other?"

His fingers knead the muscles at the base of her neck, and she wants to release the moan held hostage in her lungs. When his long, graceful fingers dig into the tightest muscle, she allows the sound to escape in an extended "mmmmmmm".

"That I'm in town for two weeks, and there's no one I'd rather spend my time with than my two favorite Angelenos. You didn't answer me, Nat. Is that a yes?"

This time when she opens her eyes, his mouth is mere centimeters from her lips. Like a cork bobbing towards the sewer following an intense rainstorm, Nataley knows she should slow down. Grasp the sides of the chute. Stop the slide. Save herself.

Instead, she closes the distance, tracing his lips with her tongue. "Yes," she whispers as softly as a feather landing on a fluffy lamb before she free falls into the kiss he now delivers.