Strings of Fate by Kit Bryan
Chapter 270

Strings of Fate

Cam 27- Clothes and convenience

Twelve minutes and forty six seconds later, Harry bursts in through the automatic doors of the grocery shop, barely even waiting for them to open enough for him to get through.

“Cam? Are you still here?” He yells, drawing the attention of literally everyone in the store. He is completely breathless.

“Over here.” I call out with a half laugh. I don’t think he could have drawn more attention to himself if he tried. I guess Simon will definitely guess I’m here. But hopefully seeing Harry will scare him off. If nothing else, I’ll have backup if he approaches me and being seen outside of work with Harry will work to support our lie of being in a serious relationship.

Harry’s face lights up when he sees me and he dashes to my side.

“Cam! I missed you!” He tells me. Up close I can see that he’s not just breathless, but sweaty too. He clearly ran here. He’s dressed differently to usual too. In comfortable looking grey track pants and a black t–shirt. It sort of pisses me off that he looks really good in his comfortable lounging clothes. I’m not the only one noticing based on the expression of the cashier who seems to think that Harry running to meet me is the cutest thing ever. She’s watching me with envy, which is completely different to the judgemental expression she’s been giving me for the last ten minutes or so while I’ve been sitting here awkwardly hovering waiting for him to turn up.The point is, Harry looks annoyingly hot. I try not to think how

much of a mess I am. I don’t need him to be attracted to me, so I shouldn’t care that I’m

wearing such slouchy clothes and no makeup.

Harry slings an arm over my shoulder and hugs me to his side. I immediately shrug him off.

“Oh, sorry. I’m probably all sweaty and gross. My bad.” He apologises but he doesn’t actually sound remotely sorry. In fact he’s super cheerful.

“You’re fine. Just keep your hands to yourself. It’s weird seeing you in casual clothes.” I observe. Harry grins at me..

“Back atcha. You look so adorable in your giant t–shirt. It’s almost like a dress on you. I can imagine you curled up on your couch watching a movie like that. Or curled up my lap. preferably.” He winks at me and I roll my eyes.

on

1/5

Cam 27- Clothes and convenience

“In your dreams.” I sass back.

“Every night darling.” He immediately answers. I sigh. He holds out a hand and I stare dumbly for a second until he reaches down and takes my shopping bags from me.

“Oh, thanks.” I answer absently.

“Ready to go?” He prompts me.

“You don’t need to get anything?” I ask.

“Nope. I just came here to see you.” He smiles happily and I feel a rush of his magic which. sends shivers down my spine which I do my best to ignore.

“I can’t believe you actually ran here.” I comment. Harry stares at me incredulously.

“Of course I did! It was an excuse to come and see you. I didn’t think that you would actually wait for me!”

“If you didn’t think I would still be here, why did you run all this way?” I demand. Harry shrugs.

“Just in case you did wait. Plus I thought maybe I could get here before you finished. shopping. Or maybe I could catch you on the way home. But you did wait!” He answers gleefully. I try not to blush. He doesn’t need to know why I waited.

“I didn’t want to carry everything home. It seemed worth the delay.” I lie. Harry laughs.

“I will carry your bags for you whenever you want.” He promises.

We head out and I do my best not to look awkward or nervous. I can’t see Simon anywhere and when he doesn’t appear after a minute of walking I start to relax. Seems like Harry really did have good timing deciding to turn up here. Still, I can’t resist the desire to tease him a

little.

“You are really milking this ‘walking me home‘ thing. I’m fairly sure it was only meant to mean walking me home from work.” I point out. Harry shakes his head.

2/5

Cam 27–Clothes and convenience

“Nope, that’s not what we agreed. You said I could walk you home, you never said where from.” He winks at me and I roll my eyes.

“You’re ridiculous, but since it’s convenient to me right now and you’re carrying all my stuff, I won’t complain.” I tell him with a smirk.

“Very gracious of you.” He nods and I can’t help but giggle.

The walk home somehow feels a lot faster than the walk to the shops did. Although I become increasingly grateful for Harry’s presence as I watch him lug around my heavy shopping bags. He chatters away about his most recent project for work and I’m surprised to replace that I am genuinely interested although I refrain from asking too many questions. I’m sure he would interpret any sign of interest from me as a sign of interest in something else and I don’t want to lead him on. It’s not like I’m actually going to go out with him. He might be good at keeping me distracted, and he might be okay as a friend, he might even be pretty good at coming up with business ideas. But he’s an Incubus. There’s no way he could actually be a decent boyfriend. Right? We arrive at my front door and I go to take my bags from Harry but he pulls them away from me.

“Cam, don’t take this as me trying something. But would you please just let me carry your bags inside for you? I promise to behave myself.” He tells me seriously, then ruins the atmosphere by winking at me. I narrow my eyes at him and Harry straightens up.

“I mean it. I’d give you a scouts salute but my hands are full. plus I was never a scout.” He concludes.

“That’s hardly reassuring.” I respond and he just stares at me with the most pathetic puppy dog expression. I sigh.

“Oh fine. But if you misbehave I will seriously never talk to you ever again. And I’ll tell Ryann on you.” I warn. Harry beams a huge smile at me and nods eagerly.

“I’d expect nothing less. You gonna unlock the door?” He prompts and I roll my eyes.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m on it.”

When we get inside, Harry takes my bags through to the kitchen and starts unpacking my

315

Cam 27–Clothes and convenience

groceries and putting them away.

“You don’t have to do that.” I object half heartedly. To be honest, I hate putting groce away and if he wants to do it for me I’m not sure I can be bothered arguing

“I don’t mind. Besides, it’s a great excuse to go through your stuff. He jokes and I cross my arms over my cifest.

“Excuse me?” I demand. Harry shrugs.

“You heard me.” He responds unapologetically.

“This is your version of behavingTM” I ask.

“Sure. I’m only looking through your kitchen, it’s not like I’m rifing through your underwear drawer, although if you want help putting away that pile of laundry I would be more them

happy to assist.” he smirks and I buff at him. Okay, so I dumped my restity cleaned laundry onto a pile on my couch earlier when I lost ocovacion to dean. What can I say, folding and putting away laundry is the worst. With a silent place. I grab the amul of landry, CESTY into my room, throw it onto my bed and return to the itchen, closing my bedroom door

behind me.

“Oh look, no more laundry. I comment

“You’re so organised at work. It’s kind of nice to see yox me mot so perfect all the time.

observes.

“Thanks?” I say doubtfully

“You’re welcome. So, what do you want for dinner?” Barry 2933 cheerful Bub