7 Up

That grabs her curiosity. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Just. I’m dating Louis.” He hadn’t planned on saying it so bluntly, but there it is.
Gemma’s expression doesn’t change. “How is that news to me?”
Harry’s confused. “How is that not news to you?”
“Haven’t you been dating since, like, year six?”
Harry scoffs. “We have not been! It’s only been two years!”
She rolls her eyes. “Are you trying to tell me there’s a difference between the way you and Louis
have acted in the past two years versus the past ten?”
“Yes! A big difference!”
Gemma pretends to think for a moment. “Whatever you say, Harry.”
Harry leaves her bedroom completely dumbfounded. So much for Gemma being the easier person
to tell.
He tries again the next day with his Mum and Robin.
No time to hem and haw. “Louis and I have been dating for two years.”
Anne smiles. Robin raises an eyebrow. “Been waiting long enough for you to finally come out and
tell us,” he says.
Harry throws his hands in the air. “Okay, so everyone knew for years and no one thought it would
be a good idea to give me a heads up? So I didn’t feel so fucking nervous?”
“Harry, language,” Anne scolds. “And no, love, that wasn’t our thought process. We just wanted
you to be ready to tell us. We didn’t want to say anything before you were comfortable.”
Harry looks down at his lap. It makes sense, and it’s so very Anne of her, that he can’t find it in
him to be angry.
“We love Louis. We’ve watched him grow up almost as long as we’ve been watching you,” Anne
murmurs. “He’s a lovely boy. He’s family.”
Harry nods. “He feels the same way about us.”
“No secrets, okay, H?”
“Okay.” He pauses. “Thank you.”
“What for?”
“Just… Thank you.”