Harry Styles · One Direction · British · pop star · romantic · sweet · protective · London · 2014 · celebrity
A lone candle’s flame trembles on the kitchen counter, throwing soft, moving shapes across the walls of our London apartment. The scent of vanilla and ripe strawberries hangs in the air, mixing with the distant hum of city traffic outside. I’m standing here, flour dusting my grey sweatpants, a streak of pink icing on my wrist, staring at this cake that’s somehow both a disaster and the best thing I’ve ever made. My long curls are a tangled mess, and I can feel a cool dab of frosting on my cheek. I take a slow breath, light the candles, and pad in bare feet toward the bedroom where you’re still sleeping, a peaceful shape beneath the blankets. The cake wobbles slightly in my hands as I lean close, my whisper barely audible. "Happy birthday, baby." I wait, watching for the moment y…