#Golf Sunglasses Reviews

[untilthenexttee]

ERNIE ELS NAMED OFFICIAL BRAND AMBASSADOR FOR JONDO SUNGLASSES

– A Partnership Rooted in Unmatched Performance and Innovation –  SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 17, 2024 – JONDO, the trailblazing brand redefining golf eyewear, is proud to welcome four-time Major Champion and World Golf Hall of Famer Ernie Els as its official brand ambassador. This partnership celebrates JONDO’s commitment to excellence and innovation, with Els personally endorsing the sunglasses…

[abbystanaccount]

My ratings and opinions on all of Abby’s skins featured in The Last of Us Part II Remastered! 

(An early review copy was provided to me by Playstation)

Abby‘s OG outfits are all cool and it’s nice to swap them out whenever! However, it’s not all her outfits. But they missed her long sleeve golfing outfit, which is a tragedy. 8/10

They fitted Abby’s younger outfits to her older body! This is exactly the type of tank top I wanted to see on Abby and it’s always been one of my fave outfits for her so I’m so glad they did this and it looks amazing. The little braid is also so cute. 9.5/10

But the polo just doesn’t fit good imo 4/10

The sunglasses are sick! I like most of the details added on the jacket, though some of the patches I’m a little meh on. LOVE that it says “Salt Lake Crew” on the back. I wish they changed up the jacket a little more but they get a +1 for using my favorite pants🙏 8.5/10

I’m mixed about this Badlands skin. I like that it uses her short hair, I like that it’s new models, but don’t really like the design of the outfit and the face paint. The skin is bad-ass dystopian looking, but it doesn’t really fit anywhere besides no return or the forest section. 7/10

80s. I love this outfit. I think it’s so cool and badass and all the details on it just bring the look together. It's not really something you expected but it just makes Abby look so damn good. I just wish it had new hair and some nail polish! Also love her necklaces are the Firefly tag and a bullet with "JOEL" on it. 9.5/10

Classic Naughty Dog tanktop. Idk, it’s boring SORRY. At first glance it looks so much like her og outfit with the colors. 5/10.

It’s nice to get some new colors out of Abby’s SB shirt. Some of the shirts look a bit nicer than others but I don’t like that they use her tan SB skin textures, because sometimes the arms and head get mixed up being tan vs pale 7/10

Overall, I was quite satisfied with Abby’s skins! There’s two especially that I love and other new options that I like a lot as well and look forward to using a bunch to take photos in! A couple things changed like a new hair would have really been a homerun but overall 8.5/10

[guppygiggles]

I wrote this short... thing, for comfort when I was half asleep last night. I woke up and could barely remember writing it, lol.

Contains: 500 words (yeah, really short), Sea and Sky AU (working title for my newly established AU), tickling, fluff, and uh, gay pining. I wish I wrote some dialogue for Avery.

I measured an exceedingly patient inhale.

I'd finally gotten a day off, and yet, instead of sleeping in, luxuriating in a late-morning breakfast with Avery, and enjoying some nice, quiet reading time together in his study… There I was, sponge in-hand and kneeling in front of a plastic pool situated on a secluded beach…

Washing a fish.

“If you splash me again, I'm turning you into sushi.”

A short distance away, Avery chuckled. He was reclining in a beach chair beneath a colorful umbrella, clad in swim trunks and sunglasses, holding a newspaper folded to the crossword section. The pen he was using to fill it in looked more like a golf pencil in his large, soft hand.

I shot him a glare. “Can it, Nimbus,” I snapped.

That only made the cloudman laugh more, his swirly belly button appearing to spin like a hurricane as his belly trembled. It was rare that Avery showed so much skin; even on beach trips, he normally wore knee-length shorts, a T-shirt and an overshirt, at least. Given that he had taken us to a private beach, though, he was able to relax his modesty a bit… and I wasn't complaining. My eyes traced along the dips and curves of his body, from the rolling hills of his cloud-shaped head down to his delicate, bare toes. It was nothing I hadn't seen before, but when I realized I was staring, I quickly looked away.

“Ehe, you're blushing…” Finnegan teased, heedless to my warning as he flicked his tail, splashing me again. I fumed, snatching his ankle out of the water and roughly scrubbing his sole with the sponge, causing him to let out a childish squeal.

“EEEE-HEEEE! I'M SORRREEEEEHEHEE!” He cried, soapy water sloshing out of the pool as he thrashed.

“Remind me why we're out here, Finn?”

“EHEHEEE BECAUSE I GOT DIHIHIRTEEEEHEHEY!”

“That's right! We're out here because you got the bright idea to pester a squid until it squirted you, and now I have to use my Saturday morning to scrub you clean! The least you could do is stay still… and not be a shit!” I scolded half-heartedly. Despite trying to appear angry, I couldn't help grinning; Finn's giddy laugh was cute enough, but it was making Avery giggle, too… which I had no hope of resisting.

“I wasn't pestering! He was on my turf, and he knew it! I was just swimming around the lighthouse, and he kept getting in my- WAAAAAHAHAHAHEEEE!”

Finn squealed again as I gently held his wrist, then scrubbed under his arm with the sponge. He was covered head-to-toe in ink. According to him, the ink from this particular breed of squid could only be washed off with soap, so that's what I was going to do; no matter how much he howled. At least it was a nice day – blue sky, white sand… I would never admit it, but I could almost thank that squid for the gift of my tall, handsome elemental in swim shorts… marble legs stretched out on the plastic chaise, one arm stretched comfortably over his head as he reviewed his work on the Times puzzle, his toes flexing slightly as they were caressed by the gentle summer breeze…

“You're blushing, again!”

“Oh, that's it!”

[bizarrequazar]

GJ and ZZH Updates — May 14-20

<<< previous week || all posts || following week >>>

This is part of a weekly series collecting updates from and relating to Gong Jun and Zhang Zhehan.

This post is not wholly comprehensive and is intended as an overview, links provided lead to further details. Dates are in accordance with China Standard Time, the organization is chronological. My own biases on some things are reflected here. Anything I include that is not concretely known is indicated as such, and you’re welcome to do your own research and draw your own conclusions as you see fit. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, concerns, or additions. :)

[Glossary of names and terms] [Masterlist of my posts about the situation with Zhang Zhehan]

05-14 → A Twitter space was held briefly reviewing the Zhang Sanjian concerts and celebrating Zhang Zhehan’s birthday. [recording] [written notes]

→ It is rumored that Gong Jun started filming a new drama; very little information is known as the director is said to be very low-key. According to the rumors, it’s a crime procedural titled The Remains of the Wind (no relation to Rising with the Wind lol) based on the novel 尸案调查科, and the female lead is Sun Yi. At the time of this post nothing is officially confirmed.

→ The Go Fighting! Weibo posted two promotional photos featuring Gong Jun for episode 5, [here] and [here].

→ Hogan posted a promotional video for 520 spoken by Gong Jun. (1129 kadian) [subbed video]

→ Gong Jun made a post for Mother’s Day: “I wish mothers a happy holiday, good health and all the best!!!”

→ Tiffany & Co. posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun and Elaine Zhong.

→ The Instagram posted three photos of “Zhang Zhehan” and “Zhang Mama”.

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted fifteen photos of him from Go Fighting! episode 5. Caption: “Different choices, multiple endings, tonight at 9:00 #Go Fighting!#, guess which choice boss @ Gong Jun Simon will make?”

→ The fifth episode of Go Fighting! season 9 aired. [full episode (raw)] [GJ cut (raw)]

05-15 → Zhenguoli posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun.

→ Another Zhang Sanjian “airport sighting”, he looked significantly too short, was wearing platform shoes, and was wearing sunglasses indoors. One fan also posted a “chance encounter” photo of him on a plane (still wearing sunglasses and now not masking); QuelleVous later posted photos with measurements of the plane cabin showing that he could not have been taller than 175cm tall—the real Zhang Zhehan is 181cm.

05-16 → Gong Jun posted a promotional video for MARRSGREEN for 520. Caption: “To like, is to smile uncontrollably at them.* Happy, shy... I can't hide it.” This was reposted by MARRSGREEN. *he used “TA” as a gender neutral pronoun. Fan Observations:  -  This day was Zhang Zhehan’s lunar birthday.  -  The post was made at 10:08. 2020-10-08 was the day Zhang Zhehan got a hole in one in golf.

→ The Instagram posted eight photos of “Zhang Zhehan” at a night market, where some of the “chance encounter” photos came from.

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted twelve photos from his trip to Thailand back in February. Caption: “The sound of cicadas singing, a travel memory from the boss @ Gong Jun Simon”

05-17 → Gong Jun flew to France.

→ L’Oreal made a post announcing that Gong Jun would be appearing at the Cannes International Film Festival as their spokesperson.

→ Zhenguoli posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun.

→ The Go Fighting! Weibo posted a bonus clip from episode 5 of Gong Jun singing.

→ CAPA posted a notice asking its members to boycott the company of the comedian Li Haoshi (aka House) following a police announcement two days earlier that he is being investigated for anti-CCP comments. CAPA apparently forgot that the company is one of their own executive units—comments under the post derided them for this and for their lack of authority in the issue. The hashtag #CAPA calls for the boycott of House# got on Weibo hotsearch under other related hotsearches, with many posts making similar comments.

→ The Instagram posted a “behind the scenes” video of the concerts.

→ Tiffany & Co. tweeted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun and Elaine Zhong.

→ (Exact time unknown) Songcheng received a letter from the Shenzhen Stock Exchange requiring them to submit paperwork showing their investment income and sources in order to audit their recent increased profits. As a reminder, Songcheng is an executive unit of CAPA and has connections to the Zhang Sanjian scam.

05-18 → #GongJun trended on Twitter.

→ The Go Fighting! Weibo posted the trailer for episode 6.

→ BesTV posted two additional clips of Gong Jun from Go Fighting! episode 5, [here] and [here].

→ The fashion brand Rare posted a teaser image for their endorsement with Gong Jun that would be announced on 05-20. (1129 kadian)

→ L’OFFICIEL magazine posted a teaser video for their photoshoot with Gong Jun that would release the following day. (1129 kadian) Caption: “Gong Jun's eyebrows and eyes have a stern temperament when he is not smiling, but when he smiles, most of the alienation that seems to be there is dispelled. At 11:29 a.m. on May 19th, @ Gong Jun Simon will be there or be square.”

→ L’OFFICIEL posted a second teaser video. Caption: “He is sunny, he is humble, no matter ancient or modern, he is also leisurely and free and easy. At 11:29 am on May 19th, stay tuned for @ Gong Jun Simon.”

→ Zhenguoli posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun.

→ L’Oreal posted six photos of Gong Jun arriving in Cannes.

→ Tiffany & Co. tweeted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun.

→ A photographer posted two photos of Gong Jun from his pre-red carpet photoshoot.

05-19 → Gong Jun walked the red carpet for the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny premiere at the Cannes International Film Festival, wearing a custom embroidered suit by Jason Wu. [livestream clip] A number of fashion news publications later included him in articles about the event: [Deadline] [Vogue] [RCFA]

→ #GongJun, #SimonGong, #龚俊Simon, and #GongJun_in_CANNES trended on Twitter.

→ Gong Jun posted nine photos of himself in his red carpet outfit. Caption: “Bonjour”

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted an additional eighteen photos of him. Caption: “Leisurely southern method, embroidered picture scroll. The rhyme of the East is hidden in the sleeves of @ Gong Jun Simon.” 

→ #Gong Jun pink suit appears on Cannes red carpet#, #Gong Jun photographed by G#, and #Gong Jun helps Zhong Chuxi up the stairs# got on Weibo’s entertainment hotsearch.

→ An unflattering photo of Gong Jun with his eyes closed was posted by Hung Huang, a well known fashion commentator on Weibo, which was spread around by marketing accounts and got a hotsearch. The photo was later removed by her.

→ Zhenguoli posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun.

→ Deeyeo posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun.

→ L’OFFICIEL posted a video (flashing lights cw) from their shoot with Gong Jun to their Xiao Hong Shu.

→ L’OFFICIEL posted eighteen photos from their shoot with Gong Jun. (1129 kadian) Caption: “@ Gong JunSimon seems to have a relaxed temperament, just like any ordinary friend you know around you.  He is very typical, sharp-edged, loves freedom, enjoys freedom, lives freely, is not limited by time, but only in the feeling of the moment.  A simple but rich heart has experienced ups and downs, opportunities and circumstances, and has accumulated emotions, matured thinking, and accumulated foundations.” Gong Jun’s studio reposted this with the added caption: “Stepping into the world of boundless mirrors, building on the water, boss @ Gong Jun Simon goes from complex to simple, and lives comfortably at home.”

→ Hogan posted four of the L’OFFICIEL photos, highlighting their shoes.

→ Gong Jun posted twelve photos from the previous day to his Xiao Hong Shu, caption: “Aiyo  Really good @ Jason Wu” and ten to his Instagram, caption: “Merci @ jasonwu” 

→ L’OFFICIEL posted their article with Gong Jun.

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted a video (flashing lights cw) of behind the scenes footage from the L’OFFICIEL shoot. Caption: “The water lines are clear and shallow, boss @ Gong Jun Simon embraces a handful of coolness~” BGM is Violetta by Ballpoint, Cushy, and Dylan Sitts.

→ Gong Jun posted nine photos from the L’OFFICIEL shoot. Caption: “Flying birds and swimming fish live everywhere.”

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted a douyin (flashing lights cw) of footage from the L’OFFICIEL photoshoot. Caption: “Feel at ease, see the boss in the reflection of the pool surface @ Gong Jun Simon A corner of summer.” BGM is Fool For You (VIP Remix) by Kastra.

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted ten behind the scenes photos from the L’OFFICIEL shoot. Caption: “The water wave reflects the mirage of the fingertips, the boss @ Gong Jun Simon lives in a simple house and is at ease.”

→ The designer Jason Wu posted photos of Gong Jun and his suit to his Instagram. Caption: “@ gongjunhahaha in custom #JasonWuCollection couture embroidered suit for @ festivaldecannes -This is a very special and personal project as it is my first menswear design and that in reflects the beauty and exquisite cultural significance of both of our Chinese heritage. It is incredible to showcase this unprecedented collaboration on such an International stage. I am so proud.” He also retweeted quite a few tweets made by fans about the outfit.

→ L’Oreal posted a video of Gong Jun’s arrival in Cannes.

→ The Instagram posted eight photos of “Zhang Zhehan” on a beach. The photos show obvious signs of editing [1] [2]. Xie Yihua attempted to post them previously on 05-11 but they were among the ones removed by Weibo. 

→ Gong Jun appeared in a livestream for L’Oreal. [recording] During it, he confirmed that he is currently filming in Haikou, supporting the rumors about The Remains of the Wind.

→ L’Oreal posted four photos of Gong Jun from just before the red carpet, followed by five photos and two videos, [here] and [here], of him on it. They also later included a photo of him in an Instagram post about the event.

05-20 → #GongJun continued to trend on Twitter.

→ Gong Jun flew back to China.

→ Deeyeo posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun for 520.

→ Rare posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun, announcing their new endorsement with him.

→ MARRSGREEN posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun for 520. They also later posted a video with illustrations of him. (1129 kadian) Fan Observation: The music in the video, Journey by AMPai Music, has a few bars that are very similar to A Love Letter to Filmmakers, the song Zhang Zhehan sang at Weibo Night 2021. 

→ Gong Jun posted a video for Rare. Caption: “It is a pleasure to be the global spokesperson of @ RARE. The fashion brand in Venice has created the legend of Italian fashion luxury, dare to be RARE with me, dare to be different.” This was reposted by his studio, added caption: “Boss @ Gong Jun Simon starts the undefined trend exploration, captures the extraordinary Italian aesthetics, and releases the new trendy luxury.” and by Rare.

→ Zhenguoli posted two photo ads featuring Gong Jun, [here] and [here]. (1129 kadian on the latter)

→ Fresh posted a video featuring Gong Jun for 520. (11:52, 511 and 520 kadian)

→ MARRSGREEN posted a letter about Gong Jun for 520. [translation]

→ The Instagram posted ten more photos of “Zhang Zhehan” at a beach, this time in the evening.

→ Rare posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun for 520.

Additional Reading: → Rising with the Wind is rumored to start airing on 05-31, Legend of AnLe in August.

<<< previous week || all posts || following week >>>

[elevadify]

Stay Stylish and Protected: A Review of KALIYADI Polarized Sunglasses

In our fast-paced world, sunglasses are more than just a fashion statement; they’re a vital accessory for anyone who spends time outdoors. If you’re a fan of driving, fishing, golfing, or simply soaking up the sun, quality sunglasses can make a huge difference in your day. Enter the KALIYADI Polarized Sunglasses — a sleek, stylish, and effective solution for protecting your eyes while enhancing your style.

Grab your pair and see the difference! Shop KALIYADI Polarized Sunglasses here

Why Choose KALIYADI Sunglasses?

UV Protection with HD Polarized Lenses

KALIYADI sunglasses are designed with UV400 polarized lenses that provide premium protection against harmful UVA and UVB rays. The polarized technology significantly reduces glare, making it easier to see under intense sunlight. This feature is especially useful for activities like driving or fishing, where glare can be distracting or even dangerous. By blocking glare and enhancing color contrast, these sunglasses help restore the true color of the world around you.

Classic Rectangle Design That Never Goes Out of Style

These sunglasses come in a timeless rectangular frame design that works well with almost any outfit, adding an extra layer of sophistication to your look. The rectangular shape is universally flattering and remains a favorite in the world of fashion — so, you won’t have to worry about these sunglasses going out of style anytime soon.

Durable and Comfortable Build

One of the standout features of KALIYADI sunglasses is their lightweight yet durable construction. Made with anti-scratch polarized lenses, adjustable metal spring hinges, and integrated nose pads, these sunglasses offer both comfort and durability. The lightweight frame makes them comfortable for long hours of wear, whether you’re out on the water, hitting the golf course, or simply relaxing on a sunny afternoon.

Perfect for All Occasions

With their classic design and effective UV protection, KALIYADI sunglasses are incredibly versatile. They’re ideal for various outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, driving, fishing, and hiking. They’re also a great addition to your daily wardrobe, giving you style and functionality all year round. Plus, they make an excellent gift, as each purchase includes a thoughtful package with three microfiber pouches, three cleaning cloths, and a gift box.

Customer Support You Can Count On

KALIYADI takes pride in offering quality customer service with every purchase. Their products are double-checked for integrity and lens quality by third-party companies, ensuring you receive the best possible product. Plus, with lifetime support, you can trust KALIYADI to stand by their sunglasses, making your purchase even more worthwhile.

Final Verdict

For those who value both style and eye protection, KALIYADI Polarized Sunglasses are a fantastic choice. With their UV400 protection, lightweight durability, and timeless design, they’re a practical accessory for anyone who spends time outdoors. Whether you’re a frequent traveler, outdoor enthusiast, or simply someone who wants a dependable pair of sunglasses, KALIYADI has you covered.

Grab your pair and see the difference! Shop KALIYADI Polarized Sunglasses here

[uniteddonationhelp]

AMVET Donations

When it comes to supporting our veterans, every little bit helps. One of the most impactful ways you can make a difference is through AMVETS donations. This organization has been dedicated to assisting veterans and their families for decades. By simply giving away items you no longer need, you can contribute to programs that directly benefit those who have served our country.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>AMVET Donations<<<<<<<<<<<<<

But what exactly can you donate? And how does your support help improve the lives of veterans? In this blog post, we’ll explore the various items accepted by AMVETS, their rating as an organization, pickup schedules for your convenience, tax benefits for donors, and the profound impact your generosity has on veterans' lives. Dive in and discover how easy it is to turn clutter into a meaningful contribution!

Items that AMVETS Accept for Donation

AMVETS accepts a wide range of items for donation, including:

1. Clothing and Shoes: They accept gently used clothing and shoes for men, women, and children. This includes items such as pants, shirts, dresses, jackets, and shoes.

2. Household Items: AMVETS accepts household items such as dishes, utensils, pots and pans, small appliances (in good working condition), bedding, towels, curtains, and other household decor.

3. Furniture: They accept furniture in good condition such as sofas, chairs, tables, dressers, bed frames, and mattresses (in good condition).

4. Electronics: AMVETS accepts electronics that are in good working condition such as TVs (flat screens only), CD/DVD players, stereos, computers/laptops (5 years old or newer), tablets/e-readers (5 years old or newer), and cell phones.

5. Books/Media: They accept books (hardcover or paperback) in good condition as well as DVDs/CDs/video games.

6. Sports Equipment: AMVETS accepts sports equipment in good condition such as bicycles (adult size only), golf clubs/bags/sets/accessories/balls/gloves/carts/rangefinders/sunglasses/hats/shoes/grips/tees/shirts/pants, tennis rackets/balls/strings/grips/shoes/clothing, soccer balls/cleats/jerseys/shin guards/goals/nets, footballs/helmets/pads/jerseys/cleats/socks, basketballs/shirts/shorts/sneakers.

7. Tools: They accept tools in good working condition such as hand tools, power tools, and gardening equipment.

8. Toys: AMVETS accepts toys in good condition such as board games, puzzles, dolls/action figures, building blocks/legos, cars/trucks/trains/plane sets, and outdoor play equipment (sandbox/swing sets).

9. Small Household Items: They also accept small household items in good condition such as lamps/light fixtures, rugs/carpeting (clean), wall art/mirrors/picture frames/decorative items.

10. Vehicles: AMVETS accepts vehicles including cars, trucks, boats (with trailers), motorcycles (must have title and be in running condition).

It's best to check with your local AMVETS location for any additional restrictions or guidelines on what items they accept.  

What is the rating of AMVETS?

AMVETS, or American Veterans, is a well-respected nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of veterans across the United States. Ratings for such organizations often come from independent evaluators who assess their financial health and impact. AMVETS has consistently received positive reviews for its commitment to transparency and effective use of funds.

One notable rating source is Charity Navigator, which evaluates nonprofits on various criteria including accountability and integrity. AMVETS typically scores high in these areas, reflecting its dedication to both ethical practices and service delivery. This level of scrutiny ensures that donors can trust their contributions are making a real difference.

Additionally, organizations like Guidestar offer insights into AMVETS’ operations by providing information about its missions and finances. Many donors look for these ratings before giving because they want reassurance that their support will lead to tangible benefits for veterans.

The overall reputation of AMVETS as a reliable charity contributes significantly to its ability to attract donations. When potential donors see these favorable ratings, they feel more inclined to contribute resources towards supporting veterans' programs and initiatives.

AMVETS Pickup Schedule

AMVETS makes donating easy with its convenient pickup schedule. Donors can arrange for a pickup right from their homes, saving time and effort. This service is especially beneficial for individuals who may not have the means to transport items themselves.

To schedule a pickup, donors can visit the AMVETS website or call their local chapter. The process is straightforward; you’ll provide your address and details about the items you wish to donate. After that, AMVETS will confirm a date and time for collection.

The pickups typically occur during weekdays, but some locations may offer weekend options as well. It’s important to check availability in your area since schedules might vary across different states or regions.

When preparing for pickup, ensure your donations are packed securely and accessible on the day of collection. By following these simple steps, you can support veterans while making it easy for yourself to give back through AMVET donations.

Tax Benefits for Donors

Making amvet donations can be both a generous act and a smart financial decision. Donating to AMVETS, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving veterans, often qualifies for tax deductions. This means that you may be able to reduce your taxable income by the value of the items you donate.

To claim this deduction, it's important to keep detailed records of your donations. You should document the items donated along with their fair market values. Having receipts or acknowledgment letters from AMVETS can also help substantiate your claims when filing taxes.

It's beneficial to note that not all donations are treated equally under tax laws. Generally, clothing and household goods in good condition are eligible for deductions, while other types of contributions may have different rules. Always consult IRS guidelines or a tax professional for specific advice tailored to your situation.

By contributing items you no longer need while potentially lowering your tax bill, you make an impact on both personal finances and the lives of veterans needing support—an excellent way to give back without compromising financial health.

Impact of Donations on Veterans' Lives

Donations to AMVETS play a crucial role in transforming the lives of veterans. Each contribution, whether big or small, directly supports programs designed for their well-being. These initiatives often include job training, mental health resources, and educational scholarships that help veterans reintegrate into civilian life.

Many veterans face challenges after serving our country. They may struggle with transitioning back to daily routines and finding stable employment. By donating goods or funds to AMVETS, supporters provide vital assistance that can lead to sustainable careers and improved quality of life.

Additionally, donations aid in providing essential services such as housing support and medical care. Accessing these resources allows veterans to focus on healing rather than worrying about basic needs. This kind of security is invaluable for those who have sacrificed so much.

Moreover, the camaraderie fostered by donation-driven community events helps combat feelings of isolation among veterans. Engaging with fellow service members creates a strong network where they can share experiences and support each other’s journeys toward recovery. Such connections are fundamental in enhancing overall well-being.

Conclusion

When considering amvet donations, it’s clear that your contributions can have a profound impact on the lives of veterans and their families. By donating items like clothing, household goods, and vehicles to AMVETS, you not only declutter your space but also support essential programs aimed at helping those who served our country.

The organization has garnered positive ratings for its transparency and effectiveness in utilizing donations. With convenient pickup schedules available, it’s easier than ever to make a difference without leaving your home.

Additionally, donors benefit from tax deductions when they give to AMVETS. This financial incentive enhances the appeal of donating while providing crucial resources that help veterans reintegrate into civilian life successfully.

Your generosity plays a vital role in changing lives. Every item donated contributes directly to improving services for veterans across the nation. Engaging with AMVETS through donations is more than just giving; it's about standing by those who stood for us.

FAQs

What items does AMVETS accept for donation?

AMVETS accepts a wide range of items, including clothing, household goods, small appliances, electronics, furniture, and more. However, they do not accept large appliances, hazardous materials, or items in poor condition. It's best to check with your local AMVETS chapter for specific guidelines.

How do I schedule a donation pick-up with AMVETS?

You can schedule a donation pick-up with AMVETS by visiting their website and using the online scheduling tool or by calling their toll-free number. You can choose a convenient date and time for the pick-up, and AMVETS will come to your home to collect your donations.

Are donations to AMVETS tax-deductible?

Yes, donations to AMVETS are tax-deductible. After making a donation, you will receive a receipt that you can use for tax purposes. Be sure to keep the receipt as it serves as proof of your donation.

Can I donate a vehicle to AMVETS?

Yes, AMVETS accepts vehicle donations, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, and RVs. The process is simple: fill out an online form, and AMVETS will arrange for a free tow. The proceeds from the sale of the vehicle will support AMVETS programs.

Where do my donations go, and who benefits from them?

Your donations to AMVETS help fund programs that support veterans and their families. This includes assistance with job training, healthcare, education, and more. By donating, you directly contribute to improving the lives of veterans across the country.

[turksandciacos]

Exploring Grand Turk Cruise Port: Golf Cart Rental Guide

You'll find yourself in paradise when you step off your cruise ship at Grand Turk Cruise Port. The sun-soaked beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant local culture are calling your name. Consider renting a golf cart to make the most of your visit to this Caribbean gem. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into everything you need to know about Grand Turk Cruise Port golf cart rentals, ensuring you have a memorable and seamless experience.

Why Choose a Golf Cart Rental in Grand Turk?

Freedom to Explore

Grand Turk may be small, but it's packed with hidden gems waiting to be discovered. You can explore the island at your own pace with a golf cart. Tour iconic spots like Governor's Beach, the Grand Turk Lighthouse, and the historic Cockburn Town.

Cost-Efficient

Golf cart rentals are an affordable option for exploring Grand Turk. You'll save money compared to booking a guided tour, and you won't have to rely on taxis or public transportation.

Scenic Drives

The island's coastal roads offer some of the most picturesque views ever. Take in the stunning sights, enjoy the fresh sea breeze, and snap breathtaking photos.

How to Rent a Golf Cart at Grand Turk Cruise Port

Booking in Advance

To ensure availability, booking your golf cart in advance is a good idea. Visit the Turks and Caicos Golf Carts website to make reservations online. This also allows you to review rental rates and choose the cart that suits your needs.

On-Site Rental

If you prefer spontaneity, you can rent a golf cart upon arrival at the cruise port. Many rental providers have booths near the port's exit, making it convenient to secure your transportation for the day.

Valid Driver's License

You'll need a valid driver's license to rent a golf cart. Be sure to have it when you arrive at the rental location.

What to Expect from Your Golf Cart Rental

Orientation

Upon receiving your golf cart, the rental staff will provide a brief orientation. They'll explain how to operate the coach, including the controls and safety features. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to ask.

Fuel

Most golf carts on the island are electric, so you won't have to worry about refueling. They're eco-friendly and easy to recharge.

Parking

Parking your golf cart is relatively easy, especially considering the island's laid-back atmosphere. Just be sure to follow any posted parking regulations to avoid fines.

Tips for a Memorable Day

Sun Protection: Grand Turk enjoys a tropical climate, so protect yourself from the sun with sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses.

Cash: While many places accept credit cards, carrying some cash for small purchases and tips is wise.

Respect the Locals: The people of Grand Turk are warm and friendly. Please show respect for their culture and be courteous during your visit.

Explore Off the Beaten Path: Don't be afraid to avoid the main attractions. Some of the best experiences can be found by exploring less touristy areas.

Safety Precautions

Safety should be a top priority during your golf cart adventure. Remember these essential tips:

Obey local traffic laws and speed limits.

Always wear your seatbelt.

Don't drink and drive.

Stay hydrated, especially in the Caribbean heat.

Returning Your Golf Cart

Returning your golf cart is a straightforward process. Simply bring it back to the rental location within the agreed-upon timeframe. Be sure to follow any specific return instructions provided by the rental company.

Conclusion

In conclusion, renting a golf cart at Grand Turk Cruise Port is an excellent way to explore this beautiful island independently. It offers flexibility, affordability, and the opportunity to create your adventure. Following the tips and guidelines in this guide will prepare you for an unforgettable day in Grand Turk. Enjoy your cruise excursion and make lasting memories in this Caribbean paradise.

[menseas]

Under Armour Men’s Tech Golf Polo: The Ultimate Performance Gear for Golfers

Welcome to our comprehensive review of the Under Armour Men’s Tech Golf Polo. If you’re an avid golfer looking for the perfect polo that combines style, comfort, and performance, you’ve come to the right place. In this review post, we will delve into the features, pros, cons, and frequently asked questions about this top-notch golf polo. So, let’s tee off!

Table of Contents:

Overview

Features

Pros

Cons

Q&A

Outfits Idea

Conclusion

Overview:

The Under Armour Men’s Tech Golf Polo is the epitome of high-quality training gear. Crafted with 100% polyester, this polo offers a textured fabric that feels soft, light, and breathable. With its sweat-wicking and quick-drying properties, this polo keeps you cool and comfortable on the golf course. The 3-button placket and self-fabric collar add a touch of sophistication to your look. Plus, it boasts a loose, fuller cut for complete comfort during your swing.

Features:

Made from 100% polyester for durability and breathability.

Textured fabric that feels soft, light, and breathable.

Moisture-wicking technology keeps you dry and comfortable.

Quick-drying fabric for added convenience during hot days on the course.

3-button placket for a classic and stylish appearance.

The self-fabric collar adds a touch of sophistication.

Loose, fuller cut for unrestricted movement and maximum comfort.

Pros Under Armour Men’s Tech Golf Polo:

Superior Comfort: The loose, fuller cut of this polo ensures unrestricted movement and complete comfort throughout your golf game.

Breathable Fabric: The textured fabric is incredibly soft, light, and breathable, making it perfect for warm weather conditions.

Moisture-Wicking Technology: The material wicks away sweat, keeping you dry and cool even during intense rounds of golf.

Quick-Drying: The quick-drying fabric allows for quick evaporation of moisture, ensuring you stay comfortable and focused on your game.

Stylish Design: The 3-button placket and self-fabric collar add a touch of elegance to your golf attire, making you look and feel confident on the course.

Cons Under Armour Men’s Tech Golf Polo:

Limited Color Options: Some golfers may find the available color options to be slightly limited compared to other brands.

Q&A:

Q1: Is the Under Armour Men’s Tech Golf Polo suitable for hot weather?

A1: Absolutely! The breathable fabric and moisture-wicking technology make it ideal for hot weather conditions, keeping you cool and comfortable.

Q2: Can I wear this polo for casual occasions?

A2: Yes, definitely! The stylish design of this polo makes it versatile enough to be worn on and off the golf course.

Q3: How does the sizing run for this polo?

A3: The Under Armour Men’s Tech Golf Polo generally runs true to size. However, it is recommended to refer to the size chart provided by the manufacturer for a more accurate fit.

The Ultimate Performance Gear for Golfers

Outfit idea: A moisture-wicking polo shirt + lightweight khaki shorts + golf hat + golf shoes

Outfit idea: A breathable long-sleeve golf shirt + performance golf pants + visor + golf cleats

Outfit idea: A UV protection golf shirt + stretchy golf skort + sun visor + golf sneakers

Outfit idea: A lightweight golf polo + golf shorts + bucket hat + spikeless golf shoes

Outfit idea: A sleeveless golf shirt + golf skirt + wide-brimmed hat + golf sandals

Outfit idea: A moisture-wicking golf polo + performance golf pants + golf cap + waterproof golf shoes

Outfit idea: A breathable golf jacket + water-resistant golf pants + beanie + golf boots

Outfit idea: A windproof golf pullover + thermal golf pants + earmuffs + insulated golf shoes

Outfit idea: A lightweight golf polo + golf shorts + sunglasses + spikeless golf shoes

Outfit idea: A moisture-wicking golf shirt + performance golf skort + cap + golf sandals

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the Under Armour Men’s Tech Golf Polo is a fantastic choice for any golfer seeking the perfect blend of style and performance. With its breathable fabric, moisture-wicking technology, and comfortable fit, this polo will keep you cool, dry, and focused on your game. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or a beginner, this polo is a must-have addition to your golf wardrobe. So, don’t hesitate; grab your very own Under Armour Men’s Tech Golf Polo and experience the ultimate in golfing comfort and style.

Discover More on Amazon

[golfgeargeeks]

Under Armour Golf Accessories Review: Stylish Belts and Enhanced Sunglasses for Golfers

Calling all golf enthusiasts and fashion-forward fairway fanatics! Get ready to tee off with style as we dive into the world of Under Armour Golf. From trendy belts that will have you looking like a PGA pro to sunglasses that enhance your golf game and keep you looking cool, Under Armour has got you covered. We’re here to give you the lowdown on their stylish belts and vision-boosting sunglasses,…

[jamiesadlowski]

How To Organize A Golf Bag?

Golf is a beautiful game that requires a lot of patience, precision, and practice. As you strive to improve your skills, one of the most important aspects to consider is organization. You must be able to find your clubs when you need them, have quick access to your accessories, and ensure that your golf bag is properly balanced for comfort and performance. If your golf bag is cluttered, disorganized, or too heavy, it can negatively impact your game, reduce your efficiency, and even lead to injuries. That's why we have created this ultimate guide to organizing your golf bag, to help you optimize your setup and maximize your potential on the course.

Assess your equipment

The first step in organizing your golf bag is to take an inventory of your clubs and accessories. Check to see if they are compatible, suitable for your skill level, and fit your body size. Consider the weather, course, and terrain you will be playing on, and pack accordingly. Make a list of everything you will need, including balls, tees, gloves, towels, rangefinders, scorecards, and sunglasses. This will give you a clear idea of what your golf bag should contain and how much space you will need.

Categorize your clubs

Once you have determined what equipment you will need, sort your clubs into natural categories. Place your woods in one section, irons in another, and wedges and putters in their own categories. This will make it easier to find the club you need quickly and keep your bag organized. You can also arrange your clubs by length, with the longer clubs on the top and the shorter ones at the bottom. Make sure the heads of your clubs face down towards the bottom to prevent damage and scratches.

Use dividers or containers

Most golf bags come with dividers that separate your clubs into sections. However, if your golf bag does not have dividers, you can use PVC pipes, pool noodles, or foam insulation to create your own. You could also invest in golf bag inserts - these are removable, lightweight, portable organizers that help keep your bag tidy. Additionally, you may want to use containers or pouches to store accessories such as tees, balls, and gloves. This will keep small items together, avoid clutter, and make it easier to keep your bag clean.

Balance your bag

Another element to consider when organizing your golf bag is its balance. Think about the weight distribution of your clubs, and adjust the bag accordingly. The heavier clubs, such as woods and hybrids, should be on the bottom to prevent tipping over when you are standing your bag up. Additionally, you should keep your bag as light as possible by only packing what you need. Anything unnecessary adds weight and makes it harder to carry and maneuver the bag. Finally, you should position your bag in such a way that it does not hinder your swing, and is easily accessible whether you are walking or using a golf cart.

Maintain your bag

After you have organized your golf bag, you must maintain it. Clean your clubs after every game and store them properly to avoid damage. Wash your bag frequently with soap and water, and avoid leaving it out in the sun or rain. Keep your accessories dry and replace them as needed. Finally, periodically review your bag to ensure that it still serves your needs and update it as necessary, particularly if your skill level changes, or you want to try new clubs.

Conclusion:

Organizing your golf bag is a critical step in becoming a better golfer. By following these tips, you can optimize your equipment and make it easier to access. You'll be able to focus on your game and enjoy your time outdoors without worrying about clutter or discomfort. So take the time to assess your equipment, categorize your clubs, use dividers and containers, balance your bag, and maintain your gear. This will help you create the ultimate golf bag setup that suits your style and helps you achieve your goals on the course.

FAQ:

How should a golf bag be Organised?

Organizing your golf bag should involve assessing and categorizing the clubs you will need, using dividers or containers to keep small items together, balancing the weight of your bag, and maintaining your equipments. Additionally, you should take into account the type of course you are playing on as well as weather conditions when packing.

Where should everything go in a golf bag?

Your woods should go in one section, irons in another, and wedges and putters in their own sections. This will make it easier to access the club you need quickly. Additionally, use containers or pouches to store accessories such as tees, balls, and gloves. The heavier clubs should be placed on the bottom of your bag to prevent tipping.

How do pro golfers organize their bag?

Professional golfers typically organize their bag according to the type of clubs they are using. They also tend to prioritize convenience and accessibility over organization, as speed and efficiency are important during tournaments.

How do you set up a 6 golf bag?

When setting up a 6 golf bag, you should assess what clubs and accessories you will need for the course. Then organize your clubs into sections – typically woods, irons, wedges, and putters – and keep small items together in containers or pouches. Balance the weight of your bag accordingly and make sure it is easily accessible when walking or using a golf cart. Finally, maintain your equipments and replace them as necessary.

How do you organize a 14 slot golf bag?

When organizing a 14 slot golf bag, you should assess the number of clubs accessories you need. Separate your clubs into sections – woods, irons, wedges, and putters – and store items in containers or pouches. Balance the weight of your bag to prevent tipping when standing it up, and make sure it is easily accessible when walking or using a golf cart.

[untilthenexttee]

JONDO has selected Read the Greens, Golf Media Inc. for its public relations services

-Read the Greens, GOLF Media is set to generate brand and product awareness via a highly targeted, golf-centric public relations and media campaign-  SAN DIEGO, CA – JONDO, a creator of handcrafted sunglasses with the cutting-edge high-contrast KRISP lens technology designed for golfers, is thrilled to announce its partnership with Read the Greens, GOLF Media, aiming to create awareness in the…

[ainschemba]

What To Look For In A Quality Golf Bag: Durability, Functionality, And Design

Are you in the market for a quality golf bag? It can be difficult to decide which one is right for you. But don't worry, we're here to help! When selecting your perfect golf bag, there are three key factors: durability, functionality, and design.

Golf bags come in all shapes and sizes but what truly matters when it comes to performance is how durable it is. Whether you're an avid golfer or just starting out, having a reliable bag that will stand up against wear and tear is essential. That way, you won't have to worry about unexpected surprises on the course.

Functionality should also be at the top of your list when looking for a good golf bag. You'll want something with plenty of pockets and dividers so everything stays organized during play. And let's not forget style – who says practical has to mean boring? Look for a bag that fits your personal aesthetic while still providing maximum protection and storage space.

By considering these three aspects before making a purchase, you'll soon find yourself equipped with a high-quality golf bag that looks great and stands the test of time!

What To Consider Before Buying

When it comes to choosing a quality golf bag, there are many things to consider. A buying guide can help you narrow down your options and find the one that's best for you. Budgeting is an important factor when shopping around; some bags range in price from $50 to over $200 depending on brand and features.

Brand options vary greatly, with names like Callaway, TaylorMade, Titleist, Ping, and Mizuno providing great selections of quality golf bags. If you're looking for extra weather protection, look into waterproof materials or zippered covers designed specifically for protecting equipment during rainstorms or other inclement weather conditions.

The most important criteria when selecting a golf bag should be durability, functionality and design. Choose a model made from durable material; this will ensure years of use without it succumbing to wear-and-tear damage too quickly. Look for features such as pockets for storing balls and tees or straps for easy carrying - these amenities make all the difference in terms of convenience when out on the course. Lastly, take into account how the bag looks: does its style fit your personality? The perfect golf bag combines long-lasting construction with useful features and pleasing aesthetics.

Material Type And Construction

When shopping for golf bags, it's important to consider the material type and construction quality. Ideally, the bag should be made from durable materials that can withstand wear and tear. Look for weatherproofing or waterproofing features to protect your clubs from rain or moisture. It's also useful if the bag has other protection features such as reinforced stitching and heavy-duty zippers.

In addition to being strong enough to last through multiple rounds of golf, a good golf bag should also have features that make it more functional. For example, look for bags with pockets on both sides so you can easily store tees, balls, markers and other items while out on the course. The straps need to be comfortable yet adjustable in order to provide proper support when carrying heavier loads. Lastly, design is key - choose a style that fits your personal taste but still offers plenty of space for all of your equipment.

Finally, check reviews online before buying a new golf bag. This will give you an idea about how well the product performs under different conditions and whether it meets your standards for durability and functionality.

Features And Accessories

A quality golf bag should have all the features and accessories necessary for a successful round. Ergonomic straps make carrying your clubs comfortable, while dividers keep them in order. Pockets are essential to store tees, balls, gloves, sunglasses and other items that you may need during your game. A rain hood will protect your equipment if it starts raining unexpectedly. Finally, look for bags made of waterproof material so they can handle any weather conditions on the course.

The right combination of features and accessories will improve both performance and enjoyment of your game. When choosing a golf bag, consider how much storage space is needed; what kind of pockets would be most useful; and which type of ergonomic straps best suit your needs. Make sure there are enough compartments to separate different types of clubs easily and that the bag has a sturdy frame for added stability when walking or riding around the course. Also check if there's an integrated rain hood included in case you get caught out in bad weather.

When looking at features and accessories, ensure that they add value to gameplay as well as style points. Quality materials like tarpaulin fabric and high-grade leather help create superior durability without sacrificing comfort or flexibility – important factors when shopping for a good golf bag! With these considerations taken into account, you'll be able to find one with everything necessary for success on the green - from practicality to versatility - making every outing easier than ever before

Storage Capacity And Transportability

When looking for a quality golf bag, storage capacity and transportability are two essential aspects to consider. Bag size will determine how many items you can store in it while weight capacity determines the amount of equipment you can carry. It's important that your bag is lightweight enough so that it won't be too difficult to move around. Carrying straps should also be comfortable and durable, allowing you to easily lift and transport the bag without straining yourself.

It’s helpful if the golf bags has multiple pockets or compartments where small items such as tees, ball markers, scorecards, etc., can be stored conveniently. If possible, look for bags with waterproof fabric and water-resistant zippers which help keep contents dry even when caught in rain or snow. A well-designed pocket system ensures no item gets misplaced during play or transportation.

Before buying a high-quality golf bag, check its features and accessories carefully to ensure they meet all your needs and provide convenience while playing on the course. Also make sure the storage capacity and transportability of the bag fit perfectly into your lifestyle. Investing in a good quality golf bag will not only improve your game but also last longer compared to cheaper alternatives.

Comfort And Style

A quality golf bag needs to have both comfort and style. It should be designed in a way that makes it practical for carrying, with straps that are comfortable enough for long walks around the course. The padding on the back of the bag is also important; it helps make sure your clubs stay safe and adds an extra layer of comfort when you’re lugging your gear up hills or across bridges.

When considering what kind of design you want, think about how often you'll use the bag and where. If you're playing at different courses more than once a week, then having something stylish will help give you confidence as well as convenience. Look for bags with attractive colors or patterns that match your look so you can hit shots feeling like part of the club.

Comfort and style go hand-in-hand in terms of finding the right golf bag. Make sure to take into account carrying capacity, padding on the back, and overall design before making your purchase to ensure you get one that's perfect for your game day after day.

Conclusion

When it comes to buying a golf bag, there are several important factors to consider. Durability and construction should be top priority when selecting the right one for you. It's also essential to check out the features and accessories that come with the bag, as well as its storage capacity and transportability. Lastly, don't forget about comfort and style - pick something that looks good on you!

I've taken all of these into account when shopping for my own golf bag over the years. In doing so, I've found bags that have served me well and lasted longer than expected. And while they may not always be cheap, investing in a quality product is worth it in the long run.

So make sure you do your research before committing to any purchase; look at what others are saying about different brands and models online, read reviews from experts or experienced players, then decide which golf bag best suits your needs. You won't regret it!

[pretendingboyfriends]

A/N: ok WOW first off, i’m so sorry i literally haven’t posted since december. these past few months have been so wild what with new classes and my mental health declining. i can’t promise the last few parts of this lil series will come at a timely manner just because my mental state can be very unpredictable, but i will try my best to get them out as fast as i can, especially when summer is right around the corner. i wanna thank @thestyleswritings and @friendlyneighborhood-mendes​ for being my lovely beta readers. as i’ve said before, my writing is nothing without betas so thank u for taking the time to review my piece and give me honest feedback. anyways, i made this part extra long for you guys and i really really hope you love it. <3

Warnings: explicit language, panic attack, anxiety, deidre being a megacunt (as always), smut 

Word count: 9.3k+

previous part . fic masterlist . fic playlist . taglist

It’s been a few days since your first date with Harry, the two weeks you’ve planned to spend at the beach feeling far too short as each day passes like a whirlwind. And over these days, you’ve found that getting comfortable with him is an easier feat than you’d initially imagined. Moments with him are hardly fleeting. You find yourself spending most of your time with him, whether it be going for a swim on the beach or sneaking off somewhere in the house to make out. If this were anyone else, you’d feel suffocated spending so much time with them, but with Harry it’s so much different. You can’t keep yourself away from him, even if you try, and you’re beginning to think that the feeling is quite mutual for Harry as well.

The air is humid and warm, a quaint breeze sifting through the leaves of the palm trees that surround the pool’s fence, finding its way to where the three of you lounge. The kiss of the sun blesses your exposed skin as you and Deidre lie side by side on the poolside chairs. You've lost count of how many hours the three of you have spent in the afternoon sun, but, as hot as it is, you're thoroughly enjoying every moment spent actually being with Deidre for once. Even if you aren't actually doing anything but lying in the sun, just the fact that she's spending time with you for longer than an hour makes you happy. 

Your eyes scan each line of the book in your hands, allowing your brain to paint a picture of each image as best as it can. Deidre snores quietly beside you, arms draped over her face to shield her eyes from the blinding light and Harry splashes around quietly in the pool, occasionally pulling himself under for a few moments before coming back to the surface for air again. 

As you turn the page of your book, the sudden splashing of water fills your ears before several cold droplets hit your warm skin. It immediately draws your attention away from your book and up to where Harry stands in front of your chair. 

"Hi," You muse, pulling your legs up to curl beneath you. 

"Hi back," He smiles as he pushes his fingers through his long, dripping wet hair. 

You pluck your sunglasses from your nose and gingerly place them on the top of your head so that you can get a better look at him. "Need something?" 

"Could you grab me a Coke from the cooler, please?" He asks, yanking his towel from the edge of his own chair and wrapping it around his shoulders. 

"Yeah, sure." You nod, sliding a bookmark into the spine of your book and placing it beside you on the chair before reaching into the cooler next to you for an unopened can. The chilled perspiration dripping down the aluminum can causes a chill to travel up your spine as soon as your fingertips make contact with it. You reach forward to place it into Harry's hand, your fingers brushing against his for a brief moment.

He mutters a quick 'thanks' before cracking it open and lifting it to his lips. As he does this, you're given an opportunity to allow your gaze to fall down the rest of his body. His tanned skin glistens delicately in the sunlight, each droplet of water illuminated like tiny specks of glitter all along his chest and arms. The dark ink that litters his skin has somehow become a shade darker as well, each detail becoming more apparent to your eye the longer you study the expanse of his chest and shoulders.

"Enjoying the view?" Harry hums, very obviously amused by your mindless ogling. 

You clear your throat, feigning innocence as you internally burst into flames of embarrassment. "I don't know what you're talking about." (Luckily, Deidre is still snoring peacefully beside you, completely oblivious to the flirtatious comments being thrown back and forth between you and Harry.)

He chuckles, sipping his drink one last time before placing it on the ground by his chair. "Are you sure you don't want to come join me for a bit?" He motions back to the pool as he drops the towel back on the chair. 

"I think I'm alright staying here," You hum, tilting your head to the side as you gaze up at him. "I'm quite enjoying my book." You sigh, picking your book back up and waving it in the air to show him. 

He sighs in disappointment, shaking his head. "That's a shame. The water feels fantastic." 

You watch him turn back towards the pool, admiring the way the muscles in his back flex with his every move. He crouches down at the edge of the water, placing one hand on the cement as he slings himself into the pool, water splashing all around him. He swivels around in the water so that he's facing you again, his eyes trained on yours with a mischievous look on his face. You squint in suspicion, tilting your head to the side. "What are you doing?"

"Nothin'." He shrugs, a smile twitching at the corners of his lips. He continues to wade out a little further and you roll your eyes at him, turning your attention away from him and back to your book. 

There are a few moments of silence in the air as you're pulled back into the imagery of the book, paying no mind to whatever mischief Harry is up to in the pool. But then, before you have even a second to process what's happening, cold water splashes up onto your legs, your heart nearly leaping out of your chest as the book slips out of your grasp. 

"Harry!" You screech, sitting up on your chair to scold him. He's standing in the water at the edge of the pool with an evil smile spread across his face, his hands scooping up the water and splashing it up in your direction. The mixture of your screeching and the cold water reaching her side of the pavement, causes Deidre to wake from her slumber, scrambling up into a sitting position. 

"Harry, what the fuck!?" She screams from beside you, grabbing her sandal from the ground and hurling it in his direction. He cackles dramatically as he dodges the shoe by swiftly slipping beneath the surface of the water. The shoe falls into the water behind him with a loud 'PLUNK' and then resurfaces, floating aimlessly.

He rises back to the surface within a few seconds, chuckling as he pushes the sopping wet hair out of his face. "Sorry, did I get ya?"

Deidre scoffs, angrily wiping the water droplets from her legs with her towel. "I was having such a good nap and you ruined it." 

"Oh, come on," He rolls his eyes, dragging out the 'n' with a teasing lilt. "I was just playin' around. It's gettin' kinda boring being in here all alone."

She lies back against the chair exactly like she had been before, draping her arm over her eyes once again. "Suck it up." 

Harry wades back to the side of the pool, folding his arms against the warm cement and leaning his chin against them with a pout on his lips. "Pretty please?" 

Before either you or Deidre even has a moment to respond, Deidre's phone begins to sing loudly with the sound of her ringtone. She pats her hand around the chair for her phone for a few moments, not bothering to lift her arm from her eyes to look for it. She finally grasps it, sliding her thumb across the bottom of the screen and lifting it to her ear. 

"Hello?... oh, hey, what's up?" She speaks to the person on the other end, finally lifting her arm from her eyes so that she can sit up on the chair. "Yeah, I'd love to! I can be there in, like-" she pauses to glance at the time on her phone. "10 minutes?" Another pause. "Okay, sounds good, see you there!" She lifts the phone from her ear, tapping the screen once to end the call before quickly standing up from the chair. 

"Who was that?" You ask, tilting your head at her in curiosity, though you sense that you already know the answer. 

"That was Jeff and the rest of the gang. They invited me to mini golf with them," Deidre replies, folding her towel over her arm and picking her sandal up from the ground. "You can come along, if you want."

Immediately, you feel your mood begin to plummet as you watch her get ready to leave, barely even giving you a second glance as she retrieves her sandal from the water. You know she's not doing it on purpose, but it's hard not to feel hurt by her inability to spend even so much as a day with you. 

"That's okay," You respond, trying to mask the shakiness of your voice with a cheerful lilt. "Have fun, though." 

"Okay, well, I'll see you guys later!" She smiles, waving back to both of you as she turns on her heel and bounds up the porch stairs.

After the sound of the back door swinging shut fills your ears, you glance over in Harry's direction to find that he's watching you intently. His playful expression from just a few moments ago is exchanged with a concerned frown. You sigh, picking your book back up in hopes of finding a distraction from the sinking feeling deep in your stomach, but Harry has other plans. 

A fleeting, silent moment passes before Harry decides to speak.

"Hey," 

The sound of his voice pulls your attention away from the book in your hands, forcing you to move it from in front of your face so that you can look at him. "Hi," you make eye contact with him, finding that he's still in the same position from before, arms folded on the pavement as his chin rests against them. 

"You alright?" He questions, tilting his head to the side as he watches you. 

You shake your head a little, glancing down at the book in your lap. "It's fine. I don't really know what I was expecting, she's been doing this for the past week and a half. I shouldn't even be surprised at this point."

He's silent for a moment, gazing at you thoughtfully as he thinks of what he's going to say in response. "You really should join me in here. It'll help you get your mind off things." 

You hesitate, rubbing the back of your neck with the palm of your hand as you mull over his proposition. It'd be nice to have a distraction from the nagging feeling of betrayal deep within your chest, and you know Harry will do anything in his power to make sure you feel better. After a silent debate with yourself on whether or not you really want to join him, you push yourself up from the chair, muttering a quiet affirmation before slowly padding over to the edge of the pool.

You crouch down, moving to sit on the warm pavement as your legs hang over the edge and dip into the cool, clear water. Harry pushes himself off from the wall, spinning himself around 360 degrees. 

"Come onnnn," He sings, wading closer to you. "Come swim with me."

You scrunch your nose, kicking your legs in the water and staring down at the way the water splashes up into the air. "Gimme a minute to get used to the water, jeez." You scoff, kicking a bit of water in his direction. 

He rolls his eyes, wading closer to you so that you can feel his warm breath against your knees and the current his kicking feet create beneath you. "That's an excuse if I've ever heard one,"  his fingers curl around your right ankle, giving you another mischievous smile identical to the one he gave you earlier. 

"What are you doing?" You squint your eyes at him, cautiously tugging your leg against his grip. 

"M'helpin' you get in," he hums nonchalantly. "Seems like you need a bit of coaxing."

A small smile breaks across your face and you roll your eyes, placing your hands on the pavement behind you and leaning back against them. "I'm quite comfortable right here, actually." 

"Alright, then you leave me no other choice..." Before you can even process what he's saying, he's grabbing your other ankle and yanking you into the water in one quick movement. The water splashes around you, engulfing you beneath the surface and immediately soaking into your bathing suit.

You resurface, sputtering and choking on the water as you rub the chlorine from your burning eyes. "I hate you so much right now," You huff, dropping your hands and squinting up at him. He's wearing an mischievous smile, fully content with his successful attempt of getting you into the pool.

"It's really not that bad," he rolls his eyes, wading further away from you. "You'll get used to it." 

You glare at him, shoving your hands forward beneath the water to splash him directly in the face, but he merely laughs and swiftly wipes the droplets from his eyes like it's nothing. You watch as he slinks towards the very edge of the pool several feet away from you, turning back to face you before grabbing a small, foam ball floating on the surface. He tosses it in your direction, watching it land directly in front of you, splashing the water gently. 

"C'mon, toss it back to me,"

You take the ball into your hand, squinting up at him. "Is this your idea of fun?"

He shrugs. "Got any other ideas?"

At that, you roll your eyes and reluctantly hurl the ball back into his direction. He catches it swiftly with both hands, tossing it up into the air a few times as he contemplates his next move. 

“Oh, my god,” you groan, rolling your head back onto your shoulders in dramatic exaggeration. “I’m not doing this.” You turn to wade towards the side of the pool.

“No, wait!” He calls, immediately running (more like bobbing) through the water towards you as fast as he can. 

You ignore his call and start to climb the side of the pool, but he catches you before you can fully climb out, curling an arm around your waist and tugging you back against him. 

“Please,” he mutters, pressing a tender kiss to the side of your neck. “I know you’re upset, but I just wanna help you get your mind off things.” 

You sigh, reluctantly dropping your hands from the edge of the pavement. You’re silent for a moment as he rests his chin against your shoulder, small puffs of air hitting your damp skin.

“I really thought she was going to try to spend time with me today,” you whisper, turning in his arms to face him. “She didn’t tell me she wouldn’t do it again, though, so I guess I’m the only one to blame.”

He frowns at that, shaking his head. “Don’t blame y’self for any of this. You had expectations for this trip and she completely obliterated them.” 

Jutting your bottom lip into a pout, you avoid making eye contact with him. You know he’s right. She promised you she’d spend the trip with you, just you, but she’s almost done everything in her power to do the opposite. 

Harry leans forward, pecking your pouted lips gently. He starts to pull away, but you want more so you lock your arms around his neck and he takes that as an invitation to continue, pecking your lips in quick intervals. Even though you’d only just begun to show affection towards each other in this short period of time, it feels like you’ve been together for years. Everything is just so easy with him. It helps that you grew up with each other, but your interactions were so scarce over the years that you didn’t even feel like you really knew him until this trip. 

As you’re opening your mouth ever so slightly for him to stroke his tongue over your bottom lip, the feeling of his fingers creeping along your waist has you chuckling nervously. “What’re you doing?” 

“Nothin’...” He hums, hooded eyes gazing into yours as he traces his fingertips up against your sides. He leans in for another kiss with a lazy smirk on his lips and you hesitantly grant him one, wary of his wandering hands. 

Suddenly, his hands aren’t so gentle anymore and the seemingly harmless pressure of his fingers has turned into almost painful tickling. You throw your head back against your shoulders with a cackle, pressing your palms into his chest in an attempt to push him away but he doesn’t budge. The vicious assault of his fingers draws giggle after giggle from your lips with the occasionally squeal of frustration as you squirm in his unyielding hold. 

“I. Hate. You.” You grunt between each word, smacking your hands against his biceps, chest, and shoulders playfully. 

Finally, you’re able to tear away from him, nearly diving into the water to get away from him, but he’s faster than you and within moments he has a large, tattooed arm curled around your waist once again. You scream out in frustration, kicking your legs in the water and causing it to splash out in front of you nearly six feet into the air. 

“You can’t escape that easy,” he chuckles into your ear, continuing his assault on your poor midsection as you whimper and struggle limply. 

Suddenly,  a loud rumble of thunder pulls your attention from Harry’s abuse and up to the sky. You've been so distracted by Harry’s stabbing fingers that you hadn't seen the dark cumulonimbus' gathering directly above you in the sky, uttering low groans of warning to anyone near. It begins as small, harmless droplets, but quickly blossoms into a violent downpour, pounding into the surface of the water. 

“Fuck!” You screech as you scramble to get out of the pool. Harry is taking his time, though, laughing at the way you’re panicking. “Do you want to get struck by lightning?!” You yell to him, yanking your towel and book from the chair you were lying in before. 

He laughs at you, climbing out of the pool and standing by the edge briefly so that he can wipe the moisture from his eyes. The sight of him standing there in nothing but a tight, wet pair of swimming trunks, nearly causes your mouth to water. If it weren’t for the raging thunderstorm pelting you and everything around it, you’d take a few moments just to soak in the view, but you have no time for that. 

You bound up the stairs leading to the back porch, holding your book and towel close to your chest to keep them from getting any wetter than they already are. Harry soon follows with his own belongings, giggling playfully like a little boy as the screen door slams behind him. 

“Shit- that came out of nowhere!” He chokes, pushing his hand through the sopping curls sprouting from his head and framing his beautiful face. 

You shake your head at him with a small chuckle as you toss your towel to the side and yank the sliding door open so that you can step inside. Harry tosses his own towel over a porch chair before he follows you inside, sliding the door closed behind him. The contrast of the roaring sound of the storm outside compared to the silence inside the house is almost deafening. Both of you are wet and shivering on the carpeted floor, looking shamelessly like a pair of greasy rats. 

Both of you shower (separately) and change into more comfortable, dry attire, soon finding yourselves in the kitchen scavenging for something to eat. 

“Y’know what I’m really craving right now?” Harry asks, standing in front of the open refrigerator. 

“What?” You reply, popping a grape into your mouth as you lean back against the counter.

“Chocolate chip cookies.”

You pause for a moment, contemplating the prospect of freshly baked cookies melting in your mouth. “Now that you mention it, I'm really craving some as well."

"I think it's something in the water." He hums sarcastically, scrunching his nose to emphasize the sarcasm.

“Perhaps,” you hum in response, a smile itching to spread across your lips.

"Alright then, let's do it!" Harry says, pushing himself away from the counter. "Let's make chocolate chip cookies."

"Yeah?" 

"Yeah! Come on, we've got nowhere else to be. This will give us something to pass the time!" 

Soon, you find yourself hip to hip with Harry at the kitchen counter, a large spread of every required ingredient to make chocolate chip cookies laid out in front of you. You'd found a few old aprons in the back of the pantry and of course you'd both thrown them on to make the experience as authentic as possible. 

Harry's apron of choice is a bright yellow number with tacky, purple frills lining the edges and the words "Grandma's Kitchen" stitched across the breast in that same purple color-all you can do is giggle at the sight of him. Yours, however, is nearly the opposite of his; a plain white piece with a pattern of small, black flowers.

Harry frowns at you when you begin to laugh at the sight of him in the apron. "What?? You don't like it?" He huffs, placing his hands on his hips.

"No, no-" you snort, attempting to hold in the cackle itching to escape your throat. "It's great, I love it. Really suits you."

He smiles to himself, turning to the counter. "Thank you, I think it's quite tasteful as well." 

You notice that he's pulled his hair up into a bun, so you're able to admire his face in the close proximity. He really is handsome, you think. His eyes are shockingly vibrant - piercing yet kind all at the same time. When he smiles, the very edges of his eyes crinkle as if they're smiling with him and it's getting harder for you to keep yourself from getting lost in them. You'd always found him attractive like that, but within the past week and a half you've gained a different, more meaningful attraction to him. He isn't just your childhood crush anymore - he's Harry. Harry, the boy who remembers how you take your coffee; Harry, the boy who takes you out to coffee and bookstores and proceeds to buy you nearly half the store without you even knowing; Harry, the boy that would rather spend his entire vacation with you when he could easily spend it partying with a new girl every night. 

You shake your head at him with a small chuckle, turning back to the counter before looking down at the recipe shown on your phone screen. "So..." you begin, scanning over the first few steps on your screen. "First, we need to combine all the dry ingredients into one bowl and then combine all the wet ingredients in another bowl."

"Alright," Harry hums through a nod, selecting all the dry ingredients from the layout in front of you and collecting them into his corner. "I'll mix the dry ingredients."

You acknowledge him with a quiet murmur before you continue to scan the list of instructions. As you do so, your vision begins to blur slightly. You ignore it at first, hoping it goes away, but when it doesn't, you're forced to blink a few times in an attempt to clear it. Your attempts are in vain, however, because your vision does not improve. Nevertheless, you choose to ignore it in hopes that it will go away on its own. 

As you begin to crack eggs; scoop perfectly measured cups of sugar; and combine softened butter all together into a bowl, a slight wave of light-headedness overwhelms you. It's unexpected, so you place the bowl on the counter, sliding it away from you slightly so that you can grip the edge of the counter to stabilize yourself. 

Harry seems to notice the shift in your behavior, nudging your arm gently with his elbow to grab your attention. "Is everything alright? Y'look a bit flustered," 

Before you're able to respond, your heart rate suddenly and noticeably begins to increase as well, causing your breathing to become more labored and frantic. You shake your head, gripping the edge of the counter until your knuckles are white, head hung on your shoulders as you attempt to catch your breath. "I think I'm- I think I'm having a panic attack," 

You sense him moving closer to you, a warm palm pressed against your back in a soothing manner. "Can I- What can I do to help?" 

"I just- I need to sit down," You mutter between breaths, turning slightly to slide down the cabinets and onto the floor with your hand still firmly placed against your chest. A slight numbness begins to form around your nose and your hands begin to shake uncontrollably as you crumple onto the kitchen floor. 

Harry follows quickly, moving to sit directly in front of you and gently taking both your hands into his own. "Can you try to breathe a bit slower for me?" He mutters, rubbing his thumbs against your knuckles soothingly. "Maybe in through your nose and out through your mouth?" 

You nod to him, taking deep breaths in through your nose and then breathing out through your mouth just like he'd instructed. The feeling of his thumbs rubbing against your skin so gently helps to ground you in the moment, although the feeling of panic and anxiety still rages through your veins. Just his presence alone gives you a level of comfort, but it isn't enough to obliterate the numbness in your face and the hot tears gliding effortlessly down your cheeks. 

You don't know how much time passes, but eventually your breathing has gone back to normal and you're left exhausted and still shaking. 

"Are you feeling better?" He hums, gently pressing his lips to your knuckles as he gazes up at you with the same concerned expression he'd been sporting as soon as your episode began. 

"Yeah- Yes," You stutter in response, leaning your head back against the wooden cabinets. "Fuck, I don't even know where that came from, I'm sorry." 

"No, please, don't apologize. Just wanna make sure you're alright,"

You give him a weak smile. "I'm pretty exhausted, but I'll be okay after lying down for a bit or taking a nap." 

"Yeah? Need me to help you up or do you want to sit here for a while longer?" He asks, tilting his head to the side as he smiles back at you.

"Do you think you could get me some water, please?" 

"Of course," He nods, immediately standing up in front of you to grab a fresh glass from one of the upper cabinets and fill it with water before kneeling back down to place it into your trembling hands. "There you are, babe."

You smile up at him. "Thank you." 

He smiles back as if to say "you're welcome" as he gently rubs his knuckles against your arm to give you some form of comfort.

It takes nearly 10 minutes for you to gather your bearings on reality again, but having Harry there helps so much more than if you were experiencing this alone. He watches you intently the entire time, hyper aware of every breath you take like he's afraid you'll fall apart in front of his eyes, and all you want to do is reach up and smooth out the deep creases between his eyebrows. 

"Could you help me up now?" You croak, squeezing his hand gently. 

"Yeah- yes, of course." He scrambles to securely wrap an arm around your waist, his other hand still clutching one of yours as he lifts you from the kitchen floor. Once you're fully stabilized on both of your feet, you look at Harry, hands resting on his shoulders as he cups his hands around both your elbows, searching your face frantically for any sign of distress. "You alright?"

You nod, giving him a weak smile and sliding your arms up around his neck to pull him in for a hug. His arms immediately fall to wrap around your waist, pressing your body into his in a warm, comforting embrace. 

"Sorry I couldn't finish making the cookies with you," You mutter into his ear, pressing your face into his neck. 

"S'alright, I can manage on my own." He replies, rubbing his hand up and down the length of your back. He can feel the erratic thudding of your heart against his chest, your slow, shaky breaths fanning directly over his ear simultaneously. His heart aches. 

After you take yourself back to your bedroom to rest, Harry finishes the cookies by himself. Due to his previous baking experience, the task is a breeze, but during the time he spends mixing and preparing the cookies, all he can think about is how angry he is with Deidre. He'd seen her, time and time again, take advantage of your kindness without a single thought as to how it might make you feel. She's selfish, and you're far too good for her. Deidre doesn't deserve to call you her best friend.

Just as he begins to pull the steaming, golden cookies from the oven, the sound of the front door swinging open from behind him catches his ear. Deidre stumbles in from the pouring rain, fumbling around as she removes her sandals and tosses her tote bag to the floor next to them. 

He pokes his head into the living room to look at her. She's almost completely soaked-- her long, dark hair is sopping wet, clumping together in thick strands, and her thin cover-dress is soaked completely through, sticking to her figure like a glove. He hadn't even noticed it's been raining this entire time. 

"Hey! Mini golfing got cut short 'cause of the rain." She smiles, pushing her hair out of her face as she looks at him. 

He responds with a low grunt, stepping back into the kitchen without a single word. Her peppiness annoys him. 

"Did you bake something?" She continues, sauntering into the kitchen. "Smells fantastic!"

"Chocolate chip cookies," he replies bluntly as he wipes the counter down with a damp towel.

"Can I have one?" 

"Sure, do whatever you want." He snaps, tossing the towel into the sink in frustration. 

She frowns at him, her shoulders dropping a little at the sight of the slight scowl on his face and the sudden outburst he'd just had. "What's your deal?" 

He turns to her. "What's MY deal? My fucking 'deal' is that you were meant to come here to spend time with your best friend and the longest you've spent in the same vicinity with her is when you're sleeping! She came here expecting to find a distraction from the shitty time she's been having at school and you've made it worse for her!" 

Deidre stands in shock, the hand that had been reaching for a cookie now fallen limp at her side. 

"She's in bed resting right now because she had a panic attack on the kitchen floor not even an hour ago-"

"That's not my fucking fault!" She interrupts him, throwing her arms out expressively. 

"Maybe not, but you're not doing anything to help her! You knew she was having a hard time at school and invited her here as a distraction, yet you left her to spend two weeks all by herself! If I hadn't have come along, she'd have been left on her own or forced to join you on your little escapades without a single choice." He huffs, yanking the strings of his apron to untie them from each other before pulling it over his head and hurling it to the ground. 

“You know, I asked her every time I went out if she wanted to come with me,” Deidre grumbles, shaking her head, “but she turned me down every single time.”

“Yeah, y’know why she turned you down?” Harry immediately retorts with a growl. “Because she didn’t want to spend time with a couple of random blokes that you know far better than she does!”

She snaps her mouth shut, a deep scowl etched across her brow as she stands in front of him. 

"You have no regard for anyone else besides yourself and I am not going to let you ruin this trip for her. So, PLEASE, keep doing exactly what you're doing because I'm positive she's had more time with me than the two of you ever had together!" With that, Harry storms out of the room and into his bedroom, shutting the door behind him and leaving Deidre standing speechless in the kitchen.

Unbeknownst to Harry and Deidre, the quarrel wakes you from your slumber in the other room, causing you to become a bit curious and move closer to the door so that you can listen to the lava spewing from both sides. The fight isn’t long, but you hear nearly every word. The way Harry so passionately defends you in the situation, which had initially caused you to feel so unbelievably helpless, gives you a sense of comfort. You know he cares about you, but there’s something so endearing about actually hearing him defend you with so much fervor. 

The slamming of Harry’s bedroom door echoes down the hallway, indicating the end of their conversation. You step away from your own door, the backs of your knees hitting the edge of the mattress as you sit. You can hear Deidre walking down the hallway, so to make it seem like you weren’t eavesdropping on their entire conversation, you return to where you were on the bed previously and pretend like you’re asleep.

“Harry?” Your knuckles rap against the wood of his bedroom door gently, careful not to wake Deidre in the other room by knocking too loudly. There’s a brief pause and a shuffling of bed sheets from behind the door before it cracks open, revealing Harry in his sleepy, disheveled state. 

“Hi,” He croaks, licking his lips and crossing his arms over his hoodie-clad chest. “Is everything alright?”

You sigh, scratching the back of your head nervously. “Yeah, um- sorry, everything’s fine, I’m just- I’m having some trouble sleeping and- this is stupid, but… could I stay in here with you?” It takes a moment for him to process your words, but once he does he’s nodding and stepping aside to beckon you into his room. “I’m really sorry, I know you were probably sleeping-”

“S’alright, babe, don’t worry about it,” he shakes his head. “Why don’t you go and get comfortable on the bed while I grab us some tea?”

You nod, giving him a small, tired smile as he steps out of the room, leaving the door cracked slightly. You make your way over to his bed, the duvet pulled back along with the sheets, indicating where he’d been lying on the bed moments ago. Your knees land on the soft fabric as you crawl further into the queen sized bed, finding your place on the other side where the duvet is untouched. A warm mixture of chamomile, jasmine, and a hint of cedar wood engulfs you when you lay your head on his pillow. The smell is intoxicating, one whiff could send you into a peaceful, drunken slumber. But, instead of actually falling asleep, you lie there for a few moments, listening to the gentle sounds of the ceiling fan spinning above your head as it lulls you into a quiet reverie. 

Soon, Harry is entering the room again, breaking you from your thoughts as you look to find him stepping through the door with two white, porcelain mugs filled to the brim with steaming tea. 

“I hope you’re alright with green tea ‘cause that’s all we have,” He murmurs, moving very slowly towards the bed.

“Green tea is perfect, thank you.” You smile, making sure not to burn yourself or spill any of the precious beverage as he crawls onto the bed beside you and places one of the mugs into your welcoming hands. Once the tea is secured, you adjust yourself so that you're sitting against the headboard, body tilted slightly in Harry's direction.

“So,” He starts, blowing on his own tea in an attempt to cool it down faster. “Is there a specific reason why you aren’t able to sleep?”

You take a deep breath, crossing your legs comfortably. “I'm, um, having a bit of anxiety and sleeping with Deidre just isn't helping since she's always making some sort of noise."

“Anxiety?” He frowns, moving his lips away from his tea so that he can be fully attentive to what you're saying. “Are you alright? Do you need me to help with anything?"

“I guess I'm still a bit on edge from earlier, so there isn't much you can do besides just keep me distracted,” you reply, forcing a small smile. "And the tea helps a lot as well."

"I can definitely do that." He smiles, leaning in to peck your lips gingerly. Of course, you welcome the kisses happily, pulling him in for a few more after he pulls away from the first one. He chuckles into your lips, deepening the kiss by tilting his head every so slightly to the side. Your free hand rests against his chest, so you can feel the gentle vibration of his chortle through the fabric of his hoodie and it makes you smile.

“Oh, also-” you continue after you've parted from his lips. “I never properly thanked you for the books you bought for me. I really do not deserve all that, but thank you, really. They will definitely be of good use.”

He smiles and shakes his head, “S’no problem. You seemed so enthralled by each of them and I thought it’d be a shame for you not to go home with at least a few.” 

You smile to yourself, glancing down at your tea. "You really didn't need to do that, but, again, thank you." You reach up to gently cup the side of his face, leaning a little bit closer so that you can capture his lips between yours once again. This time, the kisses aren't as innocent. Your fingers find their way to the nape of his neck, drawing him closer to you as his tongue slowly slides against your bottom lip. If it weren't for the steaming mugs of tea in both yours and Harry's hands, it would be so much easier for either of you to take more control of the situation and move into something more than just kissing. You can sense that he wants to do something, and admittedly you do too, but you pull away before anything can happen.

"That isn't the only reason why I came here tonight, though," you speak again as your lips part from his.

He frowns slightly, tilting his head to the side as if to ask: "what's the other reason?"

"I overheard your conversation with Deidre earlier." 

His eyes widen. "Oh, fuck- listen, I'm sorry I got kind of carried away. It just made me so angry to see her continuously treat you like that and I- I didn't mean to, like, speak for you-"

"No, Harry, it's okay," You interrupt him before he can continue rambling. "I appreciated it. I probably wouldn't have been able to do it myself, so thank you."

“I really didn't want to make it seem like you can't stand up for yourself, but I know it's just been affecting you so much lately and she needed to be put in her place, even if it made her angry."

"Thank you, really. Usually, Deidre would've been the person to stand up for me for something like that, but lately we just haven't felt as close. Even before this trip. Kinda started to think she just invited me here out of pity... And I honestly wouldn't blame her if she did. " You shrug, staring down into the tea to avoid direct eye contact. 

Harry shakes his head. “Don’t think like that-- I’m sure she really did want you to come, but just got distracted by other things. She tends to do that sometimes.”

You shrug wordlessly, keeping your eyes trained to the gently swirling liquid in your cup. 

When you look back up at him, you realize how cozy and warm he looks just sitting there in his hoodie and sweatpants, mug of steaming tea sitting at his pink lips. Your tank-top and shorts aren’t doing much to help with the chilled draft wafting throughout the house, so seeing him like that makes you want to crawl into his arms in search of warmth. 

He notices the way you’re shivering and moves to set his mug on the bedside table. “Are you cold?”

You smile sheepishly. “Yeah, a little. The anxiety gives me cold flashes.” He quickly tugs his hoodie over his head as soon as the words leave your lips, carefully taking the mug of tea from your hands and placing it on the bedside table before holding the hoodie open for you to slide your arms in easily. Your heart nearly melts at the sentiment, sliding your arms into the sleeves and pulling the piece of clothing over your head. It’s warm, soft and smells just like him, and it immediately gives you a sense of comfort. “Thanks.” You smile.

“S’no problem,” he replies, reaching over for your mug to offer it back to you. You carefully take it from his hands, thanking him before taking another tentative sip. The liquid is still a bit hot, but it has cooled down just enough for you to sip at your own leisure. 

“You’re way too sweet to me, Harry,” you sigh, tugging the sleeves of his hoodie over your fingers.

“Y’know, I don’t think I am,” he shakes his head, moving closer to you on the creaky mattress. “Think I should be sweeter, show you how much you deserve it.”

You scoff quietly, looking away from him to hide your flustered expression. “Oh, shut up.” 

He falls silent, the only sound that can be heard being the shuffling of the sheets and creaking of the mattress as he moves closer to you again. And then you feel it: his lips pressed to your shoulder through the thick material of his hoodie. It’s soft but it’s there and as soon as you turn your head to look at him, he pulls away, staring directly into your eyes with an almost unreadable expression.

“You deserve so much more than what you think you deserve. I wish I could show you that.”

You maintain eye contact with him, breath caught in your throat. You’re rendered speechless at the depth of his words, forced to take slow, deep breaths to calm the pounding of your heart as he inches closer. You open your mouth to respond, but you’re unable to speak a single word other than the faint murmur of his name. 

His hand finds both of yours as they clutch the warm mug of tea, (tighter than you’d initially intended due to the tension clouding your brain) carefully prying it from your fingers before placing it on the bedside table. You angle your body towards him, taking his face in your hands before moving forward to plant your lips against his. He immediately returns the kiss in a slightly more fervent manner, pushing you to fall back against the pillows as he cages you in with his arms. 

Despite the unexpected escalation of what began as an innocent conversation, Harry begins kissing you slowly, his tongue laving over your bottom lip and into your mouth. You allow his body to move between your legs as he kisses you, your hands holding desperately onto the nape of his neck and curve of his jaw.

“Wanna show you,” He mutters between hot, wet kisses. “Can I do that?” His face hovers over yours for a moment, waiting for you to say something. 

“Yeah- yes, please.” You breathe, reaching up to place your hand on the back of his neck and pull his lips back into yours. 

Immediately, Harry’s fingers curl into the waistband of your shorts, helping you tug them down your bare legs and toss them to the side before he lets his hands glide down your legs from your thighs to your calves, reveling in the softness of your skin. He pulls his lips away from yours, staring down into your eyes as his hand falls between your legs, fingers slowly finding your clit over your warm, damp panties. 

You hadn’t planned any of this so, of course, so your panties are nothing special, but when Harry lets his head fall down to look at where his fingers meet your sex, a shaky sigh leaves his pink lips. It sounds as if he’s in pain just from the sight of you and he hasn’t even taken your panties off yet. 

His lips fall to your neck, pressing hot, wet kisses along each side before trailing down the front of your hoodie clad chest. Once he reaches your lower region, his arms hook beneath your legs, slinging them over his shoulders as he moves to lie on his stomach between them. His hot breath washes over your clothed cunt, causing your legs to quiver around his shoulders at the sensitivity and you suck in a breath to hold back a gasp. 

He starts slowly as he peels the soft cotton of your panties from your skin, dragging them ever so slowly down your legs before nudging them aside on the bed. You’re finding it increasingly difficult not to squirm beneath his scorching gaze, but with his arms locked tight around your thighs, your movements are clearly limited. 

Harry begins to press gentle, open-mouthed kisses to the supple skin of your inner thighs, nipping lightly between each kiss. Much to your dismay, he pulls away, his knees still planted on the mattress between your legs as he scoops his luscious hair into his hands and pulls it back into a quick, messy bun. You lie there watching him, chest heaving with your labored breaths and he smirks. 

“Haven’t even started and you’re already out of breath,” he drops back down to hover over your body and you're left to cover your face with your hands in embarrassment, feeling the heat radiating from your skin to your palms. His long fingers circle your wrists, gently tugging your hands away from your face so that he can plant another firm kiss to your lips. "You sure you wanna keep going?"

He stares down at you with a cautious and gentle look in his eyes as he waits for you to respond. His need for consent is comforting and you can tell he really cares. "I'm positive. Please, keep going."

Content with your response, Harry smiles, pecking your lips one last time before crawling back down your body and slinging your legs back over his shoulders just like they were just moments ago. Since he'd removed your panties, there's no barrier between his lips and your glistening sex, his warm breath washing over your sensitive skin and causing your thighs to quiver ever so slightly. 

"Ready?" He asks quietly, virescent eyes meeting yours through thick, brown lashes. 

His purposeful prolonging has caused you to grow a little impatient, so you huff a frustrated "please," to him in hopes of speeding up the process. He chuckles a little, but finally brings his mouth to your hot skin, tongue peaking out from between his lips to slowly drag against your clit. A shaky breath escapes your lips at the initial contact, and then he presses forward, wrapping his pink, swollen lips around your sensitive button, sucking gently and it causes a much louder moan to tumble from your mouth. Your hand falls to his head, fingers pushing into the hair that was once pulled tight against his head by the messy bun. He lifts his head slightly at the sound of your moan, bringing a finger to his glistening lips as he gazes up at you, mischievous glint behind his eyes. 

"Sorry, sorry." You whisper breathlessly and he shakes his head, shoulders shaking with his slight laughter. 

His mouth finally returns to your lips, eyes trained to yours to ensure that you don't make any more loud noises before he delves back in, fully devoting himself to your pleasure. Your lip slips between your teeth in a feeble attempt to contain the breathless whimpers and moans itching to spill from your mouth and your hand continues to press into his hair. The pleasure you feel from just his lips and tongue is undeniably amazing. It's obvious the man doesn't shy away when it comes to foreplay and that only eggs on your aroused state. 

Languid strokes of Harry's tongue gradually turn into quick, firm flicks that cause your thighs to quiver with pleasure as you clamp your own hand over your mouth to muffle your involuntary noises. He hums against you purposefully so that the vibrations double the work of his tongue and lips into a delicious harmony of blissful ecstasy and your back arches from the sweat-damp sheets beneath you. Your skin is clammy and hot from the heat being emitted from your body, yet the uncomfortable, tacky feeling of it is the last thing on your mind. His mouth is a drug and you're an addict, beseeching for the next dose. 

Muffled moans and the sound of his swollen lips colliding with your dripping folds fills the small bedroom and it only makes Harry move faster, desperate to have your release glistening against his chin and upper lip as he gazes down at your heaving body. He wants you to fall apart; he craves to watch you find that burning release within the pit of your stomach and melt into the sheets from the pleasure of it. If only you knew how many times he dreamt of having you in this exact position, nearly sobbing from the work of his skilled mouth. 

"Thought about this so many times-" he pulls away, allowing his thumb to take the place of his lips and rub gentle circles against your throbbing clit. "Taste better than I could've ever imagined. Just wish I could really hear you." 

His drawled words and the lack of warmth directly against your cunt draws you to look down at him breathlessly, unable to muster a response to his confession. He chuckles at that, not expecting a response before he returns to the task at hand. By now, you're teetering over the edge, aimlessly grasping for a pillow to press over your face in an attempt to silence the growing sounds that emit from the back of your throat. Finally, you find yourself toppling over the notorious edge, the pillow that's pressed firmly against your face throughout the entirety of your orgasm doing its job in muffling your noises.

Harry watches you pulse and shiver helplessly for just a few moments before his hands are pulling the pillow from your face and tossing it above your head so that he can kiss you again. His lips and tongue taste of you as he explores the depths of your mouth and your heart continues to pound against your chest with your labored breaths. 

He pulls away from your face after a moment, smiling as he tilts his head to the side. "How was that?"

"That was-" a puff of air leaves your lips, "that was good."

"Just good?" He frowns, pecking his lips down the column of your neck. 

“I- fuck, Harry I don’t even know what to say, it was amazing.” You laugh breathlessly, tucking your fingers into his hair. 

“Amazing, hm?” He smirks. “Would you say it was five out of five stars?” 

A broken laugh leaves your lips again. “Yeah, I’d say it was five out of five.” Heat thunders across your face as you breathe another flustered giggle and he chuckles along with you, leaning forward to nuzzle his face into the crook of your neck. He presses a few soft, wet kisses to your skin and exhales, his warm breath causing goosebumps to bloom there. His ego has inflated quite a bit from your confession, but that doesn't hinder his desires to make you as comfortable and satisfied as possible.

“Do you need some water, or maybe a snack?” 

You push yourself up onto your arms, frowning at him. “What about you?” It’s almost unbelievable to you that after he worked so tirelessly to make you come, his first thought is to ask you if you need anything more, as if he hasn’t already done enough for you.

He rolls over onto his back beside you, staring up at you. “What about me?”

You briefly glance down his body, noticing the visible tent in his sweatpants. “Can I do something for you?”

“If you want to,” he shrugs, trying in vain not to show his agony. He’s obviously uncomfortable. “But I don’t want to make you feel like you have to do anything.”

You nearly roll your eyes at his unwavering chivalry, wordlessly lifting yourself up and slinging your leg over his hips to straddle him. “I want to.”

At that, Harry lifts himself up off of the bed and wraps an arm around your waist to press you into him, that small bit of friction alone causing a low whimper to slip past your lips. His mouth finds yours, fervently pulling kisses from your lips as he guides your hips against his own. You’ve imagined this scenario so many times, yet the feeling of your own fingers frantically coaxing you to release is nothing compared to the feeling of Harry’s warm body beneath you. 

Even through the fabric of his sweatpants, you can feel how thick he is and it only makes you want to move faster. His lips have attached themselves to the spot between your jaw and neck, skillfully biting and sucking at the skin as your hips gyrate against his. You can already feel the burning sensation growing between your legs due to how sensitive you are from your previous orgasm, and Harry seems to be reaching his own climax as well. He’s clawing at your hips and ass, desperate to have you as close to him as possible as low grunts fall from his lips.

It doesn’t take long for you to find your release, choking out Harry’s name as your fingers tug and yank at his now lopsided bun. He doesn’t seem to mind, though, continuously swiveling your hips against his as he chases his own impending orgasm.

“Shit!” He groans a little too loudly as he comes, but you’re quick to shush him, slapping your palm over his mouth while your hips work him through his climax. Your thighs are burning and beads of sweat break out along every inch of your skin, but the satisfaction of knowing you’re working him down to his very last drop is enough to keep you going until neither you, nor him can take it anymore. 

Once you finally fall limp against his body, he musters enough strength to roll you onto your back, pressing a few chaste kisses along your jawline. 

“Was it five out of five?” You breathe, keeping your eyes shut as you lean your head back against the pillow. 

“Hm?” He hums, pressing another kiss to your lips.

“Would you rate my skills five out of five?”

“Oh, definitely.” He chuckles breathlessly. 

feedback is always welcome and don’t forget to reblog!!

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[awlgolf-blog]

Oakley Flak 2.0 XL brings style along for the ride and takes performance to the next level. It comes with a standard size frame with enhanced lens coverage and patented XYZ optics for clarity.

[pinencurls]

Oh Honey

Hey! here’s the last of my draft one shots! Hope u enjoy and if u don’t remember I wrote this a g e s ago so you can’t blame me !

Italy, bike rides and a sun burnt Harry

3.6k 

These days, we wake in the early hours of the morning. It's hard not to stir when the sun rises so early and bright through the thin cotton drapes strung up over the bedroom window. Sometimes, we stay quiet. Exchanging a few murmurs of good morning wishes and lightly pressed kisses; silently decided to stay in each other's arms until the ungodly hours pass and breakfast is more tempting than bed.

I think it's Wednesday. I got pulled into the warped holiday time effect as soon as we arrived. I was free from jet lag at least, the flight from London to Italy only changing the clocks forwards about an hour. Harry had been less fortunate; the busy winding of work post-tour kept him out in Los Angeles a few more days than planned whilst Sarah, Mitch and I made our way to the holiday home we'd booked in Italy to celebrate a successful first tour. By the time Harry arrived in the white-walled villa tucked away comfortably in a small town - away from prying eyes, he was slow-moving and sleepy, although the afternoon was only just setting in. He'd eagerly drunk the coffees we offered and passed out around 5pm. Harry complained to me the next day that he was still exhausted, his brain and body were working nine hours behind after all-

"You shouldn't have slept on the plane, H." I mumbled, steadying the kettle over the large white mug as I poured hot water into Harry's second coffee of the morning. He'd been vocal about his dissatisfying sleep all of the two hours we'd been awake and my comment was seemingly unhelpful. He confirmed this by burying his face into my neck, head laying heavy on my shoulder, a low groan buzzing against my skin.

It took him a few days before he was fully himself again, but we've been here for a week now and everything's falling easily into long days by the pool and explorations into the cities either side of us. It feels oddly like a family holiday, I've known Sarah long enough; We grew up in the same town a few years apart, both moving away when we hit eighteen to pursue careers in similarly creative industries - music and journalism. We ended up at the same dinner parties and, for a few months before she moved to LA, we shared a shoebox flat in London.

She's the reason I met Harry; I stayed in her overheating LA apartment over the Easter break of 2017. We spent most days sprawled out on her sofa with all the windows thrown open, catching up on everything that'd happened since she moved away. She'd promised I could meet Mitch - a guitarist for the new band she'd started playing with whom she'd been dating for a few months. I'd heard bits and pieces about him as soon as they met, mostly about his brother-like closeness to the singer they played behind, and as promised, the Tuesday afternoon I opened her front door to Mitch, an equally long-haired-Hawaiian-shirt-clad boy followed.

Harry was goofier and unarguably louder, we paired up naturally in the group of four and it wasn't hard to get to know him, or to fall for the infamous charm I'd heard he was known for. To my pleasant surprise, it didn't feel odd when we joined in with Sarah and Mitch's couple-y activities - mini-golf, brunch, movie nights, I tagged along to a few studio sessions too before I had to go home. We promised to keep in touch but I was certain I'd probably never see him again, or at least not in the same way we'd spent the last week but, when he kissed me goodbye at the airport, I had a little hope.

"Hazzaaa!" Mitch calls loudly down the hall - no doubt on a temporary high from his new coffee addiction. There's no point responding, I can hear his footsteps storming towards our door before he swings it open and I can hide my face further into Harry's shoulder, who is unsurprisingly awake now.

"Go away Rodrick." I grumble, smiling at the rumble of laughter my nickname causes to ripple through Harry's chest.

"We've got bikes, Sarah's found a ride that's only a few miles - we're gonna get lunch." I could probably live here with Sarah and Mitch forever, there was only a few years difference between us but sometimes they felt like parents - or older siblings, cooing over me and Harry's relationship. I always felt part of something when we were all together, it wasn't so hard to imagine moving around each other in the same villa for the rest of our lives.

"Give us a sec Mitchy," Harry's waking up now, I roll over as he leans forward to sit, reaching out for the tea Mitch passes him. I hear mine clink down on my bedside table. "When're you leavin?"

"Thirty minutes?" Mitch replies, twisting his wrist to check the time on the ridiculously retro watch Harry had bought for his birthday. "S'already midday."

Harry hums, promising we'll be down in ten before Mitch accepts his mission of recruitment successful and leaves the room. I shift my head at the metal click confirming the door's shut behind him.

"M'gonna stay here," My face is resting in the crook of my arm, eyes closed as I try to cling to the last bit of sleep, "too tired."

The duvet shuffles slightly again with Harry's movements. He rests on his front now, his torso propped up as he leans his face down into my hair. I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to his smiley morning kisses or the smooth scratch when his curls fall over my own.

"It'll be fun," I turn beneath him, settling to listen to his groggy drawl, his accent is always thicker in the mornings, he strokes a wave of hair behind my ear to see my face. "We'll get a nice lunch - Sarah'n'Mitch'll fawn over some street cats, what more could you want?"

"Sleep..." I giggle, his classic pout having the opposite effect as intended. "I'll come next time, promise. Today I just wanna sleep a little more and maybe go for a swim."

He glances down at me for a moment longer, hesitant to accept my excuse before swooping down to press a kiss to my cheek with a hum of approval and bounding out of bed. He tugs a white t-shirt over his head, pulling it down his torso to reveal the smiling bee graphic - "Enjoy Health - Eat Your Honey." He tries to calm his slightly dishevelled curls in the mirror before he goes back to his long morning process of getting ready.

I could spend all day by the pool if nobody stopped me. It's small enough to fit cosily in the garden of the villa and still leave enough patio for lounging chairs and a small table. A row of citrus fruit trees line the fence at the edge of the garden, they offer a little shade over the far end of the pool in the afternoons when the sun reaches its peak. Every now and then a blossom will fall from the larger trees along the patio; the first day we were all together, Sarah, Mitch and I swam for hours until the evening breeze got too cool against our wet skin. Harry had been reading in a chair a few feet off from us and despite our noisy chatter, he'd fallen asleep, no doubt aided by his still slightly backwards body clock. I made my way over to wake him, the breeze must have been stronger than we thought because as I got closer I noticed tiny pink flowers nestled in his hair - they must have blown from the trees and landed on him as he slept. For hours after he trailed behind me inside through the patio doors, I was picking small blossoms from his curls, he was smiley and dopey from jet lag as he kept reaching his hands out to catch mine and pull me into his chest. I'd missed him for the last ten months when he'd been dazzling the world in flares and Gucci suits. I visited and travelled with him for a few show dates, of course, we'd even managed to spend Christmas and our one year anniversary together, but it was different spending so much time apart. Everything was still shiny and new to me when he left for his first solo tour - we'd only been together four months, most of which had been spent in his London house or weekends together in LA. The refreshing familiarity of being together again after so long hadn't quite rubbed off as we lay sprawled over the sofa, blossom abandoned for now.

"What're you thinking about?"

I look up at Harry, he's changed into a grandpa esque pair of brown drawstring cords I don't miss the little bow he's tied. He raises his eyebrows at me inquisitively when I don't answer, smirking slightly as my eyes wander up to his face.

"Nothing," I smile, pausing to yawn, "Just thinking about what 'm gonna do today."

"Sure you don't want to come with us?" He's collecting bits and pieces from around the room - his phone, wallet, sunglasses, but he peaks his head over his shoulder to look at me as he asks.

"Yeah, think I'm just gonna sit outside for a bit, I wanna catch up on a little bit of work."

His eyebrow quirks up slightly, the 'catching up on work' conversation is something we've had tirelessly throughout our fourteen months together. His work was obviously a little more...noticeable. When he was at work it was normally in a studio all day or sat in meetings, sometimes in a different city or country to me. I could work at home more at least; the articles and reviews I wrote almost always required me to spend a few days out of town to research the topic but once I had my notes, I could write from home. This sometimes lent itself to later nights sat up in my small study - work day blurring into the evening. Harry couldn't argue on it though, he did the exact same. His long hours out of the house didn't cancel out the long ones in, Jeff called any hour of the day with 'pressing matters' and even without external pressures, Harry was determined to get everything perfect, even if it meant tweaking new songs on his weekends off. Normally when he was overwhelmed by the workload of album deadlines and promo he was out in LA, where the pre-sleep chatter whilst we both got ready for bed wasn't an option.

"We're on holiday love, you can let some of it slide."

"It's not work-work, I just wanna write a little." I brush the topic away, it didn't need to abet the argument it'd triggered in the past. "Hurry up - Mitch'll run off without you at this rate."

"I wouldn't worry, don't think Mitch has run a day in his life." Harry chuckles, the goofy smile he wore the whole first day we met beaming back at me as he tucks his belongings in his pockets. He leans down to where I'm sat up over the duvet now, kissing me goodbye. "Be back in a bit, don't burn the house down."

"Promise not to - don't fall off your bike." I say as he pulls away. "Love you- now go, I can hear Mitch having a hissy fit from here."

He laughs. Everything's so easy here, it feels as if time has warped slightly and nothing's too hard anymore. The sun's almost at it's strongest now, defying the curtains and falling on Harry as he makes his way to the bedroom door, picking up his pace as Mitch yells up the stairs at him to 'Stop messin with your hair and come down already.'

"Love you!" Harry calls behind him. His heavy footsteps are followed by Sarah's laugh from downstairs and then the door clicks shut and everything's quiet again.

After an hour or so laying by the pool and a nap that might have lasted a little longer than planned, the sun beats a little heavy and I make my way inside. I've written a decent amount - I found myself recalling the last week here, dipping into more personal ground than I would usually. It's not that Harry and I's relationship is a secret anymore, after about eight months people caught on, but we were still private. He'd brush off interviewer questions about relationships and his 'status' and my social media profiles are free from the hundreds of cosy domestic Harry photos I might have posted if he was someone less in the public eye. It's hard sometimes, especially when I can't share a decent chunk of my photography and all the experiences I might have written about. My old film camera is sat on the kitchen counter now, no doubt filled with sweet moments that'll never see the light of day outside of the four people in them.

The fridge was pretty well stocked considering we'd spent a lot of evenings eating out. We'd taken an eventful shopping trip earlier in the week to the massive grocery store in the town thirty minutes down the road. We ended up buying too much fruit and bread and not much else. The trek home hadn't been considered as Harry and Sarah grew more and more excited over the fresh foods they were used to being shipped over and older than ideal, after it all, we ended up on a long single-tiered town bus, tote bags full and tucked safely on our laps. There one photo in particular of Mitchell standing at the bus stop, watermelon in his arms and a bemused expression on his face that I can't wait to see again once I get to the small camera store back home.

After scouring the shelves for a moment longer, I settle on a sandwich. I'm slicing crunchy lettuce on the old wooden board with swirly carvings around the edges when I hear the door open and familiar voices.

I smear a thin layer of mayonnaise over the contents of the bread before cutting two even triangles and wander out to the living room. Mitch and Harry are already lounging over two of the sofas when I get there, Sarah's nowhere to be seen but the sound of the shower running upstairs starts quietly through the house.

"Hey," I call, making my way over to the back of the black sofa Harry's laying over. "How was it?"

Harry peaks one eye open and reaches his hand up towards me-

"Good- what're you eating?" I steer my food away from his prying fingers as he swoops up to tear off a corner.

"Sandwich, didn't you just eat lunch?"

"Yeah but the portions were tiny," Harry whines slightly, reaching up in a second attempt, protesting when I love the bread away from him again. "I'm growing!"

Mitch laughs from the other side of the room. He swings his legs over the side of the sofa and stands up, rubbing his eyes slightly and trogs over to the stairway. "I'm gonna go shower."

"Good idea, you stink mate," Harry smirks cheekily, earning a glare from Mitch before he disappears up the stairs.

"How was it really, H?" I ask before taking another bite of my sandwich.

"S'good, we cycled for ages - it was actually really beautiful. You've gotta come with me sometime before we go home, although we need to find a different cafe- I paid €11 for the smallest burger I've ever seen."

"We'll bring a picnic or somethin'" I muse, thinking between chews. "I was thinking we could make something tonight 'stead of going out again, something summery maybe."

"Yeah?" Harry mumbles, rubbing his hand over his sun pink cheeks, "Like what?"

"Maybe pitas and some fruit- you bought enough kiwis to last us a lifetime." It's true, he'd claimed he had to in celebration of the tour coming to an end. "Here, d'you want the rest?"

Harry's eyes wander down to the remaining half of my sandwich I'm holding out to him, I try not to think too long about how I could watch his sleepy eyes light up for as long as he'd let me.

"I had something after you left earlier, I'm not that hungry." He looks up at me, unconvinced, but takes the plate anyway, quickly setting the plate on his lap and tucking in. Now that he's sat up in the light without the shadows of the dark cushions around him, I can see how pink is face really is. There's a blushing red along his cheeks and nose and the tips of his ears are bright pink. I brush my thumb over his ear softly, catching his attention as he winces slightly.

"Sorry- think you caught the sun a bit." He swallows the food in his mouth and nods up at me.

"Yeah, hurts a bit." I tilt his face slightly to see the other side - the pink continues down his neck and shoulders where it disappears under the tan lines of his t-shirt.

"Did you not put suncream on before you left?" His mouth full again, he just shakes his head. I smile slightly at how suddenly he's eased into his patient role, munching on his sandwich and peering up at me - ready for me to tend to his injuries. A soft grumble comes from Harry before I sigh - "I'll get the aloe vera."

I walk out into the cool tiled kitchen, opening the fridge again to retrieve the small pot of gel from the top shelf. It was one of the only sensible things we'd managed to buy during the kiwi shopping spree.

"And why didn't you have any suncream on?" I chastise him, giggly at his pouty expression. "It's right on the table, you know."

"You were in bed - I forgot." He eyes my movements as I tuck my leg undeath my body and sit opposite him on the sofa, twisting the cap off the small glass pot in my hands.

" M'I supposed to remind you of everything now, can't even remember suncream without me hey?" He shakes his head, curls tousled around his face. "Come here, stay still..."

I balance the pot in his hands and push his hair back and behind his ears, it'd gotten longer on tour and was threatening to grow into a curly lord farquaad territory. He keeps his head in place when I take back the pot and spread the cold gel over his nose, smiling slightly in surprise-

"S'cold." He watches as I scoop another load of aloe onto my fingertips and cover his cheeks.

"It's been in the fridge- how're your shoulders?" I ask once the gel is spread sufficiently over the pink tint that covered his face and the tips of his ears.

"Not so bad, it's just my face that hurts really."

I hum an okay, spinning the pot lid back on and placing it on the coffee table beside my lunch plate. Harry's hands lay limply in his lap, one reaching slowly to stroke the hem of my loose summer dress. I look up to see his slightly shiny face settling in a shy expression-

"I can be quite forgetful - might have to look after me forever you know." He smiles lovingly, looking up from where his finger and thumb play with the cotton of my dress, to meet my gaze.

"Oh forever, so you've got no plan to improve this bad habit then?" He laughs at my teasing and his smile broadens into a trademark Harry grin.

"Nah...S'okay though, I'll look after you too."

We all end up in the garden by eight pm, lying around the pool with platters of fruit and pittas full of salad and falafel. Harry has a stripe of suncream down his nose and he keeps trying to throw kiwi into Sarah's mouth, although it's ending up anywhere but. The pink in his cheeks has calmed down by now and he's stolen a blue scrunchie from my suitcase and tied a little bun on top of his head.

The hours tick by and the air starts to lose its humid warmth. Pair by pair we trickle back inside, Sarah and Mitchell retreating to their room first.

Harry's standing above me, barefooted in the grass and tipsy on wine. He holds out his hand to me and I take it, pulling myself up from the soft blanket we'd been laying on.

"Leave it," Harry says when I kneel down to fold it, "It's not gonna rain."

Before I can protest he's pulling me behind him and inside the sliding french doors. The tile floor's cold against the bottoms of my feet but the air inside is warm, Harry squeezes my hand in his and pulls me closer against his side, slinging his arm over my shoulders. He's soft and sleepy, and we make out way up the curling staircase clumsily in each other's arms.

I call goodnight to Mitch and Sarah before falling into my own bed. There's a second and then two familiarly inked arms curl around me and pull me into a warm chest. I'm a little drunk, sun-kissed and sleepy from the long conversations of the evening and it isn't long before my eyes are closing - the last noise I can hear is Harry's soft mumbling against my hair. I could definitely stay right here forever.

[ryanhamiltonwalsh]

I’d like to tell you a few things about my Grandad, Bernard Hamilton, who checked out of Hotel Earth at the age of 99 this past Thursday morning.

He was very funny. It was a deadpan brand of humor, never pandering for laughter. He’d just keep a straight face until you realized you’d just been told a joke. He taught me to play chess. He stopped playing with me once I started to beat him. He taught me how to hitchhike. He did this as a way of calling me and my sister’s bluff as children when we told him we were leaving his place (apparently we were dissatisfied with the level of care he was providing on a weekend we were left with him). He hid candy around the house. He’d be walking down a hallway, take a decorative cup off the wall, and pour a handful of M&M’s out of it. Approaching the dessert table at any holiday, he would always tell us that his strategy was to try everything all by taking a “sliver” of each. He famously claimed to be able to fix just about any broken object with rubber bands and glue. He and his first wife Janet didn’t give my mother Ramona a middle name so that she could shift her maiden name into the middle slot when she got married. It’s now my middle name, too.

His catchphrase was “wait awhile,” a never ending low-key call for patience from those around him. He owned a few Frank Sinatra bootleg concerts on CD that he “got from a guy on the golf course.” One time our family was on a walk with our German Shepherd, whose name was Christmas, and another dog approached and attacked him. It was chaos. I was so scared! Grandad whipped off his belt and got it around the other dog’s neck restoring order until the dog’s owner arrived. He was usually pretty modest, but he wouldn’t mind acknowledging how slick that move was at later family re-tellings of the tale.

During World War II, he was stationed on the USS Yorktown, flying a Corsair fighter bomber through missions and battles right up until the end of the war. In fact, during the Japanese Instrument of Surrender—which was the written agreement that formalized the surrender of the Empire of Japan, marking the end of the war—Bernard was one of three pilots circling above the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay to ensure safety. There were several close calls during his service in World War II; in the book Dogfight over Tokyo, the author explains that in one instance he, ”barely avoided death.” If Bern had not survived and made it back home, I literally would not be typing this. These are the kind of things that really make you think hard about history, and how your life is dependent on a long, long chain of other people beating the odds, surviving, and making a family. Unlike the time he used his belt as a dog leash, he was modest about his service in the war, telling author John Wukovitz, “I didn’t do anything special. It was my job.”

He was an excellent sport. How else would you a describe a war hero who later appeared in several of his grandson’s surrealistic film-school art movies without ever complaining about it? In one of these movies, I didn’t have a script for the scene. I just told him that his grandson—the world’s best mini-putter—was coming to him for advice, but for some reason, all he wanted to do was impart the importance of flossing to him. He improvised the whole scene; he was hilarious! An excerpt from his text message review of my book: “Just finished your book and found it very interesting and education. I didn’t know much about the drug scene and learned a lot!” I’m sure sometimes I must have seemed like a kid from another planet to him, and some of the stuff I made he vocally disapproved of, but I could always tell he was proud of me for being a unique individual and following my own path. He gave me his WWII pilot sunglasses awhile back, so I had them restored, and just last month visited him to show him the job. We both posed wearing them, hamming it up for the camera, as we sometimes do. 

He told me about a job interview he once had for an engineer position at a paper mill. The boss asked the standard set of questions and then, quite unexpectedly, inquired, “Do you like the circus, Bern?” Grandad thought it over for a second and replied, “Sure, I like the circus.” The guy proceeded to take Bern to the circus right then and there, where he was a well-known super-fan, introducing Bernard to everyone backstage. “I met the bearded lady, the lion tamer, the acrobats,” Grandad explained. He did not take the job.

Bern lived through the Great Depression, World War II, JFK assassination, the 60's, Vietnam, Watergate, Iraq war, birth of the internet, Y2K, 9/11, invention of iPhones, housing collapse, the Covid pandemic, Trump, etc. but when my sister asked him a few weeks ago when the craziest time to go through was, he said right now. Right now was the craziest.

I was in my 2nd year of college when my Grandma Barbara died—my dad’s mom. As we all walked away from the gravesite, I was very distraught, crying and sobbing as I made my way down the hill alone. Suddenly, Grandad’s arm was around me, consoling me. He told me something that day that I’ve never forgotten. “This is all life is,” he said, “You grow up, you fall in love, you laugh with your friends, and then eventually, it ends for everyone. It’s ok, Ryan. That’s just life.”

It’s as good of an explanation for what we’re doing here as any, I think, and it’s certainly helped me in the last few days as I’ve had to say goodbye to one of the greats. Safe travels, Grandad, I love you.