Hello, Hello, No Goodbye

Chapter 12

Louis turned in his seat, now looking directly at Harry.

"That's when they found Hanane. We literally met in the office, signing the contract. They told me it is good for business! Gay don't sell!"

Harry felt a wave of nausea rolling up to his throat.

Louis continued: "She is a fantastic artist. I help her promote her gallery- she ensures people think we are together." He reached across and put his hand on Harry's knee. "It's just for the business."

"Can't you, like, break up with her?" Harry asked, hoping Louis would not think its a weird question.

Louis signed loudly, "Not until my album is out. Then I am free."

Harry felt Louis squeezing his knee gently. His hand felt so soft. Harry wanted to pull it to his lips and kiss it.

"You looked tense when you left?" He asked instead.

Louis covered his eyes with another hand,

"She was not supposed to come in today. The management is on her ass because my new single is coming out in a few weeks. They want more media coverage. But I told her not today. She still showed up!" Harry could hear angry notes raising in his voice. After a minute of silence, Louis looked back at Harry with a bit of a smile now.

"So what's for dinner, Curls?"

"Well, actually, I was planning on asking what you like and then stop by the store, pick up ingredients and make you help me at home." Louis finally let go of his knee. Harry immediately felt a little lonely.

"Oh wow! That is a great idea! So I can order anything I want?" Louis looked so cute with his hands hidden in the sweater class.

"Anything you want," Harry had to bite his tongue to stop himself from calling Louis "love."

"Chicken and mash!" Louis proclaimed.

"Chicken, potatoes, and salad it is then." Harry smiled, pulling up to the supermarket.

They took their time strolling through the aisles, picking up the ingredients. Loius looked so relaxed and happy, grabbing random stuff from shelves and throwing it into a cart. Making his little comments about everything.

"Finally, we are at the destination," he shouted as they walked into the cereal aisle.

"Cereal?" Harry raised his eyebrow. "I do not have kids, Louis!'

Louis rolled his eyes.

"I am not going to bring you breakfast in the bed every time, Harold. And I am not eating your avocados, so just shut up and get this." He picked up a small box of Coco Puffs. "I gotta have something to eat in the morning!"

The thought that Louis is planning to spend mornings at his place hit Harry like the first shot of vodka on an empty stomach. With a drunken smile, he put the cereal box back in its place. He grabbed a huge family-sized one from the top shelf instead.

"Oh, are you getting a family size for me? How sweet!" Louis' smile could melt icebergs.

"Not for you! I might have some too." Harry pretended to be grumpy. "You are not special!"

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that..." Louis turned on his heels and headed to the cashier, giving Harry his award-winning eye roll.

When a couple of girls approached Louis, Harry quietly walked past and started scanning the products. He still could not place himself in Louis' life. Who are they? Friends? Lovers? Friends with benefits? What a cliche. But he did not hide his smile, observing how pretty Louis looked posing for selfies and hugging the girls. Harry was almost ready to pay for everything when he noticed two bottles of chocolate milk in Louis' hands.

"This man is truly a child," Harry thought, walking up to Louis and grabbing the chocolate out of his hands to pay for it.

As he did so, the girls immediately shifted their attention to him. "Are you two together? Are you dating?" One of the girls was almost jumping out of her skin with excitement. Louis loudly clapped his hands, announcing, "It was nice chatting with you, loves. We got to go now!" He said, grabbing bags from Harry's hands.

"Cute boyfriends!" Harry heard on the way out

Harry was searching for a song to play in the car when he felt the gentle touch of Louis' hand on his cheek. It felt warm and comforting in the cold evening air, like a glass of warm milk before bed.

"Harry..." His mouth was so close. Everything slowed down around them as Harry's eyes met the magnetic blue. Harry's breath felt captivated somewhere between his lungs and throat as Louis' body shifted closer until their lips met in a gentle kiss. So light and soft, like a fairy's touch. With a faint smile, Louis pulled back, blown pupils still looking into Harry's soul.

"What was that for?" Finally, Harry breathed out, clearing his throat.

"I just thought that's what cute boyfriends do," Louis said, a slight smile playing on his face.

 Harry felt an ache in his chest as Louis suddenly leaned into him again. This time, he grabbed his neck with both hands and forced his lips onto Harry's mouth like he was hungry for it. Like he waited centuries for this kiss. This kiss hit Harry as a cold ocean wave hits you out of nowhere on a quiet shore. It crushes you down, pushing the earth from under your feet, erasing the whole world from your view, and swallowing you completely.

Harry let it crush him. He fell into it without a fight, allowed himself to drown in the sweet taste of Louis' lips, and melt under his touch once again. Tonight, girlfriends don't win. Tonight, the trophy is his and only his.