Chasing Empty Spaces

Chapter 6

He looked towards his left and excitedly nudged Louis’ elbow. The moment Louis caught his eye, an infectious smile blossomed over his sun-kissed face. Harry stepped closer and enthusiastically whispered, “Lou, this is amazing!”

Louis nodded and loosely gestured towards the space, “Nothin’ really like it in Dahlonega, hmm?”

Harry shook his head and looked back towards the hostess stand as a young woman stepped behind it. Her raven hair was neatly pinned into curls and her lips were painted ruby. She looked between the four men, hazel eyes lingering on Harry for a moment longer before smiling widely.

“Welcome to Mac’s,” She cocked her hip to the side and gathered laminated menus. Lifting an eyebrow she asked, “Jus’ the four of ya?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Liam nodded.

The hostess led them towards a table that was nestled in the far corner, her cocktail dress swishing with every swing of her hips. Louis huffed out an unimpressed snort and Harry couldn’t help but to agree with the sentiment. Harry sat in the seat closest to the wall, Louis easily filing into the chair to his right. He politely nodded as the hostess laid out their menus, cheeks coloring when she leaned a bit too close for comfort.

“If there’s anythin’ else I can do for ya,” She pointedly looked at Harry, eliciting an eye roll from Louis, “I’ll be up at the front.”

The moment the hostess walked away, Louis folded his arms over his chest, “Can you believe her?”

“Someone’s got a thing for Harry,” Zayn teased, leaning forward to rest his forearms against the tabletop.

Liam matched Zayn’s posture and waggled his eyebrows in joint conspiracy, “Could probably get ‘er number if ya wanted.”

Louis widened his legs, knocking his knee against Harry’s under the table, “You two betta shut up.”

Harry was undeniably smug that Louis was getting jealous over something as simple as a hostess flirting with him. He pressed their legs together and bit back a face-splitting grin.

“Would that bother ya?” Harry impishly asked, dragging the tip of his finger over the tabletop in wide circles.

“Don’t you start with me, Stud,” Louis threateningly pointed his finger at Harry, the fondness blanketing his tone completely eliminating any real anger.

Their waitress ambled over and much to Louis’ blatant pleasure, she wasn’t flirting with anyone at the table. As Liam ordered his meal, Harry leaned in closer towards Louis’ side and murmured under his breath, “Just want you, ya know that, yeah?”

A gorgeous blush colored the apples of Louis’ cheeks and he turned to look at Harry, his expression softening. He quickly squeezed Harry’s thigh under the table and whispered back, “Me too.”

Harry looked down at the table and couldn’t help the smile that was etched on his face. He wasn’t sure where exactly he found the confidence, but with every slight brush of Louis’ leg against his own, Harry was eternally grateful for it. All four men placed their orders and Harry quietly listened to the quick spits of banter that shot between the other three men. As Louis animatedly talked about Zayn’s and his last Atlanta trip, Harry found that he wasn’t even truly listening to what he was saying. His eyes continuously slipped their attention to the quick way Louis’ lips formed words. He rested his chin on his hand and admired how every so often, Louis’ tongue would dart out and wet the plush of his bottom lip, leaving it slick. All it took was a stolen glance from Louis, paired with a fleeting wink, to know that he wanted to be caught up in the other boy for as many nights as there were stars.