Chasing Empty Spaces

Chapter 8

He raked a hand through his disheveled hair, "What took ya so long?!"

"Cat nearly gave me away."

Louis disbelievingly raised an eyebrow.

"She - Never mind," Harry shook his head and noncommittedly waved his hand in the air. He stepped closer towards Louis, "So, what did you wanna show me?"

Louis closed the distance between them, hand curling around Harry's jaw as he brought their lips together. Tension left Harry's body as their mouths slotted. He rested his hands on Louis' waist and hummed into the kiss. Louis leaned away, darting forward to peck Harry once more before he rocked back on his heels.

"Hello," He murmured, fingers tracing over Harry's jawline.

A private grin tugged at Harry's lips, "Hello."

"Needed to see you," Louis whispered and slowly lowered his hand to the base of Harry's neck.

Harry bowed his head and heavily exhaled.

Earlier that evening, Harry had taken Faye to Blossoms on a date that was orchestrated by his parents. After dinner, she wanted to take a walk around Lake Lanier and Harry couldn't refuse her. Over the course of three and a half months, he learned that gritting his teeth and agreeing to do what Faye wanted was the best way to keep her placated. Whenever they disagreed, even in the slightest, she would bring up their future together and ask him if that was what it would be like when they were married. Harry couldn't bear to talk about a future with her when he spent the rest of his time in the tender arms of another. He stopped disagreeing altogether.

During their walk around the lake, Faye had kept a constricting grasp on Harry' hand. That wouldn't have mattered much if they didn't end up running into Louis and Zayn. The two men were fishing off the lip of the bank, raucous laughter layering the fall breeze. Harry had stumbled backwards at the sight of Louis, unintentionally yanking Faye with him. At the sound of her brash yelp, Louis and Zayn turned towards the pair.

"Oh," Louis exhaled, his shoulders instantly drooping.

"Louis!" Faye chirped, oblivious to the way Louis' gaze was locked on the place where she held Harry. She dragged Harry closer to the two men with an excited laugh, "Funny runnin' into you again!"

"Yeah," Louis forcibly laughed, "Funny."

"We," Faye enunciated with a hand slapping over Harry's chest, "Just got back from dinner. At Blossoms."

Zayn nervously looked between Louis and Harry as they remained silent. He cleared his throat and adjusted his grip on a fishing rod, "Nice."

"It was, wasn't it, sugar?" Faye drawled as she looked up at Harry. When Harry didn't instantly respond, she plowed on, "Aw, he still gets nervous around me. Ain't that the sweetest?"

Louis' jaw tensed as he bit out, "Yeah, real sweet."

Faye conspiringly leaned in closer towards Louis and fake-whispered, "Would be more worried 'bout it if he couldn't keep his hands to himself."

"What?!" Harry barked, feeling bile rise in his throat. He shook his head and searched over Louis' bluntly shattered expression, "I - No. We haven't -"

"Jesus, darlin'," Faye exasperatedly huffed and folded her arms. "I was just teasing," She flicked her hair from her shoulder. "No one thinks yer any less of a gentleman, so, relax."

"We should get goin'," Zayn said as he clasped a hand over Louis' shoulder.

Harry's bottom lip was worried between his teeth and he hoped that Louis could hear him internally shouting a mantra of, I didn't do anything. She's lying. She means nothing. I haven't done anything. Louis faintly nodded and schooled his impression into something painfully blank.