Chasing Empty Spaces

Chapter 8

Louis nervously laughed, "Thought you said you already had everything?"

Harry recognized his arrogant words from back in July. He confidently shook his head, "I was wrong."

Louis sucked in a breath and brushed their lips together as he murmured, "You're everything to me, too."

I love you.

Louis leaned back and petted over Harry's chest, "Wanna go in?"

Harry swallowed the sentiment and nodded. Louis turned around and unlocked the door, his fingers slightly trembling. Harry crowded behind him, arching his neck to gently kiss over Louis' pulse point. Once the door clicked open, Louis reached behind and looped their pinkies together. Harry kept close as they filtered inside, never straying more than a foot from Louis.

The inside of the greenhouse was humid, but not uncomfortably so. A heady floral smell curled around them in an incomparable sweetness. The brilliant radiance of the moon blanketed the plants, fully illuminating the space in a hazy glow. Stretched in the center of the floor was a layer of blankets and pillows that Harry knew were from Louis' house. Along the edge of the plush nest was a wicker basket.

"You weren't kiddin'," Harry weakly laughed.

Louis settled in the center of the blanket and scoffed, "Course not."

Harry sat across from him and looped his fingers around Louis' ankle as the other man emptied the contents of the basket. There was a bottle of champagne, two neatly cut beef sandwiches and a side of macaroni salad. Louis hummed under his breath as he put the contents onto paper plates. Harry popped open the champagne and carefully filled two Dixie cups. Both men grabbed a cup and held them together with matching private grins.

"To Harry Styles," Louis flashed him a wink, making Harry chuckle under his breath. Louis' expression morphed into something more intense, "Someone who's not just my best friend," He paused, eyes softening touch, "But, my deepest love."

Louis' words were delicate as they hung in the air and Harry felt as if time had faltered, leaving them to eternally remain in the moment. There was a cherry blush that painted Louis' cheeks and a slight tremor in his hand. His eyes, though, the beryl blue irises that Harry had grown to cherish more than anything in the world, were unwavering. Swallowing a choked breath, Harry wet his bottom lip with his tongue.

"To Louis Tomlinson," Harry wetly started. He cleared his throat, "Someone who's not just the sweetest creature," Harry shook his head as his voice became thick, "But, the absolute love of my life."

Louis' teeth dipped into his bottom lip as he fought off the face-splitting grin that threatened to spread. He looked down at his lap and scratched the back of his neck, almost disbelievingly. When his attention darted back upwards, the skin along his eyes were crinkled and Harry reckoned that he had never seen someone appear more incandescently idyllic.

"I love you," Louis told him, voice no louder than a whisper.

Harry felt weightless as the sentiment draped him in warmth. He roughly sniffed and barely managed, "I love you, Lou."

Both men sipped the champagne, bright eyes locking over the lips of the cups. Harry wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and set the cup down. He slowly crawled forwards into Louis' lap, wrapping his arms around Louis' neck. Louis set his drink to the side and settled his hands along Harry's waist. Pressing their foreheads together, Harry breathed him in.

He couldn't be sure who brought their mouths together, all Harry knew was that Louis was in love with him and he was in love with Louis. Their lips parted in time, tongues wetly sliding together. Harry tightened his thighs around Louis' waist and suckled on the tip of Louis' tongue. A heady moan reverberated from Louis' throat and Harry eagerly swallowed it.