Chasing Empty Spaces

Chapter 8

"Sir, Ma'am," Martha cleared her throat and gestured towards Louis, "Mr. Tomlinson has arrived."

Harry didn't miss the way Louis' mouth twitched at the introduction, valiantly fighting off laughter. He nervously watched Robin and Anne as they stood from the loveseat, straightening their clothes before stepping towards Louis.

"Mr. and Mrs. Styles," Louis politely extended a hand towards Anne first, "Lovely to meet you."

"Oh, how sweet," Anne gushed, taking Louis' hand and furiously blushing as he pecked the back of it. "Great to meet you, dear," She giggled like a school girl and Harry was unreasonably jealous.

"Sir," Louis added more grit to his voice as he turned towards Robin for a handshake.

Robin shook his hand, his eyes slightly narrowing, "Have we met before?"

Harry wanted to smack himself in the forehead, having completely forgotten that Louis met both of his parents after "fixing" his truck. He sucked his bottom lip between his teeth and anxiously looked at Louis. Harry was nearly gobsmacked that Louis didn't show an ounce of nerves as he lightly laughed and nodded.

"We have," Louis folded his hands in front of him. "I fixed Harry's truck when it broke down."

Robin's neck snapped towards Harry at a rate he didn't even know what possible.

"Thought you said he was in lumber?"

"My family is," Louis respectfully cut in, pulling Robin's attention back to him. "My family owns a mill. I'm very lucky that it allows me to focus on my own passions. Cars being one of them."

Anne put a hand over her heart, "Well that's just lovely of your parents to help ya out with your little hobby."

Louis' jaw tensed for a fraction of a second before he laughed and nodded, "Yes, ma'am."

"Y'know," Robin started, voice much brighter than moments prior, "I used to do some fixin' up on cars."

"You did?" Harry frowned at that.

Robin nodded and conspiringly winked at Louis, "Was great for meetin' birds who wanted a guy a little rough around the edges."

Anne held her hands up and laughed, "Guilty as charged."

Harry felt sick.

"M' sure you know all about that, handsome man like yourself," Robin haughtily said.

If Louis was uncomfortable, he didn't show it as he laughed and nodded. He lifted a shoulder, "You caught me, sir."

Harry dug his nails into the pads of his palms, barely refraining from shouting that his father couldn't be more wrong. He knew Louis was playing along to get on their good graces, but Harry couldn't bother to pretend that he didn't hate it. When Martha entered the room and announced dinner was prepared, they filed towards the dining room. Louis hung back as Harry's parents walked ahead, his hand lightly brushing Harry's forearm.

"You okay?" Louis whispered.

Harry nodded, pushing his feelings aside and said, "They like you."

"Yeah?" Louis grinned and Harry could see some tension roll from his shoulders, "Okay, good."

They walked into the dining room and Harry was seated by Louis' side, his mother and father across from them. Plates were full of southern-styled food, but he felt too unnerved to eat any of it. Harry reached for his wine goblet, tipping back a generous amount of red into his mouth. He let it soak into his taste buds before swallowing.