Chasing Empty Spaces

Chapter 9

Louis snorted and flicked Harry's shin, "Get changed. Sun's gonna come up soon."

"What're you gonna do about all the -" Harry cut off, his hand loosely gesturing towards the blanket and picnic basket.

"Pick it up before work when I have the truck."

"Oh, right."

The two men got changed in comfortable silence, exchanging flirtatious glances and private smiles. With one last longing look to the inside of the greenhouse, Harry stepped outside and waited for Louis. Perched back on the handlebars of Louis' bicycle, they made their way back towards the plantation. Songbirds began to greet the day with lyrical chirps, swooping over the rosy horizon in fluid movements. Louis' breaths came out in light puffs as he pedaled and Harry didn't feel remotely prepared to be left on his own at the plantation. Louis stopped at the end of the drive, tucking them behind the trunk of a tree so if anybody was awake, they wouldn't see their figures. Harry checked the yard before he gently pushed Louis against the bark.

"I don't want you to go," Harry mumbled, eyes downcast to their shoes.

Louis heavily exhaled, "Me either, baby." He hooked their index fingers together, "You go to the firm today, right?"

Harry dreadfully nodded, "Don't remind me."

"Sorry," Louis apologetically frowned. He swayed their hands, "Can I see ya tomorrow?"

Harry's expression must have been painfully vulnerable because Louis' eyes went dull with despondency.

"You just went out with her yesterday," Louis mumbled, finger slipping from Harry's.

"I know," Harry sighed and reached out to firmly clasp their hands together. He helplessly shook his head, "You know it wasn't my idea, Lou." When Louis tightly nodded, Harry nervously continued, "It's, um, with both our families. Sounded sorta important to my parents...I dunno why, though."

A nauseating heaviness saturated the air between them.

"Yeah, you do," Louis miserably muttered. "Baby, can you just -," He pulled his hand from Harry's and self-consciously crossed his arms, "Please don't lie to me about this. Even if you think it's gonna hurt my feelings."

"I'm not," Harry insisted, reaching out to touch Louis' arms.

Louis stepped out of his reach and asked, "What's the dinner for?"

Harry dropped his hands and timidly wrought them, "They didn't tell me."

Louis narrowed his eyes, disbelief clear on his expression.

"They didn't," Harry enunciated. He scrubbed a hand over his face, "But..."

"But," Louis urged.

Harry lowered his head and said barely above a whisper, "It's probably to talk about an engagement."

The momentary suspended silence was deafening.

"Wow," Louis brokenly chuckled and wiped a hand over his face. He shook his head and grabbed his bike, "You really know how to break a guy's heart, Stud."

"Lou, please," Harry choked out, scrambling to stop Louis from leaving. "Please, listen to me - I," His voice shattered over a sob, "M' not gonna go through with it. I don't, fuck, I don't want her."

Louis hesitated, eyes flashing towards Harry's. There was a thick film glassing over them and Harry wanted to sink into the earth's surface at the knowledge that he put it there. He desperately tugged at the hair that started to brush the nape of his neck before crowding Louis, hands urgently cradling the other man's jaw. He whimpered when three iridescent droplets streaked Louis' cheeks. Harry ducked his head and kissed them away, thumbs intently stroking the height of his cheekbones.