Hate That I Love You

Chapter 28

Harry looked up at Louis's bedroom window, with the door open, getting into the car.

For a couple of seconds, he was sure he had glimpsed him, behind the curtain peering at his strange movements with one eye, but it was only a couple of seconds, because his father immediately intervened and distracted him from his thoughts.

"Get in the car" he ordered hard, pushing him inside. "We'll see you on Monday at work, on time, at eight," he said seriously. "Xander is waiting for you at home."

Harry nodded faintly. "Okay," he sighed. "Till Monday" he greeted him, immediately closing the door to avoid prolonging that conversation. "Come on, Paul, please," he pleaded, throwing his head back.

"Are you all right, sir?" the driver asked, starting the car.

"No, not really," he smiled bitterly. "My mother is sick, my father is a selfish prick who puts money first instead of his family, Zayn will move to New York in a few weeks with Liam, soon I will marry Xander and, what's more, I'm not even with the person I would like! Yes, because, I have an insane desire to start a serious relationship with that someone you know, a clear sign that I am going completely crazy, but it is impossible, because if I were to see him again, or look at him or even just touch him by mistake, my father would would disinherit me and, honestly, after all I did to become who I am, I wouldn't like the idea very much," he explained quickly. "So, Paul, I'm not alright. But please, do you know how I can fix this mess that's blowing my brain?" he asked, almost desperate.

The driver fell silent for several seconds, continuing to drive carefully. Then "Lower the armrest, sir," he finally said.

Harry frowned, then slipped his hand into the folds of the center seat, lowering the armrest. He opened it and, puzzled, grabbed the bottle of rum that was inside. "It's rum," he remarked.

"Alcohol," he specified. "You need alcohol."

Harry just laughed. "And you are right!" he exclaimed, opening the bottle and taking a generous sip.

They arrived at their destination a quarter of an hour later, all his personal effects had already been brought to their destination so Harry, with the bottle still full of rum, greeted Paul with a wave of his hand and entered the luxurious building where his new home was. He took the elevator and hit the button on the top floor, his floor.

Arriving directly inside his house, Harry did not have time to open the door that someone took him by the hips and slammed him against the wall, kissing him forcefully.

Harry, at first gasped, taken aback, but then, finally, he reacted and took it off. "Xander!" he exclaimed. "But you're crazy! You gave me a heart attack."

Xander snorted. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "But it was necessary."

"What?" he asked, perplexed.

"I wanted to see your reaction," he complained. "You know, if you weren't sorry you would have responded to the kiss right away and instead - it didn't happen."

Harry lowered his head. "I'm sorry. But you caught me off guard and I ..."

"You don't need to explain to me." He stopped him. "We know how we feel for each other, Harry," he sighed.

"What is that?"

"Affection" he shrugged. "We love each other, but we don't love each other. I think it was time to make it clear once and for all."

"Wait, you don't want anymore ... "

"Harry" Xander bit his lip. "I never really wanted to marry you, but ... I'm not going to tell my dad. I mean, he'd be mad as hell because I mean, your dad wants our title and my dad wants your money," he explained. "And no," he shook his head. "I can't tell him."

"And I don't think I can tell mine," he sniffed.

"There," he shrugged. "So, I thought, since we're both stuck in this crazy thing we don't want too much, we could, I don't know, be friends or-put up with our own parents. It should be easier for two, right?"

Harry smiled. "Why not?"

Xander smiled back then walked over to him, taking a few steps forward. "Then, maybe" the boy began taking the bottle he had in his hands and placing it on any surface. "We could, I don't know, exploit each other," he shrugged, taking him by the hips and suddenly bringing him closer. "I may not love you in that sense, but, in short, you are one of the sexiest people I know," he informed him, starting to run his hands all over his back, making them go lower and lower.

Harry brought his lips to Xander's, kissing him hard for a few seconds. Then, he placed both hands on his chest and pulled him away from him. "Yes" he nodded. "We could do it, Xay. But, right now, I need some time."

Xander, sighing, nodded. "Is it true, then?"

"I don't know," he shook his head. "I don't think I know anything anymore."

"Okay," he smiled slightly. "For the record, I still hate him quite a lot," he wrinkled his nose.

Harry laughed. "If you really want to know, I too hate him most of the time."

"It's really true that the line between love and hate is really thin," he chuckled. "But, now, I better go. Whatever you do, you know where to find me."

"Thanks," he nodded.

Xander came up to him, wrapping his arms around his hips and kissed him, inserting his tongue between his lips as Harry immediately returned the kiss, trying to avoid comparing it to Louis's mouth.

"God, I don't want to marry you, but your lips are still great," Xander exclaimed, making him laugh.

"Go away," he chased him away, giggling.

Once Xander was out, Harry, sighing, sat down on the sofa in the living room of the apartment, throwing his head back and being alone.