BILLS, BOOZE & BETRAYAL | LARRY AU

CHAPTER 18

BILLS, BOOZE & BETRAYAL | CHAPTER 18

"We can't find Harry."

"What do you mean you can't find Harry?!" I just about scream into the phone in panic, no idea what to think, my mind drawing a blank on every word Gemma says to me through the phone.

"I mean, we cannot find Harry. He left before you, didn't he?"

"Yes, about three hours before me."

"Yes, and he got home a few hours ago but then left all of a sudden. I've been calling him and texting him but I have no clue where he is whatsoever!"

"You're back here in NYC?"

"No, no. Mum called me and didn't know what to do, but I don't know what to do because I'm way out here in fucking Utah and you're the only person I could think of!"

"Okay, okay, Gemma calm down. His battery probably died and he probably went to see his friends or something like that."

"Mom said he looked angry and panicked and he was crying when he left home."

"Fuck, that doesn't sound good." I mutter under my breath as concern bubbles over the surface but Gemma hears me nonetheless.

"I know! Louis, do something, I'm so worried."

"Calm down, Gem, deep breaths. Don't think too much about it, alright? This can't be good for the baby. Just calm down and I'll call you back when I find him."

"Please find him!"

"I will, I will. Don't worry." I say before consoling her some more and cutting the call. With my mind still raking to think of where Harry could be, I call up Lottie next, wondering if she might know where he's gone. I don't know why, but I feel like calling her would be a good option, so I just do.

"Hey, bro. Are you back in NYC yet?"

"Yes, but that's not important right now. Do you happen to know where Harry is?"

"Weren't you just with –?"

"– No, he left before me so that we didn't raise any doubts or shit but I just stepped into the fuckin apartment and Gemma called me up saying that Harry came home but then abruptly left and they haven't been able to find him since. He's not picking up any calls, or answering any texts. Lots, I'm worried."

"Okay, okay, umm, calm down. I'll check out with a few friends if anyone's seen anything lately. But Lou, I think it's possible that he got upset with the articles in the magazines today."

"What fucking articles?"

"Oh, you-you don't know."

"No, of course I don't. Tell me what it said, Lottie."

"They did this huge-ass article on you and all the, umm, scandals you've been in over the course of the past few months and they included him and his thing that happened all those years back and people are talking about it again. And, and it has pictures of you two at the – at the cabin and then everything about this narrative that you're playing around with both Eleanor and Harry."

"Fuck, I will fucking end those bastards."

"Please don't be mad." Lottie says, almost as if she's scared of me and I take a deep breath with my eyes closed before talking to her in a calm voice.

"I'm not mad at you, darling, don't worry. Could you please just check with your friends and let me know if you find anything?"

"Of course."