Pretty Boy

Chapter 5

Liam Mclane was an asshole. An utter and complete asshole. He didn't have to look so tempting, just sitting there reading the shit Harley wrote. He had a small smirk playing on his lips, teeth digging into his lower lip, brown hair falling onto his eyes. Harley was hit with the sudden urge to take his phone out and take a picture but he refrained from doing it and looking like a creep.

Liam turned to him, pointing at another book cover on the screen, "What's that one about?"

Intrigued, Harley clicked on the book he was pointing at, eyes widening in realization when he read the description. It was the MLM romance he had written loosely based off of him and Liam. The characters and situation were pretty similar to theirs, but they only difference was that they got a happy ending. It was Harley's way of expressing his emotions, his writing being the outlet.

He was almost 100% sure Liam would catch on if he ever read the book. Harley did not want him to catch on. It would destroy whatever relationship he was building with the man.

"Um", he stuttered and quickly tried to change the tabs, all while not making eye contact with Liam. Out of the blue, he felt Liam's hand on his, pulling his hand away from the mouse, making Harley look up at him.

Liam was grinning. It was a wild, teasing kind of grin, one you would expect from a naughty toddler.

"What's the book about Harls?", Liam drawled, grin still in place, feigned innocence glazing his tone.

Harley did something desperate.

He suddenly gasped, eyes whipping to the window behind Liam, his face twisting in fake shock making Liam twist around as well, giving Harley the distraction he needed to pick up his computer and make a quick getaway. It was childish, yes but hey, it worked. Kind of

Liam was must faster than he had expected in grabbing his waist and pulling him back, stopping him from hiding the computer.

"No you don't"

"Li! Come on, man"

Liam gave him a look at that. Lower lip pushed out in a pout, eyes wide like a puppy. Harley stood there in mild shock at how breathtakingly innocent he looked. What kind of fuckery was this?

"I promise I won't judge-"

Liam was cut off by a shrill voice.

"Mr. Hayes! Mr. McLane! Are you aware that you are in a public library?", It was their librarian, walking up to them in a rush, her glasses sitting low on her nose, eyes narrowed at them, "Keep that up and you're going to have to leave"

Harley wanted to point out that she was the one yelling right now but he internally cringed, realising that majority of the people in the library were now staring at them, either looking amused or giving them dirty looks. Whoops

"Sorry, Miss T", Liam apologized for the both of them, "Won't happen again"

"It better not", she said and Harley waited, holding his breath until she moved out of earshot and back to her desk.

"Sorry", Liam looked at him apologetically, "I didn't realize I was being so loud"

Harley huffed out a laugh, "It's alright", he then sighed before pushing the computer towards Liam, "You can read it, it's fine, it's just me being dramatic"

Liam frowned, "You're not dramatic, you have every right to say no"

Harley looked away, eyes focusing on the stack of books behind Liam, "Declan always said-", he paused, searching for the words. He glanced up at Liam who actually looked angry for a second.

"Screw what Declan said, he was an asshole, Harls and everything he said was complete bullshit"

Declan was Harley's ex-boyfriend, his only boyfriend actually. He had controlled almost everything Harley did, until it came to point when he couldn't do it anymore. 6 months had passed since the breakup, but sometimes, Declan's words still stayed in his head, taunting him.

Harley gave Liam a solemn look and in a way of dodging the topic, he jerked his head to the computer, "Why don't you read it", he smiled, "You can tell me what you think when you're done"

Liam hesitated, hand reaching out, "You sure?"

"Yeah, Liam, I'm sure"

Harley watched in anticipation as Liam's eyes roamed over screen, expression changing from seriousness to surprise to pure joy in a matter of minutes as he read the blurb. Liam's eyes then whipped up to his, grin wide as he read out a line from the blurb, "Jacob hated Robbie. He hated him with everything he had, but he still wanted to fuck him. Too bad he was Jacob's brother's best friend. It sure did make things harder for him. Pun intended"

Harley felt a flush rise up his neck at just how obvious it was.

"Hmm", Liam leans back against his chair, eyes dragging down Harley's body, "This sure sounds familiar"

"Pfft, it does not"

Liam smirked, gaze going to the computer and then focusing back on Harley, "Is that so?"

"Mm-hmm"

Harley knew he wasn't convincing anyone. Hell, he wasn't convincing himself.

"I like it", Liam said, "Knowing that you think about us enough to write about it"

Harley's breath hitched, their eyes meeting. He searched Liam's face for any signs of teasing or mockery but to his surprise and mild pleasure, he couldn't find any. Liam actually sounded sincere. Maybe he still wanted Harley, not just for sex but to create something more. Something Harley had always craved but had never been fortunate enough to find.

He wanted to ask Liam. Ask him everything that was on his mind and then kiss him. Kiss him until he was breathless and wild with want and need.

Instead, what came out of his mouth was, "That's a bit presumptuous of you"

Liam's expression faltered for a second, but he immediately covered it up with a shrug of his shoulder, "Am I wrong?"

No. But Harley was terrified. He had been burned once before and he wouldn't be able to take it if it happened again. Especially if it was Liam.

Eh fuck it

Harley took a deep breath, eyes determined, "No"

It was worth seeing the breath-taking smile that took over Liam's face.