"Shit it's freezing here. Why the hell did i come back willingly to this?" Christopher asked himself out loud as he stepped out of the airport to go look for his rental SUV. He had no apartment or house to go back to once he was back in West Virginia, so he headed back to the hotel he was staying at the first time he was there, hoping he could get a room again.
"Ah Mr. Styles, welcome back. It's nice to see you again."
"Why thank you. I would say it's nice to be back but i'm freezing."
"Yeah, you kind of picked the wrong week to come back. We got 7 inches of snow last night and by the time it's done today we're supposed to have a total of 26 inches. So, you might be staying awhile."
"I figured that much. I lost out on the place i was supposed to be renting so this will be my home sweet home for now. If it is possible i would like a room with a kitchenette in it this time." Christopher liked that he was able to cook now and fend for himself. He learned a lot while in Florida and he wanted to really start putting his newfound knowledge to work, that included buying more businesses and growing his bank account.
"That would be no problem at all Mr. Styles."
The desk clerk gave him his key card and had someone help Christopher up to the room with his bags. Christopher thanked the man and tipped him as he left.
"Now to settle in and take a shower."
Chris spent the rest of the night unpacking his clothes, ordering too much food, and just vegging out watching movies. In the morning there was more than 26 inches of snow on the ground. Way too much to really go anywhere so he spent some time on his laptop looking up businesses he might be interested in buying in the area and new places to live. He even looked into building his own home. He was thankful that he ordered extra food the night before, because nothing was open due to the snow.
The next day the roads were plowed pretty good, and the SUV Chris rented did great in the little patches of snow still left in places, so he decided to go to the bookstore and then grab some groceries. He was in a pretty good mood as he jumped on the cart and rode it down the beverage aisle but before he could stop himself, and the cart, another one turned into the aisle in front of him and they smashed together. Chris jumped off and immediately started to apologize to the person who's cart he hit. Looking up to see if the person was okay, he froze. He started to blink his eyes because he couldn't believe who he was looking at.
"Christopher?"
"Ah yeah eh hi Louis. You, okay? I am sorry about that. I think i was going a little too fast."
"You're still in town?" Lou was totally confused.
"Yeah, about that. No i just got back two days ago. I am staying for a while now though."
"Oh, well that's nice." Lou tried to hide his hurt and make it sound like he didn't really care if Chris was staying or going.
"How have you been?"
"Busy with the bar is all." Lou told him then looked at his feet not knowing what else to say to him.
"You stocking up on snow supplies too?" Chris asked him and pointed to the cart.
"No, we are having a meeting later with my community group. We're celebrating hitting our donation goal for the year."
"Well, congratulations. That is great news. I hope you all have fun today. I'll let you get back to shopping for it then. It was nice seeing you, Lou." Chris said sadly as he turned to go not thinking Louis was in the mood to talk to him.
"Hey Christopher?" Lou said, stopping Chris in his tracks to turn back around to him.
"Yeah Louis?"
"Would you like to come and celebrate with us today?" Louis asked him hopeful but fully expecting him to say no.
"Are you sure?"
"The more the merrier. We are going to have enough food and if you are living here, well you are technically a part of the community now, aren't you?"
"What time?"
"4:00pm"
"Should i bring anything?"
"Well i have most of the stuff here but not enough room to buy drinks, so maybe some juice? We are having breakfast foods."
"I would like that a lot, Lou. And yes, i can bring drinks. See you at 4:00pm than." Christopher said to him and turned to leave again, trying to cover the smile that formed on his face.
"Hey Chris?"
"Yeah Louis?"
"Can i please get your number, you know in case something comes up and you can't come to the meeting tonight?"
Chistopher's smile went wider and took up his whole face. He almost dropped his phone from pulling it out of his pocket so quickly. It made Louis giggle a little as Chris handed him his phone. Louis called him and had to look at the number a few times.
'Wait a second. I know this number.' Louis started wondering where he saw the number before.
Chris added him to his contact numbers and was about to say goodbye to Lou again and when he stopped him again.
"Hey Chris?"
"Hey Lou?"
"Why didn't you even call? You just like disappeared." Louis couldn't hide the hurt in his voice when he asked.
"What are you talking about Louis?" Chris looked at him confused. "I called you almost every day at the bar for like three weeks. Either no one answered the phone or i was always told you were busy or weren't there. I figured you didn't want to talk to me so i gave up."
Then it dawned on him where he saw the phone number before. "Are you Kristy or Misty?"
Chris looked at him like, 'What are you talking about?' "Who are Kristy and Misty?" Chris asked him.
"I kept getting notes that a Kristy or a Misty had been calling a few times. But when i called the number back one time the guy on the other line was clueless as to who i was calling."
"Wait a sec, you were that guy? Where did they get Kristy or Misty from though?"
"Sometimes they said the person didn't leave a name, but it was pretty loud in the bar when you called."
"Haha and to think i was going to call you back one time just to talk to you."
"Do you always just talk to strangers when you're lonely?"
"Well, you're not too much of a stranger now anymore, are you?" Chris winked at him.
"That wasn't my point, Chris."
Christopher started to feel uncomfortable. He wasn't too sure how to answer Lou's question, so he didn't.
"Look a lot has gone on in my life in the last few months and i .................."
Louis stopped him before he could even finish because he knew where the conversation was going to go. "You know what Chris, don't worry about it. I get it. It's all okay if you don't show up today either." Louis turned to leave and finish his shopping.
"Louis, wait." Chris shouted out to him and grabbed him by the arm, so he didn't leave. "It's not like that. I really want to come today. I really want to see you again." Chris lowered his head. "I am not lying about my life being complicated. I know what i did was wrong and i should have at least left you a thank you note for taking care of me that night. Can we hang out after the meeting tonight and i will explain everything to you. I promise."
Louis thought about it for a minute and everything in him screamed to not to fall for it and run. Just run away as fast as he could. "If you show up, i will consider it."
"That's not a no! I will see you later today then." Christopher said as he leaned over and kissed Louis on the cheek then turned his cart around, kicked off the ground and rode the cart back down the aisle. "Till then i am off to get juice!" He yelled back as he left Louis standing there speechless.
As Chris got juice, Lou finished picking things up for the meeting. He was checking out when he saw Chris one more time out of the corner of his eye. Chris had a whole cart full of different kinds of juices and he was dancing around in front of the strawberries. Louis couldn't help but laugh at him. He was so carefree at the moment and didn't even notice or care about the people around him giving him strange looks. 'He is still an angel.' Lou thought to himself as he walked out of the store shaking his head laughing.
'All hands on deck.' Louis texted the group chat once he got back to the bar and all the boys came out to help carry bags in.
"Wow, how many people are we feeding today?" Ed asked him as the bags didn't seem to end.
"Niall's eating tonight, remember?" Louis told him, saying it loud enough so Niall could hear.
"Hey?" Niall tried to sound offended.
The bags were all in and the boys started to unpack things so they could start cooking. Louis went into his office and picked the sticky notes off of his corkboard. He started to go through them and sure enough some of them said Kristy or Misty, some had no name on them, and there were some that said Chris and Christopher. All the numbers were the same. "SHIT!!" Louis yelled as he realized the fuck up that happened. 'This whole damn time i could have been talking to him. He did try to call and i'm the one who's the asshole for not calling him back.'
"You okay in here?" Liam asked, hearing him curse from the kitchen.
"Liam this whole time he was calling me. I never called him back."
"What are you rambling on about Lou?"
"Christopher, he was trying to call me."
"Why are we even talking about him again, Louis?" Liam was confused and really didn't want to hear about Chris. "He fucked you over Lou."
"No Liam this whole time he was calling, look!" Louis handed the sticky notes to Liam.
"Okay so he was calling you. Who cares? He still never came back to the bar to try to see you."
"I ran into him at the store Liam."
"Oh great. And?"
"He's coming to the meeting today."
" What? Why?"
"Because i invited him, Liam. And you are going to be nice. Got it!"
"Whatever mate. I have things to cook." Liam left it at that and walked out back to the kitchen. Louis soon joined him without saying a word to him and they all finished up breakfast for the meeting. The others not noticing the sudden weirdness between Liam and Lou.
Everything was just about set up when Chris came into the bar. He was carrying four bags in each hand. "Do you have a table for these or where should i put them?"
Lou's heart jumped at the sound of his voice. "Table over there." Louis turned and pointed to a table with a big plastic kiddie pool on it that was full of ice cubes. Chris put the bags down and Louis started to pull the juice bottles out. "I'll be right back. I have a few more outside to bring in."
"What? Chris this is more than enough." Lou told him but he was already walking for the door.
There were at least four bottles each of orange, grapefruit, apple, grape (purple and white), peach, watermelon, lemon, and cranberry juices.
"Why did you buy so many? Chris you really didn't have to do this much. "
"Well, you just said juice. You didn't say what kind or for how many, so i just bought whatever."
"Okay. Thank you." Chris had a point and Lou was grateful he was just there.
"Hi Liam." Chris said to Liam as he came up to him and at first didn't say a word. He looked at the juice, laughed, grabbed a cup and poured himself out some of the purple grape juice. "I see you splurged for the name brand kind. That was very nice of you."
"You're ah, you're welcome?" Chris was a little confused but ignored Liam and turned back to Louis and handed him a plastic shopping bag. "Oh, before i forget i wanted to give these back to you and as a thank you i bought you a new pair of sweats and a t-shirt." Louis opened the bag to look inside but Liam snatched it out of his hands.
"Excuse me but i think he was talking to me and those are my new sweats and a t-shirt, not yours. Thanks mate."
"Ah oh i ah...... I kinda bought the sweats for Louis. But it's okay i get it and thank you for letting me borrow them Liam. I can buy him another pair when i go back to Florida again."
"You're leaving again huh?" Liam asked him and looked at Louis.
"I have to check each company at least twice a year in person but i will be living here permanently now."
"You have a house already?" Liam was being nosey, and Louis was trying to catch his eye to let him know to shut up, but Liam knew he would do it, so he ignored looking at him.
"No not yet. Just got back two days ago and am staying at the hotel again i stayed in last time. I lost the place i was supposed to rent out because i was gone too long."
"Speaking of gone too long, where ya been Christopher?" Liam wanted to grill him, but Lou had enough.
"Hey Chris, i am not sure if you'd be interested or not, but the apartment upstairs is still available." Louis asked and started rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
"Seriously?" Chris asked him.
"Yeah seriously?" Liam asked him to.
Louis ignored him and said to Chris, "We can talk about it later. We have to go and greet people now. You are going to stay right?"
"I am!" Chris said with a big smile. "Can't wait to see this big celebration."
Liam and Louis and the rest of the boys all were standing at the door to greet their fellow members of Heaven Sent. People were finding a place to sit and then getting up to eat. Some brought their own home made dishes to add to the breakfast buffet that was now set up along the one side of the bar wall.
The place smelled amazing. Scrambled eggs, bacon, waffles, pancakes, home fries, sausage, scrapple, biscuits and gravy, ham slices, and all kinds of freshly cut up fruit. The boys went all out. Anna Marie from the coffee shop/bakery brought fresh cinnamon rolls, doughnuts, and different fruit danish. Gerry brough his famous white chicken gravy. Mary brought her porridge. There was so much food, and everyone filled their plates up. As soon as the members all had taken their seats and started eating, Louis came up to the front of the bar and hopped on the stage.
"I know the food is more important right now but i really have something to say this time."
"Make it quick, my eggs are going to get cold."
"Simmer down Jack, i promise you can eat your eggs while i talk." Louis cleared his throat and began his speech again. "First off as usual, myself and my brothers want to thank you all for coming today. What everyone here does means the world to us and to the people we help. I know we meet twice a month and most of the time it is to discuss or sometimes argue over how we are going to raise money throughout the year, but today there will be no discussion of that."
Some of the members looked at Louis confused.
"How are you supposed to fix things or buy supplies Louis?"
"Who hit the lottery?"
"Did someone die we didn't know about and left money?"
"You're not shutting Heaven Sent down, are you?"
Some started to get worried, and Louis had to ask for their attention a few times to get them back.
"No no no it's nothing like that. Heaven Sent isn't going anywhere as a matter of fact, we are not here to discuss raising any money because the bank called me a few days ago to let me know of a donation that was made to us by an anonymous donor, and a few other generous people that had heard about what we are doing and wanted to help. So, this meeting will be nothing but one of celebration because i am happy to tell you that in the last month Heaven Sent has brought in a little over $250,000.00 in donations."
"What?" "Seriously?" "Hell yeah!" The members started to cheer and hug each other over the great news. They couldn't believe what Louis was telling them. The boys literally started to cry, and they couldn't stop asking Louis if he was for real. This is going to relieve so much stress off of them now for a while.
"I assure you all this is for real. I have verified it with the bank several times. So, eat and let's celebrate shall we." Louis yelled and raised a glass of orange juice and everyone raised their drinks and yelled out cheers of happiness.
The bar became extremely loud after that. Everyone was talking about who they thought donated the money. They began talking about what they could do with it and how many people they could help with it. It was a great day for Heaven Sent. They wouldn't stop asking Louis or the boys who the donor was, but they kept telling them that they had no idea and that they didn't even know about it till Louis just told everyone else about it.
Louis came up smiling at Christopher. "Hey, that's great news for you guys. Maybe later you can tell me what exactly Heaven Sent is or does, since you know i am here crashing their celebration and eating their food."
Niall, Ed, Liam, and Zayn came up to Louis and they started to hug him.
"How awesome is this."
"How could you keep this secret from us?"
"Do you seriously not know who the donation was from?"
And then there was Niall, "Hey Louis. Who's your new friend?" They all stopped talking to stare at Chris.
"Guys this is Christopher. Christopher, this is the guys." That was Lou's way to introduce them.
"Well nice to meet you, Christopher." Zayn said and offered his hand.
"Hey mate." Ed greeted him.
"So how do you two know each other?" Liam asked just to be an asshole and play dumb. "Christopher was interested in the apartment upstairs and was curious about what Heaven Sent was about." Louis gave him a nice generic answer.
"That's awesome. Lou's a great landlord and Heaven Sent, well you will fall in love with it." Niall said to him.
"The apartment upstairs huh? Has he seen it yet?" Liam asked and just gave Louis a look. He didn't even wait for a response he just walked away.
"Wow, what's his problem?" Niall asked.
Chris looked at Louis and Louis just gave him a small smile. "Hey guys can you maybe show Chris around the bar and introduce him to a few people. I will be right back."
Louis followed Liam and asked him to join him in the backroom for a minute.
"Why?"
"Because you are acting like an angry jealous high school boyfriend, that's why." He angrily whispered at him.
Liam shrugged his shoulders and followed Louis to the back room. As soon as he shut the door the questions started. "Why are you letting him come back here after what he did?" "Why the apartment?" "Do you even know him to rent the apartment out to him?" "What if he's another Jimmy?"
"Woah calm down there buddy. I haven't even gotten a chance to know him. Will you at least let me have that?" Louis asked him in almost a plea.
"I don't get it Louis. Why is this guy different from any other?" Liam couldn't see what Louis was seeing in Chris. "Just because he looks good, and he rocked your world?"
"Well, eh yeah." Louis had to admit that that was one of the reasons. "I don't know what it is about him, honestly Liam. But he's here and i'd like the chance to know him before you lot scare him off. Is that okay?"
"You're going to bang him again tonight, aren't you?"
"Fingers crossed yes. But that's not it though. There's something else to him."
"Your need to fix, save, or adopt broken people needs to stop before it gets you into real trouble."
"Ah but then you wouldn't be here today if i didn't save you." Louis said and hugged Liam.
"Oh please. We saved each other."
"That we did. Please let me try this and i will let you save me again when it doesn't work out. Deal?"
"You're such an asshole but deal."
"Come on now let's get back and eat some more. Have you tried the chocolate doughnuts?"
The rest of the meeting was one big party. Louis turned the jukebox on, and people were playing random songs. They were dancing, singing off tune, and some were on the stage trying their best at lip-synching.
Liam let go and was dancing around with Chris. Zayn was talking to some girl in the corner. Niall was taking people's money, as usually, at the pool table. Ed took over the stage. And Lou. Lou was sitting watching it all, being the happiest he's been in a long time.
Five hours later, the food was long gone, and people were starting to leave. Some offered to stay and help Louis clean up the bar, but he told them it was okay to just go home. As the boys started cleaning up, Lou went into the kitchen to start dinner for them.
"Hey Chris, tell us about yourself." Ed yelled to Christopher from across the bar floor as he was taking the trash off the tables.
"Easier if you just ask the questions, honestly."
"Okay where are you from?"
"California. Calabasas area."
"What brings you to the cold east coast?"
"I have business with a logging company Enchanted Woods and a few others from Vermont to Florida."
"I work for Enchanted Woods."
"Do you now? Well i guess we will be seeing each other from time to time then."
"I didn't take you for a big rig driver though, no offense."
"None taken. You're right, i don't drive the trucks. I work with paperwork and making sure the company runs the way it is supposed to."
"Ah you're the new manager everyone has been whispering about, aren't you?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"How old are you?"
"Turned 23 on the first of the month." Christopher side eye 'ed Liam, when it registered to Liam what day it was when Chris first came into the bar. They both gave each other small smiles and nods of understanding. "I am 6' 2". My middle name is Tomas. I enjoy reading and my new pastime, cooking. I prefer rock to rap. I prefer dogs over cats. Horror movies to romance. Let's see what else." Christopher pretended to think. "I am single and like my guys adventurous but at the same time quiet. Any of you fit that description and are interested?"
Just then a big crash came from the back of the kitchen where the whole time Louis was listening while making dinner.
"Yo Tommo, you okay back there?" Zayn yelled at him.
"Alls good. Damn shoelace was untied. Dinners almost done."
Liam started to laugh and went to the back to check on Louis. "Hear something interesting?"
"He is very straight forward isn't he Liam."
"You like that about him?"
"Actually, i do."
"Finish dinner so we can fully clean up okay."
"Sshh i'm trying to hear the conversation."
Chris looked around the bar and was actually waiting for an answer. "Well?"
"Sorry, can't help you out with that one. We're all straight here."
"Party poopers." Christopher was trying hard to bite his tongue. He so wanted to ask about Louis but by the way they were asking him questions and acting around him, he knew neither Louis nor Liam had ever told them what happened.
"Guys put the tables together, dinners done." Louis shouted from the back.
Zayn and Ed each went around to a table and pushed it up against another one of the big ones. Niall got the chairs to put around them. Liam showed up with long sheets of brown paper that he put on the table. Chris just stood and watched, not sure what was actually going on.
"Can i help with anything?"
"Can you pour beers and grab some paper towels please?" Ed asked him.
"I uh guess i can?"
"On tap only though, Lou gets so mad when we drink all the bottles. Get something for yourself too." Christopher poured out six beers and a pitcher, then brought them over to the tables on a tray.
"Look out Niall, he's going after your job." Zayn joked as Chris put the beers down and started to put a beer at each seat. He held on to his and just stood at the bar as Niall and Zayn passed by him, only to disappear into the kitchen. They soon came out with two huge silver cooking pots and put them on the tables.
Louis came walking out and saw Christopher just standing there. "Are you planning on leaving or are you having dinner with us?"
"I didn't know i was invited." Chris told him honestly.
"No one ever is. But if you're here you eat." Lou took him by the arm and showed him to the seat next to him.
When everyone was seated Louis picked up his beer, "I just really want to say thank you for everything you guys help me out with and for all you do. i want to welcome our new possible friend Christopher here with us and maybe hope to see him around more. To new adventures and...."
"What is it New Year's Day? Our dinner is getting cold." Niall complained, getting an elbow from Liam. "Niall you know better than to interrupt Louis when he's in his feelings."
"You know what, to hell with you all i hope you choke on a shell. Cheers!" He held up his beer and took a long drink.
"CHEERS!" they all yelled back to him as Liam and Ed stood up, picked up the steaming pots and dumped out their contents right onto the table.
"What the hell?" Chris pushed back a little from the table thinking he was either going to get burned by the steam or his lap burned by food being dumped right onto the table.
All the boys stopped to look at him. "Have you ever eaten a clambake before?" Louis asked him.
"Ah what?"
"Seafood on the table for us to eat with our fingers. A clambake." Louis told him not meaning to sound like he was dumbing it down for Christopher.
"Seafood yes. I love seafood, but not thrown on the table like this."
"Rich kid doesn't eat with his fingers?" Ed asked him.
"What makes you think i am rich?"
"Just a joke man. Come on, aren't all people from California supposed to be rich?"
"I guess?" Chris said and shrugged his shoulders. "What's in this clambake?"
"About ten tons of crawfish, potatoes, corn on the cob, sweet sausage pieces, shrimp, and i even got some scallops to throw in this time.
"I'll go get some plates if you tell me where they are." Chris offered.
"No need, we eat right off the table like cavemen." Niall said to him, pulling a few things over to him and started eating them.
Chris just watched them as they all picked things from the piles on the table and then started cracking shells and throwing them into the big silver pots. The atmosphere soon turned lighthearted, and they all were talking like they haven't seen each other in years, even though they just spent the whole day together. He eventually picked out a few things to try and was soon grabbing into the pile like the rest of them.
"Wow, my compliments to the chef. This is delicious. Do you do this a lot?"
"Every chance we get. Summers we usually do it as a bar special every Wednesday night." Louis started to tell Christopher more about the bar. The bands they have play there on the regular. Their specials on different days. Why the bar is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Chris was intrigued by it all. He fit right into the conversation and was getting very comfortable around Louis again.
At one point Chris stopped eating and just sat back to drink his beer and watch the way all of them interacted. They really were like brothers he thought and suddenly got really sad thinking about his own and how much he would love to have this bond with friends. Hell, he didn't even have any friends anymore.
Louis leaned over to him. "You, okay? Looks like we are losing you to your head."
"I am a little jealous of all of this. You guys and the way your friendships are, are amazing."
"It took me years to train them." Louis laughed and squeezed Christopher's thigh to try to get him to ease up again but that only made him tense up. What little memory he had of that night with Louis came popping back into his head. He looked over to Louis and licked his lips as dirty thoughts ran through his mind. He put his hand over Lou's and curled his fingers around it. Louis kept his cool and picked up his beer to finish it with his other hand.
"Hey guys, i am going to take Chirs upstairs and show him the apartment. I will be back down to help with cleaning up."
The boys didn't think anything of it and just continued their conversation about who would win in a fight between Spiderman and Antman.
Chris finished his beer and stood up to follow Louis up the back bar steps to the apartments. He couldn't help but stare at his ass the whole way.
Louis opened the apartment door and stepped aside so Chirstopher could go in first. "Not much has changed in here since you last saw it. Everything is here for you to use. Anything you'd like to change just ask. Um, let's see what else. The whole thing was repainted about 3 months ago. Bed, stove, furniture, refrigerator, dressers, nightstands, all yours to use unless you don't want to, then i can move them out, but they are really not that old." Chris was looking around the place as he did the last time. "Zayn is above you with Liam across from him and Nial and Ed live together across the hall from here. Rent is $850 a month. That includes everything. The guys all help out in the bar but that's up to you. I do take money off their rent in return and i even pay them for their time. If that is something you'd be interested in, we can talk about that as well."
Chris stepped up to Louis, "There seems to be a lot we need to talk about, huh?" They both wanted to kiss each other so badly but neither moved towards making the first move.
"Yeah, there is." Louis finally said, taking a step to the side of Chris. " I found the notes about you calling. And well i want to apologize."
"I should be apologizing to you. That night shouldn't have happened the way it did. It wasn't planned and i should have at least left you a note. But i kind of freaked out. I didn't know where i was at first and i honestly could not remember everything that happened that night. I was embarrassed."
"What did happen to you Cristopher? Was i that bad?" Louis asked him, feeling a little 'not worthy' of Chris all of a sudden.
"Don't ever think that please. You were fantastic actually or i wouldn't have been trying to call you almost a month afterwards." Chris said with a little chuckle. "Someone died while on board one of the boats one of my companies rent out down in Florida. The people who chartered it tried to sue the company, so i had to go through all the lawyer, paperwork, and court thing. While i was down there i also went to another company to make sure that was being run the right way as well, for a week while we waited for court. I can show you papers and proof if i have to."
"I might ask later. For now, what do you think about the apartment? Interested?"
"You know i am and will take it on a few conditions."
"And those would be?"
"One i have a job, Niall can vouch for me that i work a legit job, one that i wish to not tell you too much about though. It is legal, it's just personal and i am not ready for you to find out about that part of my life just yet, if that is okay. Paying the $850 a month is not a problem for me, in fact it's too cheap of a price for this place if you ask me, but i do not know what my work schedule will look like just yet so i cannot give you a guarantee i can help you with the bar. I am willing to help out though, just when i can."
"Are your secrets something i am going to have to change the locks for and worry about guys in black suits showing up at my bar or front door asking about you, kinda thing?"
"Maybe? You never know but it is nothing to fear or anything like that honest to god. I am just embarrassed a little bit by it. It is my first time dealing with and working with companies like this so i am trying not to fall on my ass and lose them. I learned a lot in Florida, not just about the businesses and how to help run them but about myself as well. My past isn't really the kind of past you brag about. And before you bring it up, no i wasn't in prison either. My love of ass came along as i grew up." That made them both laugh and a little more at ease with each other.
"You really are straight forward in the way you talk and do things, aren't you?"
"Does that bother you?"
"Somewhat yes. It's very intimidating."
"It comes along with the job. Not really sure how to turn it off."
Louis wanted to change the subject before he asked the wrong questions. He could tell Chris liked his privacy and he will respect that. He was kind of the same way but growing up with the same people around you, they already know everything about you.
"You said you had a few conditions?" Louis said, trying to get Chris back to the apartment subject.
"Is there a clause in the agreement that says i can't take the landlord out to dinner sometime?"
"There's a clause in there that actually states that it's mandatory at least twice a month. Landlord chooses the place as well."
"Well then let me just ask you now where we will be going so i know for next week?" Chris stepped up to Louis and lowered his head. Their lips were so close, but Chris wouldn't go any farther unless Louis made the first move.
Once again though Louis stepped back away from Chris. "Why don't we go back down and let the boys know they are going to have a new neighbor for sure now."
Christopher was crushed that Louis wouldn't kiss him but agreed and they made their way back down to the bar where the other boys were still picking at dinner and were now arguing over Iron Man and Aqua Man. Christopher stayed quiet as Louis told them the news that he was moving in. Right away they all offered to help him out by bringing things in. "That would actually be great. And thank you guys for offering but you don't have to. I can just hire moving people to help get it all out of storage and bring it here. I am not trying to impose on anyone my first few days here."
"Mate seriously? We have trucks and we are willing to help you move. We won't break anything or steal anything like the movers will." Ed told him.
"I don't know. What if he has some good shit to steal?" Liam said sarcastically.
"Well, he already knows where you live and will most likely just see it in your place and take it back." Zayn told him.
"Good point." Liam told him.
"So what day are we doing this. I have off this Saturday." Niall said.
"We can start bringing a few boxes over tomorrow before the bar opens if you want to." Lou offered.
"Tomorrow it is then. I will have to check out first. I should get going back to the hotel soon. Again, i thank you all for today and offering to help me move. I am glad to have spent the day with you all and for having me over for dinner. Maybe we can do it again soon."
"Seriously dude, i think you're going to be a lifer with us. Something just tells me in my gut." Naill told him and put his arm around Christophers shoulder and winked at Lou.
Chris said his goodbyes, then turned to Louis. "Can you please walk me out?"
Louis ran to the office to grab his coat and told the boys he'll be right back.
"Be careful out there and watch for black ice. Can you text me when you get to the hotel and let me know you are safe, please?" Louis asked him when they stopped walking and stood in front of Christopher's rented SUV. The snow had started again but it was just a coating. He started to fidget waiting for Chris to reply to his request.
Chris could tell he was nervous. 'Was he waiting for a kiss? A hug? Shit what does he want me to do?'
Without thinking Chris took Lou's hands into his and looked at him, "Come stay with me tonight?" Louis seemed to be thinking it over. "Please. I just want to be able to talk some more with you."
"Give me a second. Please don't leave." Was all Louis told him and then he ran back into the bar.
When the boys saw him, they all started to tease him. "Did you get a kiss?" "Ew you two didn't do it upstairs did you?" "What he actually left you?"
"Funny assholes. Jealous?"
"A little." Ed admitted.
"Nope not at all. Seems to be a quick one though, doesn't he?" Zayn replied.
"I got some last night. I'm good." Niall said proudly.
"Hey Liam, can i talk to you for a second?" Liam got up to follow Louis into the office. "What's up Tommo?"
"He asked me to come back to his hotel room with him." Louis said nervously.
"That doesn't surprise me. Does it surprise you? I thought that's what you wanted in a way tonight?"
"No not really and yeah it is or was. Shit Liam, i don't know any more. Twice he's tried to kiss me and i stepped away from him."
"Give me a second." Liam told him as he ran out of the office but was back in a few minutes with a plastic bag and a bottle of Jack Danels.
"Take this." He said and handed Louis the plastic bag. "And a few swigs of this. Then go with him. I got the bar and the dogs and will sleep at the house tonight for you."
"Are you fucking with me Liam? Just this morning you were mad he was even back."
"Louis, you told me to let you find things out for yourself did you not? I am giving you an opportunity to. Don't fuck it up okay."
"I love you!" Louis practically screamed and grabbed the bottle, took a few swigs, and hugged Liam. "Thank you!"
"Bye Louis! Get out of here before i change my mind." Liam said to him as he pushed him out of the office door. Louis yelled good night to the guys and ran back to Christopher and practically scared the shit out of him when he opened the passenger side door of the SUV.
"Okay. Let's go."
"So that is a, yes?"
"That is a definite yes. Just had to get the boys to close up the bar and watch the house for me."
The ride back was quiet though and when they pulled up to the hotel Louis was a little in shock to find out Christopher was staying at the most expensive place in town. When they walked through the front doors, the gentleman at the desk greeted them and smiled. Chris gave him a smile back and a little wave then went to the elevators and pushed the button.
"I um just got back so there's things kind of all over the room. I have been living out of my suitcases and a cardboard box for a few months now."
"I don't judge like that Chris." Louis just said to him as they stepped off the elevator and was expecting to see just a regular messy hotel room. Instead, it was a messy hotel suite complete with a kitchen and a balcony.
Chris was thankful that housekeeping had come through while he was gone. Fresh towels and sheets made a huge difference when you brought back company.
"What was it you said you did for a living again?" Louis asked him hoping he would get a real answer this time.
Chris saw the way Louis was looking around the room in awe, so he had to tell him something. "I help failing businesses get back on their feet again. That's all you're getting out of me."
"Fair enough. Better than the last answer though." Louis joked.
"Can i get you a drink or did the shots help at the bar before you left?"
"How uh..."
"I can smell it on your breath Louis. Are you uncomfortable around me?"
Louis was a little embarrassed and turned red causing Christopher's heart to skip a beat at the cuteness of it all. "A little. Yeah. Sorry about that."
"No worries. It's natural."
"Just so you know, Liam brought me the bottle. I really did only go back to let him know i was leaving."
"Louis, seriously, it is okay."
Christopher walked to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of orange soda as Louis came up beside. "Not much in here sorry. Had a cart full of juices." Louis giggled and told Chris an orange soda was just fine for him too.
They walked to the sofa in the sitting room and Chris turned the TV on. "What's your poison?"
"Not really sure. I don't watch too much TV. I am usually always at the bar or watching Netflix or Prime."
"I have both on my laptop if you want to go in the bedroom and watch something in there?"
"I would really like that, yeah but um could i take a shower first? I smell like seafood and sweat."
"Yeah. Come, i'll show you the bathroom. I will set everything up and wait for you."
Lou's jaw dropped when he saw the bathroom. It was almost the size of the bedroom itself. "One of these days when i have my own place i will have a shower like this. It has a rainfall setting and a massage setting." Louis couldn't help but smile looking at the shower head and faucet in the shower. "What, wait till you feel them, and you will agree."
"I have. I have the same set up in my bathroom."
"Then see you already know. I'll leave you to it since you know how to work everything. Enjoy yourself." Chris told Louis as he turned to leave the bathroom.
Louis put his bag down and watched Chris walk back out of the door but before he shut it, he had to ask him. "Hey Christopher?"
"Hey Louis?" Chris turned to look at him.
"Would you like to join me?" Louis asked, looking at the floor and shuffling his feet against each other like a little kid.
"Do you think i stink too?" Chris lifted up one arm to smell his one arm pit and then the other.
"A little?" Lou said with a funny face and his nose scrunched up.
"Well in that case i better huh. Have to brush my teeth first though so i don't make you seasick when i breath on you."
"Good idea." Louis said. "So, ah should i." 'Shit!' He thought. 'I don't even have a toothbrush. Maybe i could use my fingers.' Louis suddenly got really self-conscious of his breath and forgot all about the bag Liam gave him and went to look inside. 'I am going to give him the best damn blow job of his life when i get home.' He said to himself about Liam as he looked inside the bag to find the clothes Chris brought back that were Liam's and the set of new clothes Chris technically bought for Louis. Liam also threw in travel shampoos, deodorant, and a little travel toothbrush toothpaste kit.
"Do you need a toothbrush, Lou?" Chris said as he held a brand new one out for Lou.
"Thank you but i already have one."
"Ah prepared, aren't you? I thought you only went in to tell the guys you were staying over at my place."
"Liam." Was all Louis said.
" Hooked you up huh?"
"Yeah, he is good like that. Always looking out for me when i need him." Louis couldn't help grin at the thought of his friend packing him a goodie bag as he squeezed out a dab of toothpaste and started to brush his teeth.
Chris finished first and turned the shower on to warm up. He kicked his shoes off and then undid his pants and took them off. As he took his shirt off Louis couldn't help but to bite his lip and stare. He forgot about all the tattoos Chris was covered in. He was tan, oh so tan and his body. Toothpaste started to drip out of Lou's mouth as Chris snapped his fingers in front of him.
"You are literally drooling foam out of your mouth over me. Should i be worried about needing shots or something?"
"Jerk." Louis said playfully as he rinsed his mouth out with water. Chris took his boxers off and was already in the shower when Lou was finished and began to undress as well. Chris had his eyes closed and was shampooing up his hair when Lou's hip brushed his ass. Washing the shampoo off his eyes, Chris squeezed another blob of shampoo into his hand and turned to wash Lou's hair for him. Louis closed his eyes and just stood there like an idiot. Hands by his side and feet together. Chris pulled the water wand down and rinsed the shampoo from both their heads.
"Hey, do you want to see something really cool?" Louis said as he stepped out of the shower and turned the lights off in the bathroom.
"You're still planning on killing me, aren't you?" Chris didn't move just in case.
"Shut up and watch." Louis hit a button and the rain started to fall in the shower. He hit another button and lights of all different colors began to dance around the bathroom. "Ever danced in the rain naked?"
"I have actually but not like this." Chris said and put his arms around Lou's waist. At first, they were dancing around like they were at a nightclub. They were having fun just joking around like kids playing in a rainstorm. Louis squirted liquid soap all over himself and then Chris and they used the wash clothes to clean themselves off. Chris took the wand down again and rinsed them both off and Louis turned the shower off once he was done. Still laughing as they both stepped out and grabbed towels to dry off with. Chris had to use two because of all his hair.
"I'm going to go get dressed and give you a minute to get ready for bed okay."
"Thanks. I will be out in a minute." Louis dug in the bag and pulled out the new sweats that were supposed to be for him in the first place and the new t-shirt Chris bought too. 'Wow these are comfortable.'' Louis thought when he put them on and looked down to see that they had Florida in big gray letters down the side of them. Liam wasn't getting them back. Just pulling the shirt over his head as he walked out of the bathroom, He heard Chris laughing at him.
"Haha nice sweats. A little big on you though."
"Why thank you. Got them from a really good one-night stand who owed..." Louis stopped what he was saying. Without planning it Chris also had on his Florida sweats that he bought to match Louis. "Please tell me we're not going to be one of those couples, are we?" he groaned and shook his head.
"One of what couples?"
"You know what i meant."
"Why did this one-night stand owe you?"
"He didn't really owe me, he more like.."
"Wait, are we a couple?" Chris caught him on his words, as curiosity got him now and he wasn't going to let Louis change the subject.
"Let's get in bed and we can talk about it okay."
"Aren't we supposed to date for a little while before you try to get me in bed?" Chris was pushing it, but he knew Louis was going along with him.
"Let's see. Today we had lunch, first date, then dinner together, second date, then we danced in the rain with bubbles, which is pretty appropriate for a third date or was it the fourth and the store was technically our first date today? Would you like for me to hold your hand and we can stroll around the hotel suite for one more and look at all the sites out of the windows like the parking lot, the closed swimming pool, and my favorite, the black nothingness that surrounds the place?"
"Maybe tomorrow night. Mingling with everyone, all the food, and taking in everything today, made me a little tired." Chris yawned and pulled the covers back on the bed. "Which side do you prefer?"
"Next to the window." Lou said as he jumped in a scooted over. Chris picked his laptop up off of the little desk in the room, got in next to him, and leaned against the headboard as he folded the blankets back over both of them. He opened his laptop and then opened the tabs for both Prime and Netflix, then handed it to Louis and told him to pick something for them to watch.
"I will be right back." Chris said as he got out of bed and went to the kitchen only to come back a minute later with their sodas and a few bags of chips. "I didn't know what kind you liked so i just grabbed them all." He said as he turned the bedroom light off and got back into bed.
"I am pretty full from dinner but thank you."
Chris nodded and put all the chip bags on the floor as Louis put his soda on the bedside table next to him.
"Find anything good?"
"No, you weren't gone long enough for me to really look. But i heard this one right here is pretty good. Zayn and Ed were talking about it yesterday."
"That one it is then." Chris said as he clicked on it and put it into full screen mode. Him and Louis then laid down a little more into the bed and put the laptop on each one of their thighs.
A little way into the movie Louis put his arms over his head to stretch them out. Chris without hesitation cuddled up to Louis and wrapped himself around him as he laid his head on Lou's chest. Louis lowered his arms. wrapped one around Chris and began to play with his hair with the other one. They eventually fell asleep like this in the middle of the movie.
YOU ARE READING
Heaven Sent
Fiksi PenggemarLou found the love of his life one night at the bar, when he least expected to. The sex was amazing. His body was perfect. He cooked, cleaned, and knew just how to suck Lou silly in the bedroom. He was his ying to Lou's yang. In just a few short mi...
