When yet another anniversary passes without a marriage proposal from his boyfriend, Harry decides to take action. Aware of an Irish tradition that allows to pop the question on Feb. 29, he plans to follow his lover to Dublin and ask him to marry him...
"It's a beautiful city." Harry says as they both walk together to the hotel, his bag in his hand, Louis pulling Gucci with him. "And l haven't seen one backstabbing snake." Harry teases repeating Louis words when they met the first time.
"Yeah, well, it's the chancers and cheats that you have to watch out for."
They both stop when they reach a bridge, to enjoy some time looking at the beautiful view.
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"He's here, isn't he?" Harry asks after a few minutes of silence. "In Dublin. One of the chancers and cheats." Louis looks at Harry with a glum face. "The guy in the photo." Harry understands he is right from the silence. "Who was the girl?" Louis raises an eyebrow at him. "Oh!" Harry nods. "So him and her...Right." Harry looks back at the water. "Sorry."
"We were all running the Caragh together, me, Ryan, Kaleigh." Louis says after a beat, looking at Harry. "So we bought the pub and built it up from nothing." Harry listens to him speak, Louis looking down. "We really got it going. l mean, we were flying. And l thought that me and Ryan were mad for each other." Louis stops for a second, looking back at Harry. "Apparently not." Louis breaks their eye contact sighing. "So that thing I'd grab if l had 60 seconds, it's my mom's engagement ring, the one thing I've left of her."
"Mmm-hmm." Harry smiles softly.
"Well, he's got it."
"Hm, your mom left you?" Harry enquires.
"Kind of. I then left England to come to my uncle here, the uh, bald guy?" He continues when Harry nods. "Robert and his husband, George, looked after me. So that's that." Louis shrugs.
Harry changes the subject since it seemed sensitive. "Well, you're here now. You should find him and get it back."
"l don't know."
"It's your mom's ring." Harry says softly.
"Anyway, l thought it was your ring we were meant to be worrying about. Diddly-eye." Louis says a smirk on his lips.
"Oh, yeah. Right." Harry rolls his eyes before sighing. "Well, I'm glad to see you're finally on board."
"It has nothing to do with me. I'm just the old bag carrier around here." Louis shrugs patting Gucci. He stands straight to face Harry. "Why should l care?"
"So you don't?" The smile on Harry's face falters.
"Would it make a difference?" Louis observes Harry's eyes and waits for an answer, but he just remains silent and looks away. "Come on." Louis says not looking at Harry and takes Gucci, walking in front.
———
Harry steps out of the ATM and walks back to the lobby where Louis was standing. He turns around once he sees Harry approaching.
"So." Harry smiles at him.
"So." Louis mimics Harry.
Harry sighs before extending the money in his hand. "Here."
