Big Top

Chapter 46

Louis's pov

Deborah lead us into her house and to the living room. It was a small, quaint house; nothing fancy about it. The walls were painted a cream color, a brick fireplace was on the opposite wall facing the doorway, tan colored furniture - a sofa and two chairs around a coffee table - sat over the wooden floor. I admired all the family pictures she had on the walls, it looked as though the only little girl that was actually hers was the red head. There were even crayon drawings done on the wall that had been framed, I thought that was very sweet. "Uh, you two can have a seat." She motioned to the sofa and she sat down in the chair across from us. "You both look exhausted. I'm sorry about the heat, our air conditioning unit is out and we can't afford to fix it right now." She explained as she dabbed her face with the dish towel. "Would you like anything to drink? Lemonade? Iced tea? Water?"

"Water sounds lovely, thank you." Harry said.

"Yes, water, if it's not too much trouble." I said to her.

"Oh, nonsense." She smiled and walked to the kitchen. When she returned she held two glasses of iced water. "You know, you look awful familiar." She said to me as she handed me my glass. "Have I met you before."

"Have you ever been to The Tomlinson Circus?" I asked, hating to even say the words.

She shook her head slowly and furrowed her eyebrows, thinking. "But, I have seen the posters....That's who you are!" The realization hit her. "Tomlinson....So, wait, do you run the circus?"

"No, ma'am. M-my father did, but the circus is no longer in business." I explained.

"Oh, why s'that?"

"My father died, a...a performing incident." I did not really think I should tell the whole truth, but technically I was not lying.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." She apologized sincerely.

"I-I really don't like talking about it." I said, just so she would not harp on the subject. But after I said it, Harry choked on a gulp of water causing in the fall down his chest. Poor thing probably tried to laugh.

"Oh, are you alright?" She rushed to Harry and dabbed her dish towel over his shirt and exposed chest. And that's when I realized just how much of his chest was exposed. "O-oh, u-um," she began to stutter when he stood up to wave his shirt out. Because of his height he towered over her making her look up at him.

"I'm alright, thank you." He said sweetly.

"A-are you sure, I could get you a fresh shirt if you'd like." I rose an eyebrow at her when she touched his chest again gently. "You're soaked."

"I'm really ok." He assured her and sat back down.

"I-I'll just...a..." she stuttered, "I'll go get Jean." She said before she walked out of the room.

I looked over at Harry and his gorgeous, exposed skin on his chest, "Button up your shirt." I scolded him. Poor thing looked like a kicked puppy.

"Why? You like it when I wear my shirts like this." He said, not understanding.

"I don't like the way she's stuttering a-and fawning all over you." I explained, "Just...button up your damn shirt." I hissed at him.

"Oh, she's harmless, Louis. She's married. She's just not used to attractive, rugged men in her home." He joked.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes, "Would you please just button up your shirt?" I gave him a serious look and all he did was smirk at me, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You jealous is...kinda hot." He blushed as he buttoned up his shirt.

"God, don't do this here." I whispered, trying to control myself.