2:39. He moves his mouse to hover over the exit button. 15…14…13…12…sound crackles from his speakers and a faceless circle flashes on the screen indicating that someone has entered the chat.
A decidedly male voice erupts from his laptop, “Hi! Are you still there? Please still be there. Hello? Hello? I am so sorry I’m late. Shit, I’ve already screwed this up. Ugh. Fuck. Hello?”
Louis laughs, “I’m still here, mate. Stress less. You’re good.”
“Oh, hi!” the man’s relief comes through loud and clear. “I’m Harry. I didn’t mean to be late. I really didn’t. I actually set everything up over three hours ago, and then all hell broke loose. There was so much water everywhere and…” he takes a breath, “and I should stop rambling. So yeah, I guess, hi.”
“Hi, Harry. I’m Louis,” he introduces himself. “Are you still good for now? We can reschedule for another time.”
“No! Please, no. Now is good,” Harry responds, panic reentering his tone.
“If you’re sure,” Louis replies. He finds himself smiling at the spastic man on the other end of the call.
“I’m sure,” Harry confirms.
“Alright then. Tell me about what you're needing. Family dinner, right?”
“Yes, well, no. It’s a family weekend thing, but if you can only attend the dinner, that’s fine. I left it open because I don’t want to take too much of your time. They didn’t tell me whether you had accepted just the dinner or the entire weekend,” Harry says, suddenly sounding shy. “I’ll make sure to have a car available to take you home right after dinner on Thursday if that’s what you want.”
“No worries. We’ll get that part sorted,” Louis smiles encouragingly even though the man, Harry, can’t see him. “Would I be attending as your friend or…”
Harry cuts him off, “Whatever you want. My parents will be unhappy no matter if you are there as a friend, boyfriend, or escort.”
“I am definitely not escort material, mate,” Louis snickers as he thinks of his tattoos and piercings, “but I am not sure I am “meet the parents” boyfriend material either. Can we play it by ear for now?”
“Yes. Absolutely, yes. Whatever you want. Whatever you are comfortable with.”
“Just so I am prepared though, would there be an issue if we go the dating route?” Harry’s silence speaks volumes. “So, that’s a yes,” Louis concludes.
“No. Yes. Maybe,” Harry sighs. “Yes, they would have a problem with it, but I don’t really care. As long as it’s what you want, that is.”
“You get a say, too, yeah? If after you see me, you just want to spin the friend narrative, I can do that,” Louis offers.
“After I see you?” Harry asks.
“I’m not the pretty boy next door, mate,” Louis answers, stretching out his legs and fiddling with his lip ring.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Nothing really. I am just preparing you. Don’t get your hopes up. I’m just me, and most people don’t find me very appealing and even more find me unapproachable.”
