louis
Louis never takes time off work. If the bar is open, he’s there. Always. Without fail. Louis knows this. Every employee knows this. And Louis knows Zayn knows this. He's not ready for this conversation. He has spent the last hour trying to figure out how to approach Zayn, only to decide that blurting it out and getting it over with was the best option. “Can you work the bar next weekend?”
“What?” Zayn jerks his head up to look at Louis.
“I have something to do Thursday through Monday. Can you take care of the bar for me? Liam will be working, so if you can help, it shouldn’t be too bad. I can schedule two barbacks to facilitate any overflow.” Louis snaps his mouth shut. What’s up with the rambling all of a sudden?
“What?” Zayn repeats, sitting up and shaking his head as if to clear it. “I mean…what?”
Louis rolls his eyes with a chuckle. “It’s a yes or no question, Z.”
“Yeah. Yes. Yes, I can work the bar. I don’t have anything going on next weekend.” Zayn squints at Louis before pursing his lips and lifting one brow. “Where will you be?”
“Away. Out of town, actually,” Louis says evasively with a wave of his hand.
“What?” Zayn parrots again. “I’m confused. Where are you going?”
Louis sighs and pulls at one of the bracelets on his wrist. It’s starting to wear, and he needs to replace it soon. “Can you let it go for now? I’ll fill you in later. I promise. I just need to get the bar covered first.”
“Yeah, I’ll take care of it for you. I’ll do anything for you. You know that,” Zayn says, pointing to Louis and shaking his finger. “But you will be telling me everything.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know,” he agrees, already realizing that Zayn will not let this go. Right now, though, he needs to get to the bar. “Thanks. I’m on my way to work. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Actually, wait. I’ll come with you,” Zayn suggests, jumping up to get ready.
Zayn knows the bar almost as well as Louis. It’s the main reason Louis is mostly comfortable leaving for a few days. He narrows his eyes. “What are you up to?”
Stripping down to his boxers, Zayn tosses a grin to Louis. “Nothing. I just thought a refresher would do me some good.”
“Uh huh. Right. Well, get your clothes on. We have to leave, but just so you know, you aren’t fooling me with your refresher excuse.”
“Piss off.” Zayn pulls on jeans and a red t shirt, fusses with his hair for a minute, and deems himself ready. Louis concedes he’s a little jealous at how put together and perfect Zayn is with only a couple of minutes preparation time. Slipping on their shoes, they leave the flat and walk to the bar. Louis is relieved that Zayn doesn’t push the topic of why Louis needs him to cover the bar, instead opting to tell him about the art class he took yesterday.
~~*~~
It’s just after 6:00 p.m. when Louis sees Harry enter. Two hours, eight minutes, and nine seconds after they opened. Not that he was watching or waiting or anything. Nope. Never.
