~*~ Harry ~*~
Harry and Louis find Gemma in a secluded booth at the back of the restaurant, away from the other tables. Harry is grateful his sister understands his need to be separated from people right now. Louis nudges Harry to slide in first, quickly following in close behind him and sitting closer than necessary.
“Sorry,” Harry whispers, head bowed.
“For what?” Gemma asks.
Harry shrugs and reticently replies, “Being me. Getting in my head like that. Closing off.”
Gemma waves away his words. “Stop. I understand. Don’t apologize for who you are or for mentally protecting yourself.”
Louis skims his hand over Harry’s thigh, squeezing gently. Harry drops his head to Louis’ shoulder and sighs in relief. “What is everyone having?”
Gemma scoffs, “Like you don’t already know.”
“Well, I don’t know what Louis is having,” Harry sasses.
“What’s good?” Louis asks, picking up the plastic menu.
“Everything,” the siblings answer together.
“Wow, in stereo, even,” Louis laughs. Kissing the top of Harry’s head, he says, “You pick. I’ll try anything once.”
Harry giggles, “Famous last words.”
“Oh, God, what did I just get myself into?”
~~*~~
Leaning back, Harry rubs his full stomach cautiously, afraid to move for fear of being sick. “I have a food baby.” He groans as he watches Louis still eating. “Where do you put it all? You’re so tiny, and you eat more than anyone I have ever met, except for maybe Niall.”
Louis just grins at him with his mouth full and continues to chew. Harry closes his eyes. He can’t watch anymore, or he’s definitely going to be sick.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you something,” Louis says getting Harry’s attention between bites. Harry opens one eye in response. “You’ve mentioned before that you are friends with Niall.”
“Yeah, he’s my best mate. What about it?” Harry closes his open eye and relaxes into the booth again.
Louis swallows another bite before asking, “When you said you had three drinks that knocked you on your arse, did you get them from Niall at Midnight Memories the week before I met you?”
“Mmm, yeah, why?” Harry moans, remembering those drinks and how perfect they were.
“Because I made them.” Louis shrugs nonchalantly, as he eats a chip from the remaining food on Harry’s plate.
Harry jerks upright in his seat and gawks at Louis. “You made them? Red drink, lots of cherries? Limit of three?”
Louis nods with a self-satisfied expression and confirms, “That’s the one.”
