~*~ Louis (continued) ~*~
After their evening of celebrating and a full day of sightseeing, gambling, and fun, they end up back at the hotel to get ready for dinner the next evening. Louis had made reservations at a nearby restaurant, and they are rushing to get ready, having filled their day to the last possible minute.
Once everyone finally is ready, Louis leads the way to the restaurant, herding everyone quickly down the strip. He laughs at how easily everyone becomes distracted by pretty lights and stores, smiling as Harry stops to look inside a window.
“Come on, love.” Louis tugs on Harry’s hand. “We’re already late.”
“But Lou,” Harry pouts, pointing to the window. “I want to go in there.”
Louis can’t help but be endeared. “I’ll take you after dinner. I promise.”
Harry beams at him, and they fall back in with the group walking down the sidewalk. They arrive at the restaurant and are seated immediately as if they weren’t twenty minutes late. Harry looks at Louis suspiciously. “You own this place. This is one of your restaurants, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Liam’s eyes bug out. “Who are you?”
“I’m just Louis.”
“Yeah, okay, and I’m next in line for the throne,” Niall tosses out with a chuckle.
“I’ll explain everything when we get back home. Just give me some time.” Louis sighs, knowing he can trust these people, but still unable to extinguish the fear of their response to his past. Shaking off the worry and anxiety that comes with the idea of sharing everything, he changes the subject.
~~*~~
By the time they finally arrive back home the next week, the group of friends is exhausted and running on fumes. They had done every touristy thing they could think of, never stopping to rest until late in the early hours of the morning and starting all over again just a couple of hours later.
“I could sleep for a year,” Niall complains as he slumps on the couch at the flat.
“Same, but it was worth it. I had the best time. Thank you,” Gemma says, hugging Louis before falling onto the seat beside Niall.
“Pizza?” Zayn asks. “I’m too tired to do anything else.”
“Sounds perfect,” Louis agrees.
After the pizza is ordered, they lounge around watching a movie while taking turns in the shower. Just as Louis returns to the living room with wet hair and dressed in comfortable black joggers and white tank top, the pizza arrives. Zayn pauses the movie, and they spread out the food on the coffee table. Digging in, they waste no time in devouring the food.
Just as everyone begins slowing down, their initial hunger sate, Louis places his hand on Harry’s thigh and addresses the room. “I wanted to talk to everyone about something.”
“What’s up?” Zayn asks, leaning back into the couch and rubbing his full belly.
Louis glances at Harry, who gives him a slight nod and rests his hand over Louis’ in silent support. “Obviously, we all spend more time at the flat together than anywhere else lately, which I personally have no issue with, so I had an idea. I talked to Harry about it when we were in Las Vegas, and he agrees. What do you lot think about the six of us moving into a house and letting Harry’s mom have the flat?”
