The One-night Stand

15

In the week that followed Harry found Louis staring at him more than usual but he didn't comment on it. Liam's plan hadn't worked at all. Harry had no idea what he had expected but nothing had changed between him and Louis.

On Saturday Louis went away in the morning. It was a nice day outside so Harry put a sun hat on Lee and they spent the day outside. Louis came home an hour later.
"Come help me with this!" He shouted as he got out of the car.

Harry took Lee by the hand and they walked over. Louis opened the trunk to his combi.
"I bought a swing set." He grinned.

"That's great! Lee will love that." Harry smiled.

Louis took out the first box from the back when a car pulled up. Liam got out.
"Hi, guys!"

"Hello." Harry greeted.

Louis muttered a "hi."

Liam immediately helped him carry the boxes and they put them down between their lawns.
"I was gonna see if you're free today, Harry. Maybe you wanna do something?"

"He's busy." Louis answered.

"Alright, tomorrow?" Liam asked and looked at Harry.

"He's busy every day for the next fucking year, Payno!" Louis snapped and walked away.

Harry was about to go after him but Liam held out a hand.
"Let me talk to him."

Harry unpacked the boxes with the help of Lee but he glanced at Liam and Louis who were having a conversation on Louis' porch. He couldn't hear what they were saying but Louis looked upset.

When they walked over he tried to look busy.
"Harry? I'm sorry. If you wanna go out with Liam I'll watch Lee."

Harry looked between them.
"I rather put this swingset together. Raincheck, Liam?"

"Of course. I'll help you build it." Liam smiled.

Harry went inside his house to get some refreshments and a banana for Lee. Liam showed up.
"I'll help you carry. Just so you know, I think Louis and I had a good talk. I told him that if he didn't want to lose you to another alpha he should get his shit together and act. He didn't disagree."

"That doesn't mean he agreed." Harry replied.

"I think he got a lot to think about. I'm not revealing the full conversation we had because that wouldn't be right to Louis. Let's just say I'm positive." Liam smiled.

"Thanks, Liam." Harry beamed.

They brought the refreshment with them and Harry fed Lee the banana while Liam and Louis put together the swing set. Lee got to try it out and he giggled happily. Liam left.
"Hungry? I can cook us something." Louis offered.

"Okay." Harry agreed with a smile.

Lee protested when they took him out of the swing but it was time for his nap so they lay him down in Louis' house and he fell asleep eventually.

Louis opened the fridge and looked inside. He picked out the ingredients he needed and defrosted some chicken.
"Can I help?" Harry offered.

"You've made me dinner lots of times. It's me turn now. Do you want a glass of wine?" Louis offered.

"Oh, I don't know if I should drink with Lee around." Harry hesitated.

"He's asleep and it's just one glass, Harry." Louis said.

"Okay." Harry agreed.

Louis found two glasses and a bottle of white wine and filled the glasses halfway. He made a toast before he opened a Jamie Oliver cookbook. Harry watched him with an amused smile on display. Louis noticed.
"We can't all be master chefs. I need a recipe, okay?"

"I didn't say a word." Harry said and held up his hands in defense.

He had fun watching Louis trying to cook. He stuffed the chicken with mozzarella and wrapped them in parma ham before he put them in the oven. Watching him attempting to make mash was even funnier. Louis was in a good mood and made jokes.

When Lee woke up Harry had finished his glass of wine and went to get him. The food was ready so they sat down to eat. Harry cut the chicken into small pieces and put the plate in front of Lee before he filled his own plate. Lee took a piece of chicken and put it in his mouth and spit it out on the table.
"Lee! Eat the food." Harry said.

Lee shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Louis. Maybe it's too fancy for him?" Harry tried to smooth things over.

"It's fine, Harry. No biggie. I have some pancakes in the fridge. I'll get some for him." Louis said and got up.

While he microwaved the pancakes Harry took his first bite of the food and almost spit it out himself. The homemade mash tasted burnt and the chicken, well some spice on it didn't mix well with the mozzarella and parma ham. He forces himself to chew and swallow.

Louis returned with the pancakes and cut them into small pieces.
"How did you like the food?"

"Great! Good job." Harry smiled and forced another bite down without pulling a face.

Louis looked happy, at least until he tastes the food himself. He grimaced.
"Crap! It tastes horrible."

"It's not that bad." Harry said and was about to force another bite down.

"Please don't eat that. We'll order pizza." Louis said and held out a hand to stop him from putting the fork in his mouth.

"Oh, thank God." Harry slipped.

Louis burst out laughing.
"Remind me to never cook you a meal ever again."

"But I loved that part." Harry pouted.

"I'll take a cooking class or something or maybe you could teach me? I don't want our son to starve when he's here." Louis smiled

"I'll teach you!" Harry hurried to say. He wouldn't mind spending more time in Louis' company.

Louis smiled and nodded his head. He ordered pizza while Harry cleared the table.

The afternoon passed quickly. They ate pizza and then they took Lee to the swing set again and before they knew it, it was Lee's bedtime. They headed over to Harry's and put Lee to bed.
"Wanna watch a movie?" Louis suggested as they walked downstairs.

"Sure." Harry agreed.

They sat down in the living room and chose a film to watch. Harry glanced at Louis. Whatever Liam had said to Louis must have worked but he had no idea if this was a date because Louis hadn't said anything that indicated such a thing. He guessed he just had to wait and see.