The Divorce

9

The kiss was heating up and before Harry knew it he was on his back and Louis was trying to remove his shirt. Harry panicked and broke the kiss.
"Wait, no, I don't wanna be your rebound."

Louis looked surprised and sat up.
"You're not. Harry, you're not! I like you. Always have, to be honest."

"What? Why haven't you said anything? You married Eleanor. That was a low point in my life because I like you too!" Harry replied and bit his lip, afraid that he had said too much.

"That was a low point in me life too." Louis snorted.

They sat in silence next to each other. Louis glanced at him.
"You like me? I always figured you were way out of me league. I didn't think I'd stand a chance."

"I'm not that special." Harry chuckled.

"You are!" Louis smiled.

"So are you." Harry retorted.

"Right. Eh, so, can I like, ask you out on a proper date?" Louis asked, seemingly nervous.

"Yeah? I'd love that!" Harry beamed.

"Tomorrow?" Louis suggested.

"Absolutely." Harry immediately agreed.

"Wow, ehm, shit!" Louis uttered and Harry giggled.

Louis rolled his eyes at him.
"'I'm excited!"

"So am I." Harry grinned.

It was a little awkward between them. Harry shifted around on the sofa. Louis opened his mouth.
"I married El because it was the next step. We had been together for some time and she wanted to get married and I thought I owed her that. I did love her at some point, I'm not an asshole. I think marriage was a desperate way for both of us to, like, try to get back to that feeling. I don't know. It sounds stupid when I say it out loud."

Louis sighed and rubbed his neck. He glanced at Harry and smiled.
"Okay." Harry answered, not really knowing what to say. Then he remembered Eleanor's accusation earlier.
"So what did she really mean when she said that I'm a part of the problem?"

"Uhm, I guess I've always talked about you a lot. She suspected I had a crush on you and she wasn't wrong. It wasn't something I admitted to her because, damn, that's not okay. I feel bad for her, thinking back. I wasn't always a great boyfriend or husband. I think she felt like a secondhand choice and that's fucking awful." Louis sighed. He looked ashamed of himself.

Harry once again was at a loss for words. He tried to put himself in Eleanor's situation and that was indeed awful. What if Louis was one of those people who never settled? Who always looked for something better?
"Were you faithful?" He had to ask.

Louis' mouth dropped and he stared at him.
"I'm not a cheater, Harry! Of course, I was faithful. I'm not that big of an asshole."

"Sorry." Harry apologized.

Louis waved him off.Harry decided to bring up that awkward conversation he had with Eleanor before the wedding.
"Uhm, has Eleanor ever mentioned that she talked to me before the wedding?"

"No, talked about what?" Louis asked.

"Well, it wasn't as much of a conversation. It was her telling me to back off. Apparently she could tell that I liked you, and... I mean, she wasn't wrong so I tried to keep my distance." Harry admitted, feeling embarrassed.

Louis stared at him.
"Really? What the fuck! That's messed up."

"Yeah." Harry replied.

He needed to be alone to process everything that happened this evening. Louis kissed him! Louis liked him. He couldn't believe it. He excused himself and mumbled something about being tired and fled to his bedroom. He threw himself on the bed and stared at the ceiling. They kissed. It had been better than he had ever imagined. Louis was a great kisser.

What did this even mean? Louis was technically still married. The divorce wouldn't be final for another six months. Not that it really mattered. Louis had asked him out on a date and he had to seize the opportunity. What if it was too early though and they wouldn't stand a fair chance? They had to take it slow. Really fucking slow.

He must have fallen asleep because he woke up from his alarm. After being disoriented for a couple of seconds he got up and went to the bathroom. He hurried through his morning routine, grimaced at his unruly locks of hair in the mirror, and tried his best to tame them before he headed back to his room to get dressed.

He headed to the kitchen and made a cup of coffee and a smoothie.
"Good morning."

Harry turned around. Louis was leaning against the door frame, looking very soft and cuddly in a big hoodie and messy hair. He must have just woken up.
"Good morning. Coffee?"

"Yeah. Uhm, do you still wanna go on a date later?" Louis asked.

"Of course! Yeah. What time?" Harry smiled.

"I made a reservation at a restaurant at seven. Too early?" Louis asked. He walked over and Harry handed him a cup of coffee. Louis leaned his back against the counter and held both hands around the cup. He looked adorable. "Too early?" Louis repeated.

Harry snapped out of his secret admiring.
"No, it's perfect."

"Alright. I better get ready. I just wanted to catch you before you go to work. Have a great day!" Louis smiled. He put down his mug and walked out of the kitchen.

"You too!" Harry half-shouted behind him.

Ten minutes later he left for work. The day went by so slow. He glanced at the clock every five minutes and couldn't concentrate on the computer. At lunch, he decided to give Niall a ring.
"Hey! What's up?" Niall asked as he answered the phone.

"Louis asked me out on a date." Harry said.

He had to remove the phone from his ear when Niall let out a weird and very loud screech. It sounded like a wounded baby elk or something.
"Fantastic! I knew it would finally happen! Tell me everything!"

"There's not much more to tell. He asked me out. I said yes." Harry chuckled.

"Details! Where were you? Did he just blurt it out? What were you wearing?" Niall babbled excitedly.

"Living room. No, it lead up to that after a discussion beforehand. I don't know what I wore. Pants and a shirt I guess. Why is that even important?" Harry laughed.

"Details matter. I'm trying to picture it. What kind of discussion?" Niall questioned.

"A private one." Harry answered.

"Pfft. You're ruining my moment here, Styles. I've waited a long time for this." Niall huffed.

"Me too." Harry responded lowly. He hesitated. "Do you think it's too soon? I mean, he's still married to Eleanor."

"Technicality. I'd say it's about damn time!" Niall answered.