The Divorce

12

Louis moved back in. He had tried to reassure him that he was fine crashing on Liam's couch but Harry was persistent. Louis then told him that he was apartment hunting and would buy a new place as soon as his old flat was sold, which was finalized in a week or two.

Things weren't the same as it was before that disastrous date. Harry suggested that they would have another barbeque with the guys and Louis agreed. They invited Liam, Zayn, and Niall on Saturday.

They went grocery shopping but Louis wasn't his old goofy self. They just bought the stuff they needed and went back home.

Harry could sense a difference in their friend group as well when they arrived. Niall was angry. He didn't talk to Louis at all. Liam looked unhappy and glanced between him and Louis repeatedly. Zayn was quiet as usual.

It didn't take long for Louis to realize that Niall was ignoring him. He tried to talk to him as they all sat down to eat but Niall didn't as much as look at him.
"Hey, Niall! What's going on? Why are you ignoring me?" Louis asked.

Harry could feel the tension in the room. Liam and Zayn glanced worriedly at each other.
"I'm fucking angry at you. That's why." Niall answered.

"Alright, let's address it then. What have I done to you?" Louis asked.

"You know what you did to Harry and what you do to him you do to me." Niall replied.

"Niall, it's okay." Harry tried to assure him but Niall just snorted.

"Is that so? If I fu... kiss Harry, does that mean I have to fucking kiss you too, Nialler?" Louis sassed.

"That's ridiculous." Niall huffed.

"That's exactly me fucking point!" Louis growled.

They stared angrily at each other and Harry made another attempt to keep the peace.
"Guys! Please don't fight. It's okay, Niall. Louis and I have talked about it and I have forgiven him. We're friends."

"You forgive people way too easily." Niall pointed out.

"That's a great quality. Don't try and turn it into something bad. You on the other hand hold a fucking grudge way too long, when it's not even your fucking grudge to hold. Seriously, Niall, what the hell is your problem? I feel bad enough as it is." Louis commented.

Niall didn't say anything. Louis got up and walked out. They heard him slam the door to his bedroom.
"That was unnecessary." Harry said and looked at Niall.

"He pisses me off." Niall replied.

"You don't have to fight my battles." Harry replied.

Niall sighed.
"I just hate it when you're sad."

"I'm not sad anymore. I bet Louis is sad now and he's your friend too. You were way too harsh on him." Harry said.

"Fine. I'll apologize." Niall replied and got up.

Liam spoke up as soon as he left the room.
"Harry? I'm not taking sides, but just so you know, Louis was really upset at himself for the whole dinner thing. He's really sorry."

"I know." Harry replied.

Ten minutes later Niall and Louis returned to the table. They had made up. They continued to eat but Harry noticed that the atmosphere still was a little frosty so he did what any reasonable person would do, or maybe unreasonable? He brought out the tequila. Louis raised an eyebrow in amusement and then he got up to get shot glasses. Harry ran to the kitchen to get salt and lemons.

An hour later and an empty tequila bottle they were all drunk. Louis cranked up the volume on the stereo and they gathered in the middle of the living room to dance silly. Louis did the stop the traffic and let them through dance while Zayn did the screw-on-a-light bulb move. They all laughed.

They ended up having a great evening before Liam, Zayn, and Niall grabbed a taxi to get home. Harry sunk down on the couch and Louis took a seat next to him.
"That was fun." Harry smiled.

"At least the later part of the evening. Niall really told me off." Louis snorted.

"I'm sorry about that." Harry apologized.

"It's fine. I deserved it." Louis replied.

Harry turned his head to look at him. He had sunk back on the couch, resting his head against the pillow. His eyes flickered to Louis' lips for a second and he let out a deep sigh. Finally knowing how it felt to have those lips pressed against his made it really difficult to be just friends. That wasn't what he wanted deep inside but the timing was wrong. He wasn't sure that Louis was over Eleanor yet.

It was like Louis could read his mind.
"Harry? I know you just wanna be friends and I respect that but I hope you know that I'm over Eleanor? Our marriage was dead long before she asked for a divorce."

Maybe it was the tequila, or maybe he used that as an excuse, when he leaned forward and kissed Louis who immediately kissed him back. Harry didn't hold back, but when he crawled on top of Louis and started to unbutton his shirt Louis stopped him.
"Wait, Harry. We shouldn't do this when we're drunk no matter how much I enjoy kissing you."

Harry climbed off his knee.
"Right."

"I'm not rejecting you. I want this. Trust me. I just don't want you to regret it when you've sobered up." Louis said softly and reached out a hand and tucked Harry's hair behind his ear.

"Okay." Harry said. It made sense.

"Can I take you out on a second date?" Louis asked.

"I don't know." Harry hesitated.

"We can stay here. I'll cook for you." Louis smiled.

Harry smirked.
"You can't cook."

"Gee, thanks! For you, I'll make an effort. You don't have to decide right now. Sleep on it." Louis said and stood up. He grabbed Harry's hands and pulled him off the couch.

"Okay." Harry agreed.

They headed to their separate bedrooms. Harry pulled the cover up to his cheek and sighed. Should he give Louis a second chance? His head said no but his heart said yes. He fell asleep trying to decide if he should listen to logic or act on emotion.