Bonded

Chapter Thirty Two

Louis sat on top of the office desk, leaning back lazily on outstretched arms. He had one foot propped up on an opened desk drawer and the other swinging underneath the desk opening. “Do you really think he’ll agree to stay?”

“I hope so,” James answered, his eyes glued to the screen of the laptop that was propped up in his lap. He was reclined back in the office chair with both of his feet propped up on the same open drawer as Louis.

“Do you think Harry would want to stay in my room instead of the guest room?” 

“Maybe...”

“It’s closer to our room, and the bed’s bigger.”

“Mhmm.” 

“I don't really have much stuff in there,” Louis continued, “just a bunch of little things. It wouldn't take much to clear it out and have it ready for him.” 

James paused, looking up with a slight frown as he took a moment to actually contemplate Louis’s words. “He might feel better being in your room,” he slowly agreed, "but at the same time, he may feel more comfortable making himself at home in a room that wasn’t being used prior.” 

“That’s true,” Louis conceded with a grin. “... We should offer him both rooms.” 

James lowered the laptop screen and looked at Louis with a serious expression. “Leaving a bad relationship is hard, so you shouldn’t take it personally or hold it against him if he isn’t excited about it or doesn’t want to come.” 

The smile on Louis’s face faltered. “I wouldn’t try to make him stay if he didn't want to.”

“That’s not what I meant,” James said as he closed the laptop fully and put his feet down to sit up straight.    

“I know.” Louis pasted his smile back on as he leaned back to look up at the ceiling. 

James tossed the laptop onto the little couch behind him and rolled the chair closer to his lover. “I just don’t want it to be a surprise if Harry chooses to stay.”  

“It won’t be,” Louis reiterated. “I can handle it if he chooses to stay.” 

James opened his mouth to say something else but before he was able to speak, a knock came at the door. Noah opened it without hesitation and casually walked in, freezing when he saw the looks on the other two’s faces. “Umm … do you guys need a minute?”

“No,” Louis said as he quickly hopped off the desk. 

James sighed but left the matter alone. “What’s going on?” he asked Noah.  

Noah strode over to the middle of the room and plopped some files down onto the desk. “I finished the majority of the things we started,” he reported. “There’s very little left to do. We could easily be done by the end of the day, even sooner if we get Isaac to help.” Noah’s eyes did a quick scan around the room. “Where’s Harry?”

“He’s not here yet,” Louis pulled out his phone, frowning when he saw the time. “He’s late, and hasn’t replied to any of my messages yet either.” 

“Isaac emailed me late last night saying he was going to bring Harry out for breakfast before work.” James explained. 

Noah scoffed. “Isaac’s bringing him out for breakfast? How nice of him.” 

Louis frowned as he silently stared at his phone, a ball of anxiety twisting in the pit of his stomach.  

“He’ll be here soon, don’t worry.” James said as he glanced towards Louis.