Double the love

Chapter five

"Can I get two kid pizzas, one meat lovers and one cheese. And I'll have a medium meat lovers. What about you Zayn?" Liam tells the waiter, turning to Zayn with a raised eyebrow.

Zayn looks up from where he's having a whisper conversation with Brandon, "I'll have a medium cheese."  

Liam smiles to himself as he takes a sip of his drink. It's just incredibly odd to be sitting across his boss with his two sons. What has his life come to be. To people passing by they probably look like a little family. 

He gets cut off from his thoughts when Johnny starts talking about his game. 

"And then, and then I kicked the ball but coach said it was the other way. I think he was looking at the wrong goal."

Liam chuckles, "All that matters is that you went for the ball." 

Johnny smiles, "Okay."

"You know when I played footie in school I was the goalie. And one time I got distracted by the clouds that I didn't see the ball coming my way. The ball had bounced off my head and my team ended up taking the ball back, getting us a goal," Liam tells Johnny laughing at the memory.

"Silly daddy!"

"Hey! Silly daddy helped his team score!" he says poking Johnny's nose, who in turn giggles.

Liam looks up to see that Zayn has seen their whole interaction. "So you were in sports?"

Seven.

Liam nods, "Yeah my dad was big on sports and I enjoyed it. I ran track as well, what about you?" 

Zayn looks down at Brandon and then back at Liam, "I was really into art. More for my own enjoyment."

Liam can see Brandon's eyes widen at the mention of art. He doesn't say anything but he smiles up at Zayn. 

"Brandon loves art too. Right buddy?" Liam asks. Brandon nods his head, looking down at his hands.

"That's right, I really liked your drawing you gave me Brandon. It was really good," Zayn compliments.

Liam smiles big, he knows Brandon is shy about his drawings and is happy that Zayn is trying to get him out of his shell. 

Their food comes out and they all dig in. Johnny starts eating like a starved man, a slice in each hand. While Brandon takes his time with just one. He has to stop himself from cooing when he notices that Brandon and Johnny are like little versions of Zayn and him. 

Maybe Harry was right, maybe Zayn does like him. Why would his boss willingly invite him and his children out to eat? He just wishes that Zayn would let his guard down just a bit.  Just enough for Liam to be able to tell if Zayn is actually interested in him.

The boys or mainly just Johnny talk among  themselves. Liam is listening to Johnny talk about how him and Brandon won the duck duck goose game.  How two people can win at that game Liam doesn't even know. 

"Are you ready for your trip?"

Eight.

"A bit. I've looked into the weather in Florida that way we can pack smart but that's about it," Liam explains.

Zayn nods, "Smart."

"What about you? Are you going to end up doing anything for Christmas?"

Zayn finishes chewing before he says, "Visit my parents, haven't seen them in a while."

Liam nods his head, "Family time is always good. That was one of my goals when I found out I was having twins."

Zayn looks a little confused and Liam doesn't understand why until he thinks about what he just said. Zayn looks like he's about to ask what he means but then Brandon tugs on Zayn's arm and whispers something in his ear.

Liam looks cautiously at the two of them and raises an eyebrow at Zayn after he too whispers something back to the little boy. 

Brandon goes back to eating his pizza and has a little smile while doing so. Liam looks back at Zayn and mouths to him, "What did he say?" 

Zayn just shrugs and continues to finish his pizza as well. They stay at the pizza place until it starts to get dark out. Liam checks his watch, "I think we should be heading home, it's getting late and you two little misters have school tomorrow." Johnny groans and Brandon just stays quiet.

They all get up and Liam helps Johnny into his jacket and Zayn helps Brandon. 

"I  could give you guys a ride home," Zayn says putting on his own jacket. 

Liam can't help from looking at the way Zayn's athletic shirt hugs his torso and blushes red when he sees Zayn has caught him. Zayn doesn't say anything but gives a little smirk. 

"Uh I think we can manage. Our apartment is just a few blocks away-" 

"I insist. My driver is already outside waiting."

Liam is about to say it's alright but then remembers back in the office how Zayn had basically said that you can't say no to him. Liam smiles and says, "We would appreciate it."

The boys look at aw at the sleek black car that they get ushered into, nothing like their little SUV. Liam gives their address and they all sit in a comfortable silence. The boys occasionally making small comments on what they see from the windows.  Liam feels this tension between him and Zayn and chuckles when he remembers Harry saying, "I can feel all the sexual tension between you too. And I've never even met the man. I bet you'll have great sex."  

Zayn looks over at him and raises up an eyebrow. Liam just shakes his head, blushing. They finally reach their apartment complex and Liam can see that the boys are exhausted from the little yawns that they let out. Zayn gets out and walks them to their door. Liam feels a little shy that Zayn is going to see their little home. But remembers  that he has done very well for being on his own. 

He unlocks their door and before he sends the boys in to change he makes them say thank you to Zayn and tell him goodnight. Johnny goes up to him and shakes his hand, "Good night Mister Zayn!" and Brandon just looks up at him for a moment and then hugs his leg, Zayn patting his head fondly. 

Liam watches them run to their room to get ready for bed, he turns back to Zayn and sees him looking around. "Sorry for the mess, we couldn't find Johnny's cleats before the game and the house kind of got turned upside down."

Zayn shakes his head, "No worries, I still remember when my older sister would lose her ballet slippers and we would have to look under every piece of the house to find them." He gives a small smile. Liam does too, trying to picture a younger Zayn looking under couches and tables for pink ballet slippers. 

"I just want to say thank you for once again finding Brandon, and for taking us out to eat."

"Liam, please stop thanking me, it's no trouble."  Liam shakes his head understandingly. "I should get going, I'll see you in the office."

Liam doesn't know how he's supposed to say goodbye to his boss outside of work. He just nods his head and says, "I'll see you at work." He's about to close the door when he remembers he was going to ask Zayn about what Brandon had whispered to him. 

"Wait," Liam hesitantly calls out, Zayn turns around, "What was it that Brandon whispered to you? Back at the restaurant? "

Zayn looks down before smiling, "He wanted to know if I thought his father was handsome."

Liam's face feels hot and red, he stutters out, "A-and what did you whisper back?"

"Very."