taming mr.tomlinson [larry stylinson] ✔️

33.

** i used react™ in this chapter pls don't sue me **

Surprisingly, nothing was awkward, and the three of them managed to slip into conversation quite well after Liam got all of his anger out by kicking Harry in the leg underneath the table. They didn't leave Harry out of the conversation, just in case he'd feel like a third wheel, but Harry still felt out of place without Louis here next to him.

Just as he was about to pull out his phone, Harry looked up and saw that Louis was walking towards the table with his hands stuffed inside of his pockets and a bright smile on his face as they made eye contact. Harry grew excited, waving enthusiastically at the man while at the same time trying to remain seated to appear normal, and he wondered if it would matter if he got up and wrapped his arms around Louis right now.

"Hi, Louis!" Harry exclaimed joyously, watching as Zayn stopped drinking his glass of red wine and leisurely looked behind him to see who he was speaking about. Louis, who hadn't taken notice of anyone but Harry yet, gave a polite 'hi' back while taking off his leather jacket. "I thought you wouldn't have made it. How bad was the traffic out there?"

"Terrible, but it's okay." Louis replied lightheartedly, looking over at Liam and Zayn as he took a seat next to Harry and holding his hand out for the two of them to shake. "Hi Liam. Who's your date here?"

Liam shook his hand gradually, and Harry doesn't mean to be scrutinizing Zayn like this, but he can't help but see how hesitant the man looks in shaking Louis' hand. When Zayn replied, he also had his eyes squinted as he looked directly into Louis' own. "Louis, haven't heard from you in a while."

"Oh, you two know each other?"  Liam asked, focusing his attention on the two with wide eyes. Harry cleared his throat lowly and silently prayed that he hadn't brought Louis' ex-boyfriend to this double date, knowing that it would've been the most inconvenient thing of the day. Louis' face made a shift to blankness, so when he didn't reply, Zayn decided to do it for him.

"We used to be close friends."

Louis, who didn't break eye contact, ran his finger around the rim of his glass full of water and hummed, his lip twitching promptly. "Seems like forever ago though, doesn't it?"

"It's only been a few months." Zayn responded, obviously bothered by Louis' statement from the way he shifted in his seat. Harry should be worried about many other things, but instead he was praying that the two weren't directly more involved with each other than what they were letting off. Louis didn't even look happy anymore. His entire expression was pinched and his teeth were gritted, and Harry just felt lost. "How have you been?"

"Amazing," said Louis before picking up his menu to look at his options. "Have you guys ordered yet?"

"No, we were waiting until you got here." Harry answered uneasily, but the feeling went away when he felt Louis' hand rest on top of his thigh underneath the table, like everything would be fine and turn out right. Maybe he should try not to worry so much. He needed to relax, and bathe in the fact that Louis was with him now.

"So, are you and Louis dating?"  Zayn inquired curiously. Right after he said that, Louis' hand slid off of his thigh and retracted away. Liam even looked the slightest bit uncomfortable now, looking at Harry from the corner of his eye with an eyebrow raised while glancing at Zayn as if saying weird.

"Uh, no, we aren't. I--I guess you can say we're close friends too." Well, thought Harry. It sure as hell hurt to say that. "But you know, whatever. Knowing Louis has just been the highlight of my year, aside from being able to spend it with Liam as well. I'm just glad that we all get to work together in the same building and--"