Torrid Affair | LT ✔️

Chapter Seventeen: Closure

AUTHOR'S POV 

Seconds have passed since Laurent and Larry's eyes met...only their eyes are saying completely different things. Larry's eyes are warm, soft and apologetic while Laurent's are vacant. Like all emotion has been stripped of them. It's extremely intimidating for Larry and he's tempted to drop his head then walk around him without saying anything...but that won't happen. Larry knows the extent of Laurent's pain and he will forever regret what he's done but to not say anything is impossible. He can only hope Laurent will reply. In a soft voice... 

Larry: "Hey Laurent".  

The look in Laurent's eyes stays the same as he responds and if Larry thinks his eyes are something he will be struck by the dark tone of his voice...

Laurent: "Larry". 

Laurent said his name as cold as ever and it intimidates Larry even more...but Larry won't waste the opportunity to talk to him here being that he's been unsuccessful otherwise...

Larry: "You look nice". 

*brief pause*

Laurent: "Thank you". 

That response isn't even sincere. It's as if he said it because it's the proper response...not because he truly appreciates Larry saying it. Still, there's something Larry really needs to say because if he doesn't say it now he knows he won't get another chance to...

Larry: "Laurent, I just want to say...."

Laurent: "I have to get in there. Can you let me by"?

Larry's eyes immediately become glossy as he looks desperately at Laurent. He wants to plead with him to listen to him...but by the tone of Laurent's voice it's made clear that he isn't interested in hearing anything...

Larry: "Oki", he whispers. 

Larry steps out of the way and proceeds to walk back to the ballroom. To his surprise Laurent does say something prompting Larry to stop and turn around...

Laurent: "By the way. How is Todd doing"?

It doesn't take a genius to know that Laurent is being completely sarcastic. Larry can't even respond to that...but even if he wanted to...

Laurent: "Never mind. I already know".  

Laurent rolls his eyes then goes into the restroom while Larry stands there and continues to look in his direction even after Laurent goes inside. In that moment Larry's thankful that he's the only one standing in that hallway because now tears are flowing down his face. Still looking at the bathroom door Larry wipes away those tears then turns around and walks back to the ballroom. He stops just before the opening of the double doors to wipe some stray tears that have fallen away...but it will be a struggle to keep his emotions in check because the moment he goes back in he sees his aunt and uncle in the center of the ballroom slow dancing. Larry's breath becomes caught in his throat as he watches because it reminds him of he and Laurent's first dance at their wedding. As he stands there watching he has a vivid recollection of them dancing to their song of choice. Laurent's strong arms wrapped around Larry's back as they swayed side to side with Laurent whispering, "it feels amazing to be your husband. Thank you for saying yes to me bebe. I love you so much". Larry also recalls his response to him, "nothing in this world makes me more happy than to be your husband baby. I love you too". When Larry feels eyes on him he shakes his head and tries to appear as though he isn't a split second away from bawling his eyes out. He walks back to his seat and continues to watch them. The looks on their faces show how truly in love they are. Larry is happy for them for sure and he tries so hard to fix his face so that happiness can show...but the way he feels on the inside makes it extremely difficult. He pushes on nonetheless. The next image he sees is Laurent coming in and Larry manages to catch the look on his face as he too watches them dance. Unlike the vacant look in his eyes when they're in front of each other Larry can visibly see a change. Now his eyes appear to have anger behind them...almost as if it's slowly been building since their confrontation. Larry is so stuck on it that his eyes follow Laurent's every step as he walks back to his seat...and his gaze won't turn away. He continues to stare at him. Laurent senses it then slowly turns to face him only to roll his eyes and put his attention back on the happy couple. He may as well have looked somewhere else because it seems the more he watches them dance the angrier he is. The next thing to happen certainly won't help. The song ends and an employee of the hotel brings over a microphone. He hands it to the crazy in love husband and everyone can pretty much guess what's about to happen...