Torrid Affair | LT ✔️

Chapter Twenty: Optimistic

AUTHOR'S POV   

~one week later~

As the days have gone by Larry and Laurent have been mentally preparing themselves for their first therapy session as they're expecting their emotions to be intense. What has helped them is Mama being so supportive and although Larry is living with her at the moment she's also called Laurent to remind him that she's there for him as well. The morning after Larry moved in she told him as they ate breakfast together that she knows a therapist they can see. This therapist is a friend of a friend and not only is she one of the best at what she does mama also wants them to have the best experience as possible in order for them to move on from this and keep their marriage together. She can sense that Larry has been super nervous about this because, well, to go to therapy means that all of this has to come up again and naturally he's been worried about possible words to be exchanged. Or worse, as Laurent essentially re-lives the pain Larry has thought about him possibly deciding that he doesn't want to try and work it out. He doesn't want to think about that so instead he's tried to think positively. Work has definitely helped him in trying to push the potential bad out of his mind. Being the master stylist he is he continues to put "hot new looks" together while his customers rave about his work...and he does it all with a smile. Although admittedly when he's not thinking about his nerves about therapy he's also thinking about Todd. Primarily because he's sure that he hurt him and he hates that he did. He's reminded of it whenever he thinks about the look in Todd's eyes the night he left. He could also tell he was angry...but the hurt was more evident and as much as Larry wants Laurent and his marriage he can't lie and say he doesn't care about Todd. That's why he didn't want to hurt him. Nonetheless, he has a marriage to save and today is finally the day they go to their first session. Larry requested the day off and is elated that it's granted. Now as he waits for the appointed hour to arrive he's out and about doing some walking and window shopping in an attempt to settle his nerves. It appears to be doing the trick until he sees a very familiar figure coming out of a small market...Todd. It seems as though he's in the direction of the parking lot to locate his car and leave...but when he sees Larry he stops dead in his tracks and looks at him as if he's seeing a ghost. Larry has the opposite look on his face. It's a soft look but it's also one that's eager to talk to him so he wastes no time walking over...albeit a little on the slow side but over to him nonetheless as there's something he really wants to say. He worries that perhaps Todd will walk away to avoid him but no...Todd stands still and watches Larry's every step. Now that they're face to face...

Larry: "Hey Todd", he greets softly. 

Todd: "Hey". 

Larry takes instant notice of how flat Todd's voice is and he isn't totally surprised...but it still does something to his insides and he can't help himself from speaking further. His voice remains soft and tender while Todd's remains as it is...

Larry: "How are you"?

Todd: "Fine". 

*brief pause*

Larry: "Oh". *pause* "Well I'm happy to hear that". 

Todd just continues to look blankly at him. Then...

Larry: "I...I won't keep you long but I just want to say...."

"Todd"?

Both Larry and Todd look in the direction of the voice and although Larry is unsure about who this person is he will quickly discover that Todd knows exactly who he is. Unbeknownst to Larry Todd also knows him all too well...

Todd: "Hey". *pause* "Larry, this is Jason. Jason...."

Todd looks back at Larry and with the same blank look in his eyes and a still flat tone to his voice...