PAYBACK » Zarry ✔

Ten

The next day is so different. Harry is in the happiest mood Zayn has seen him in, in a while. Zayn is aware that good sex is a major contributor to that but this seems deeper than that. He seems genuinely happy to be around him.

"I'll call you when I get off from work, okay?" Harry says as he walks by Zayn and lets his hand linger on his waist.

Zayn is puzzled. Harry never checks in with him anymore. He used to. But that's been done away with for a while now. Harry must really be feeling good today. "Okay, that's fine. I love you." He tells him just to see how he responds.

He expects Harry to beat around the bush but instead, Harry turns to look at him. "I love you too."

*

*

*

It's not until Harry's at the workplace that he realizes he has to return to reality. He's not tangled between the covers with Zayn. He's here where the temptation he has continued to fall for also is. And not even surprisingly, he only makes it to lunch before his temptation walks through the door.

"Hey, handsome."

"Hello."

"Busy?"

"No."

Nelson closes the door and comes all the way over to him. He leans down behind him, puts his hands on his shoulders and whispers in his ear. "Guess what I just got?"

"I don't know. What?"

"A new bed."

That captures his attention. "Really?"

"Yep. We should pick a day just to lie in it together."

He shifts uncomfortably in his chair. "Didn't we lie around last time?"

"Yeah... But lying in bed is fun. That's what couples do."

"I've told you about using that word so loosely."

"Yes, you have but I still like the sound of it." He slides his fingers down his chest, feeling over it. "And you can't say we're not one after all the things we've done together."

"But we're not that couple. You understand that, don't you?"

He rolls his eyes. "Yes. I do, unfortunately. And I hate that you never fail to remind me. I just want to do things that make you happy, Harry."

"I know but we still have limits with this relationship. And also, I don't want you to expect so much. Because I'm already dividing my time as best as I can."

"Not evenly."

"Because I can't divide it evenly. Come on, baby. You know this."

He smiles at the pet name and kisses his cheek. "I know. I'm just messing with you. But one day you will. Or maybe you'll even give me all of it. Who knows?"

Harry turns around so he can face him. "Zayn would have to die or leave me first for me to ever think about living without him. I love him too much to just leave him for you."

Nelson ignores what he just said. "One of these these days, you'll come to your senses and realize that it's okay to be with me. One day."

He briefly entertains the thought but not long enough to imagine life with Nelson as his only boyfriend. "Maybe." Harry says. "We'll see."

➡➡➡➡➡

Two nights later, Zayn finds himself hanging out with his co-workers after work for the second time. But this time, it's just Melissa. When she called him at the dinner table the other night, she had told him all about how much fun she had with him eating and talking with the group. So she invited him separately to go out to a nightclub and have drinks. Hence, why Zayn is sure to wear something nice. He doesn't want to be attractive though, so he stays away from anything too gaudy. This patterned shirt and a pair of unfaded black jeans is enough.