Lush Expiration | Harry Styles AU | BOOK 3 ✓

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A/N: please vote before reading and inline comment! The comments on the last chapter were insane!! thank you :)

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Harry Styles

I locked my Bentley when I walked to Louis' front door. It felt like I hadn't been here for at least ten years. I took my sunglasses off and pressed on his doorbell four times.

Somehow, I stepped back when he opened the door. Surpsingly he smiled at me, so I thought it was appropriate to laugh back. He gestured me to come inside, and I followed him. I closed to door behind me and placed my jacket away.

''I'm glad you could make it.'' Louis spoke first.

''Wouldn't want to miss our annual barbeque.''

''Well, you missed them twice.'' Louis joked sassily.

I didn't want to have an awkward conversation with Louis, so I changed the subject hastily. ''I brought beer.''

''Always handy to lighten the mood.'' He pointed out without any sarcasm. ''What if we get comfortable in the living room? If I'm right, there is a game on.'' He told me.

I opened the bottle of beer, and leaned back on the sofa. Louis still lived in the house he once owned with Alexus. I wondered if he was eager to get out of this place. But I knew he adored his house from the moment they moved in.

It was hard for me to sit next to my best friend, and feel this tension in the room. We hadn't been together like this for a long time, and I didn't want to force him to be happy about my return. I knew we had unfinished business to talk about, but I had no idea how to bring it up.

The only thing I was aware of was that I needed to start this conversation – he hadn't done anything wrong.

'I'm sorry for not attending your wedding.'' I started after a very long time of silence.

Maybe this wasn't what Louis expected from me, but I knew we were here together for a reason. I couldn't be silent about the past for the entire day.

''I should've been there, by your side. I cannot imagine how terrible you must've felt when I wasn't present. I never thought I wouldn't attend your big day. And my apology is sincere, Louis. I don't know how I can show you that I'm extremely sorry for what happened.''

I noticed how Louis' didn't move. Definitely taken back.

''It's impossible for you to understand what I went through, Harry.'' He replied without looking at me. ''I was going mad a few days before the wedding. I knew you had a habit of popping up out of nowhere, but you didn't that day.''

The fact that this was happening made me feel sick. We had come to such a terrible place as friends – All because of me.

Louis cleared his throat – he definitely struggled with this topic. ''I felt humiliated to pick you as my best man, Harry. That day – my wedding day – was the most important day of my life, and you had such a crucial part in it. You should know that Vicky showed up that day – wholly broken. But she kept herself together for me. She didn't want me to feel terrible that day. She brought Red with her, and Red told me why you weren't attending the wedding and why Vicky had claimed Red as her plus one.'' Louis said frustratingly.

I sat straight and placed the bottle of beer on the edge of the salon table. I held my bottom lip between my index finger and thumb before I spoke aloud.

''Not telling you what happened seemed a clever idea to me. I didn't want you to worry about my well-being, because I wanted you to be happy on your big day. And if that meant not being there, I was okay with that.'' I clarified.