🎄 Underneath the Tree 🎄 Zarry

Four ❄️

Harry's dad comes in a few minutes later, shaking off snow off of himself and muttering about how cold it is. He shrugs his coat off and joins them in the kitchen.

"How was New York?" he asks as he comes to hug Harry quickly. "Were the roads bad?"

"No, not at all. It's just snow, nothing too terrible," Harry says and begrudgingly smiles. "Dad, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Zayn."

"Oh, nice to meet you," Des shakes Zayn's hand, who gives him a blinding smile in turn. Honestly, who is he? Harry can't equate it in his mind how can Zayn be so freaking nice to his family. Logan was trying to run away twenty minutes after arriving every year.

Harry tunes out the chit-chat between his dad and Zayn, talking about college and what not. Yes, yes, Zayn's studying business at Columbia, he's a shining example of a human being and in real life, without any lies and Niall forcing them into this, they never would've dated because Zayn probably only dates other trust fund kids like himself. His ex is a fucking model now, c'mon. Harry's so out of his league it's sickening.

Harry's brought out of his bitter inner conversations with himself by his dad's raucous laughter. He looks over at him and Zayn, both of them laughing about something. God, why can't Zayn just be hideous? Harry knows very well that Niall has friends that don't look like goddamn models. This is some kind of a cosmic punishment for him, isn't it?

"Why didn't you bring your boyfriend around sooner, Harry?" Des slaps Harry on the shoulder as he walks past him to get to the fridge. "Logan acted like we all had the bubonic plague and didn't know the alphabet. He wasn't fun to be around."

Harry groans and covers his face with his hands, his elbows on the breakfast bar. "Why can't you guys just let Logan go? We broke up."

"He wasn't very nice, Harry," Anne says and reaches over the counter to ruffle his hair. "We just want the best for you."

That only gets another groan out of Harry. He feels a hand on the small of his back then, startling him. When he looks at Zayn, he only gives Harry a small smile and whispers, "How bad was Logan that acting like a normal human being gets this reaction out of your parents?"

Harry refrains from rolling his eyes. "He was kind of pretentious, okay? Always felt like this was a bit too Hallmark movie for him but he did come with me, didn't he?" He raises his voice enough then so the whole room hears him. "I don't only date assholes, okay?" Even if that statement might be a bit untrue considering his and Zayn's history but after all, they're not dating, are they? So Zayn's free to whore around New York all he wants, it's not Harry's business. When they're back in Manhattan in January, this will all be over.

"Okay, I trust you, babe," Zayn says and then goddamn winks at Harry, like this is all a funny game. And maybe it is, Harry realizes then. It is a game because none of this is real. Why should he be miserable during a great holiday with his family? They can make a game out of it, Harry grins.

"Of course you do, honey," Harry smiles sweetly at Zayn and smacks a kiss on his lips, starling him a little.

Game's on. Harry doesn't think there is a score, or if anyone's keeping it if there is but he's ready to play.

xxx

Gemma finally comes in just as everyone's gathered around for dinner. It's nothing fancy, just mashed potatoes, some vegetables and a whole roast chicken from Whole Foods. She apologizes profusely, complaining about this last minute thing at work that she had to get done today.

"It's alright, darling," Anne says after hugging Gemma, going back to the table. "Just grab a plate and join us. Take one for Peter too. Is he getting your bags from the car?"