Soft Hands, Fast Feet, Can't Lose

Chapter 5

Louis unlocked the door to his apartment and Zayn was on him before the door was even fully opened. He sighed into his smoke-scented shirt as they hugged. The door creaked shut and bumped into Louis' butt, but they continued hugging.

"Thank you for the calls," Louis whispered. Zayn softly kissed his temple and Louis sighed again. "Sorry I didn't answer sooner. My phone was off."

Zayn swayed them, his hand cradling the back of Louis' neck. "Want me to cover your shift?"

"No."

"You should rest."

"I'm just gonna shower and go to work."

Zayn pulled back, but kept his hand in Louis' feather filled hair.

"You're closing tonight. Why would you go in now? It's so early."

"I'll send the day shift people home with pay so they can start their break. I can do a longer shift."

"Lou," Zayn said carefully. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"I just don't want to think. Work will keep my mind off of it."

Zayn took in Louis' outfit and bare feet. "What..." He cradled his jawline as he clenched his teeth. "What happened?" He saw Louis' toes curl into the ground. "What the fuck happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it. Not now. I just want to shower and..." Louis stepped over a puddle of cold coffee. "What happened here?"

i

He looked at Zayn, who was slowly licking the inside of his top lip. Zayn opened their junk drawer and pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes.

"Nothing." He slid a cigarette behind his ear and popped another between his lips. "A mistake. That's all." He thumbed towards the window. "I'm gonna smoke quick, then I'll come with you to work."

"Why?"

Zayn's cigarette bobbed as he said, "Because the holidays aren't shitty enough without making nonstop S'mores Frappucinos."

. . .

Going into worked proved to be just the trick to take Louis' mind off of the living nightmare that was his morning. His stress level made him more cheerful than ever. He offered customers joyous holiday greetings and even started to draw hand turkeys on their cups.

"Take care, Lou," one of his regulars, Cass, said as she dropped a ten dollar bill in the tip mug. "Happy Thanksgiving."

"Thanks, same to you," Louis said with a wave.

Zayn placed a red cup on the counter and said, "Skim vanilla latte for Derrick." A man came up and retrieved his drink. Zayn wiped his hands on his green apron and leaned his hip next to Louis. "I'm gonna take my ten. That okay?"

"Yeah, sure." Louis opened a carton of half and half. "It's slow tonight."

"Cool."

Zayn disappeared into the back room with a cigarette already between his lips. Louis went to the milk station and wiped it down, along with refilling the pitchers. He walked around the counter and replaced the half and half in the fridge. Someone cleared their throat behind him.

"Oh, sorry, sir." He stood and turned. "What can I—" His lips closed, his nostrils flaring. "You."

Liam clasped his hands in front of himself and stepped up to the register. "Hi," he said shakily. "Look, Louis—"

"You know, I'm kind of over people saying my name and expecting me to listen to whatever bullshit they're about to say."

"Harry doesn't know I'm here. He's been stuck at practice all day. Coach extended practice 'cause of the game tomorrow and Harry's a captain, so he had to stay."