Chapter Text
*
Louis is known for consuming too much of caffeine. He has his usual coffee in the mornings, maybe two cups, three on difficult days, maybe the same amount in the afternoon, but it's during his lunch hour that he gets to have the best cup of coffee throughout his day.
He has to visit the café around the corner from his office building to order his coffee and it must be from the cute Omega barista.
He has short curls and a charming dimpled smile, with the prettiest green eyes and rose pink lips . He's really a sight for sore eyes and dammit if Louis wasn't head-over-heels from the minute he'd seen the Omega.
There's one issue though; as much as Louis throws his best lines and flashes his most impressive smile, the omega doesn't seem to be entirely receptive.
See, Louis notices the way the omega blushes when he compliments him, the way he'll try to hide his smile sometimes or even when he throws back a cheeky remark, a mirthful twinkle in his eyes as he does so.
So it doesn't make sense when they clearly have this chemistry between them but the Omega keeps shutting down his advances or declining him of a date.
Nevertheless, Louis will keep trying. It's not that he wants to be creepy or anything, but he can feel the electricity between them and they have barely even touched. Louis knows there's something between them, so he isn't going to just give it up. Especially because he knows the omega feels it too, he just has to let his guard down.
His laugh is the first thing Louis hears when he steps inside of the café, bright and a bit dorky but endearing to Louis anyway.
He smiles, stepping further in and standing in line to place his order. There's only one person in front of him being helped by the omega, someone the omega is laughing at.
He doesn't always laugh at Louis like that. But that's okay. Louis will get him to laugh and smile like that all the time.
Louis hears them make a bit of small talk and by the sounds of it, the man in front of Louis seems to also be a regular.
It's when he calls the omega 'love' as he gets his coffee that makes Louis narrow his eyes at him as he walks away.
"Louis?"
Louis snaps his gaze away from the man to the omega — to Harry and immediately his demeanour softens. He leans forward and gives Harry his best flirtatious smile.
"The regular?" Harry asks.
"Always," Louis responds. "So, got the whole coffee shop calling you all sorts of things, huh?"
Harry looks away from the cup where he's writing Louis' name to Louis, eyebrow raised. "What do you mean?"
"That guy called you 'love'," Louis explains, "thought that was my nickname for you."
Harry snorts, placing the pen down and filling up Louis' cup. "Well, you thought wrong."
"Are you trying to make me jealous, darling?" He teases.
He watches in delight, as Harry's cheeks turn the slightest shade of pink, biting his bottom lip. "I'm not tryingto do anything," he says, turning around to put the milk in his coffee.
"Well, I didn't know I had competition," Louis says, glancing at the man from earlier who's watching them with a curious expression. If Louis could growl in public without seeming like a maniac, he would.
"God, could you sound like more of an Alpha?" Harry turns to Louis again, handing him his coffee.
"If you want me to," Louis shrugs. "Thanks for this, love," he holds up the cup in a cheers motion. "How's about I pay you back with a date?"
Harry rolls his eyes, huffing out a laugh. "Again, Louis? Seriously?"
Louis shrugs again. "I've gotta try. It's not everyday I meet an Omega as beautiful as you, you know? I'd be mad not to try."
Harry's cheeks turn pink again, eyes averting down. "Thank you but I— I'm going to have to say no... you know this."
Louis sighs, disappointed yet again. "Can I at least ask why? Do I—"
"Hey, pal, there's people behind you waiting for you to stop flirting so we can get our coffee," someone says, tapping on his shoulder a bit too hard.
Louis clenches his jaw and lets out an exhale. Harry gives him an apologetic look but offers nothing else.
Louis admits his defeat for the day but tomorrow is another day and there's no reason why he can't try again, right?
*
"He's got these eyes that just," Louis sighs wistfully. "And his hair— " Louis runs his hands over his face and groans. "And his smile!"
"Did you just quote Aladdin?" Zayn asks, raising a brow at him.
"You asked me to describe him," Louis shrugs, popping a chip into his mouth.
"So you decide to quote Aladdin?" Zayn asks slowly, looking at Louis curiously.
"That's exactly how I feel. Aladdin and I— we are one. I get him," Louis says, sipping his coke.
Zayn seems amused but also confused. "You get him?"
"I get him. Lovesick fool, I really do," Louis sighs, leaning back against his chair.
"Lovesick?" Zayn asks, eyebrows raised again, placing his sandwich down.
"I'm not, like, in love with him. Not yet, at least. But I can see myself getting there," Louis shrugs.
"Hey, do you want some of my chips instead?"
"Louis, hold up— you just said you could see yourself falling in love with this Omega. Can we backtrack here?"
Louis sighs, looking down at his chips, dipping one into sauce and popping it into his mouth. "I could just see it happening..."
"Have you even had a proper conversation with this Omega?"
Louis shrugs. "We talk when I get my coffee," he mumbles.
Zayn snorts. "And that's enough to tell you that you'll fall in love with him?"
"I can't explain it, Zayn. I just know that I could. There's a weird... pull between us," Louis says, his cheeks growing a bit warm.
"Between you and him or just something from you?" Zayn asks.
"Whatever," Louis rolls his eyes. "I know he can feel it too, okay?"
"Is that why he keeps rejecting you?"
Louis huffs. "I think he's... hesitant? I don't know. But he feels it too, trust me. And he kinda flirts back sometimes!"
"Louis, mate, I just don't want you to push it too far, yeah?"
"What do you mean? I'm not going to hold a gun to his head, Zayn," Louis says flatly.
"You can be a bit pushy sometimes is all I'm saying. Maybe he doesn't like that," he shrugs.
"Well then what am I supposed to do?" Louis asks.
"You may be pushy but you're also one of the most romantic people I know, especially for an Alpha. So, be romantic but don't be obvious about it."
Louis rolls his eyes. "That's not helpful at all," he says. "But thanks anyways."
"It's just a suggestion. Maybe I should see him for myself, actually..."
Louis stares at him. "Why?" He asks, clearing his throat.
Zayn's lips twitch. "Just to see if you're as delusional as I think you are," he laughs.
"You have no faith in me," Louis huffs. "Fine, come with me tomorrow. No flirting."
"But I thought you said everyone flirts with him?"
"Uh, it was one other guy the other day but still that's one too many. I'm the only one allowed to flirt with him," Louis grumbles.
"You're already being a possessive Alpha and you aren't even dating," Zayn snorts, shaking his head. "I've definitely got to see this for myself."
Louis chews on another chip and nods. "Fine. To prove that I'm right, you can come with me tomorrow when I'm actually on lunch."
"And not when you're supposed to be working but you're actually eating," Zayn teases, eating more of his sandwich.
Louis narrows his eyes. "Ha ha very funny. Don't go telling everyone that. I need to be getting to the top soon, you know?"
"Yeah, yeah. I know. Future CEO," he winks. "As CEO the first thing you should do is replace the cafeteria food, by the way."
Louis watches, amused as Zayn places the last bit of his sandwich down with a grimace on his face and dusts his hands off to the side. "You ate most of that sandwich and now you decide it's not good enough?"
"It's mediocre at best," he shrugs, wrapping the leftover in a paper and throwing it into Louis' trash can. "Seriously, change the food and add more desserts."
"I don't know how much of power I'd have over that," Louis says thoughtfully. "But for you, I'll definitely try."
Zayn gives him a victorious smile and takes another sip of his iced tea.
*
Louis forgets how conventionally attractive Zayn is sometimes. He's reminded of the fact — quite painfully — when Zayn and Harry come face-to-face at the café.
Harry's eyes literally widen a bit when he sees Zayn standing in front of him.
"Uh, hi?" Zayn greets.
"Hi— I haven't seen you here before," Harry says, blinking. "Um, what can I get you?"
"Uh, I'm actually just here with my friend. He came to order," Zayn says, stepping to the side a bit.
"Hello," Louis says, clearing his throat, purposefully stepping in front of Zayn. Louis hears Zayn snicker behind him.
"Hey, Louis," Harry says, gaze moving to Louis and passing him a smile. "Usual?"
"Yeah," Louis says. "How are you doing, Harry?"
"I'm great. How are you, Louis?"
"Good. You look good too," Louis says, unable to help himself.
Harry snorts in response, shaking his head as he prepares Louis' coffee. "You don't stop, do you?"
Louis shrugs. "I'm just being honest."
"Here," Harry says, handing him his coffee. "Nothing for your cute friend?" He asks, smirking.
Louis frowns, standing up straighter. "You think he's cute?"
Harry shrugs, still smiling. "Maybe."
"Wh— well do you think I'm cute?" Louis asks, hoping it doesn't come across as desperate as he thinks it sounds in his head.
Harry giggles in response, looking down. "There's people behind you, Louis. You're going to get scolded at again."
Louis waves his hand in the air dismissively. "Only if you admit that you find me cute," he says.
Harry huffs out a laugh. "Fine... you're cute...but your friend is cuter."
Louis frowns.
"Now can I please help the lady behind you?" Harry asks before Louis can respond.
At a loss for words, Louis steps back and shakes his head slightly, walking to where Zayn has now gone to.
"Wow," is the first thing Zayn says.
Louis clenches his jaw. "You and your stupid jawline messed it up."
"What?" Zayn stuffs his hands into his coat pocket, looking at Louis perplexed.
"He thinks you're cute," Louis scoffs. "Why did I bring you here?" He groans dramatically.
"He— but he was clearly flirting with you," Zayn says.
"Well he said he thinks I'm cute but that you're cuter," Louis grumbles.
A smile spreads across Zayn's face slowly.
"What?"
"He's teasing you, you fool," Zayn says.
Louis blinks once then twice, letting his words sink in. "Really?"
"Yes, really. I think he may be into you too. You were right. Surprisingly."
"He is?"
"You told me as much," Zayn deadpans.
Louis shrugs, sniffing. "I just— I don't know I was caught off guard by him calling you cute."
Zayn laughs, shaking his head. "He was teasing, I'm sure of it. You should try and ask him out again."
"He's going to say no... again..." Louis sighs, glancing at Harry who's helping another customer now, dimples on display. "I just don't get why he keeps saying no to me."
"Have you tried asking him why?"
Louis looks at Zayn. "Asking him why he keeps saying no?"
Zayn nods.
"Kind of? But it's embarrassing! I can't ask, if you really think about it because I'd look so lame," he scoffs.
"Yeah, getting rejected continuously without knowing why is much better, you're right," he remarks flatly.
Louis rolls his eyes. "Fine. I'll ask him."
"You should come in the afternoon, maybe. When his shift is over. You may have more time to talk to him without so many customers and people."
"Why didn't I think of any of this?" Louis sighs, rubbing his forehead.
"Because you're a dumbass sometimes but I love you anyways," Zayn coos, reaching over to pinch Louis' cheek.
Louis slaps his hand away. "Fine. I'm going to do it. By the end of the week, it'll be done and hopefully I get a yes."
Zayn opens his mouth to respond but closes it, eyes stuck behind Louis. Louis turns, following his gaze to see Harry right behind him, hand in the air.
"Sorry— I was just about to get your attention. You left your coffee," he says in a laugh, extending the coffee cup out to Louis.
Louis swallows, accepting it.
And look, Louis doesn't want to sound like a love interest in one of those romcoms but he swears he feels sparks through his body when their fingers touch.
"Thank you," Louis says with a smile.
"You're welcome," he grins again. For the first time, Louis catches a whiff of his scent.
It's sweet and fruity and fresh. So intoxicating.
"You came all the way here to give it to me, huh?" Louis asks, a slight tilt of his head.
Harry shrugs. "Had to see your friend again," he says with a smirk.
Louis guffaws, letting out a laugh, watching Harry's cheeks turn pink.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Louis," he says, looking at Louis.
Louis smiles, watching him walk away (definitely not checking him out).
"He's absolutely into you, dude," Zayn chimes in, disrupting his fixed gaze.
Louis sips his coffee to hide his smile. "Yeah, maybe."
*
On a Friday Louis has the opportunity to stay at the café in afternoon and Harry looks surprised to see Louis walk in at four in the afternoon.
"Are you lost?" Harry quips.
"In your eyes, maybe," Louis says with his best smile.
"Oh that was one of your worst ones yet," Harry says, nose scrunched.
"And yet you're still blushing," Louis points out, smirking.
Harry shakes his head, a ghost of a smile on his face. "What would you like?"
"Well, I would like to take you out on a date but..." he shrugs.
Harry rolls his eyes and sighs. "I'll make your usual," he says, pulling out a cup.
Louis sighs too. "All I'm asking for is one date. Please?"
"Louis, you're nice but I— I really can't," Harry says with pursed lips into a smile. "Um, you haven't paid yet."
Louis bites the inside of his cheek, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a note, putting it onto the table.
"Can I at least ask why?" Louis asks, watching Harry's reaction carefully.
Harry puts the coffee cup onto the counter and looks at Louis, making Louis inhale sharply.
"You're wearing lipgloss," Louis voices, eyes fixed on Harry's lips.
Harry blinks, catching his bottom lip between his teeth.
"It looks beautiful,"
Harry looks at Louis again, eyes slightly widened. "I— um— thank you."
Louis smiles. "You're welcome, love."
Harry huffs out a soft laugh. "Enjoy your coffee, Louis."
Louis opens his mouth to speak but then he remembers he's going to be sitting here until Harry leaves. So he shuts it instead and smiles at Harry before taking a seat near the window.
He glances back at the counter where Harry is looking at him curiously but he doesn't say anything. Louis raises his cup as a 'cheers' to him. Harry shakes his head and looks away. But again, Louis notices the small smile on his face.
Louis can't help the grin on his own face as he sips the coffee. He's really curious as to why Harry keeps saying no when he's clearly into Louis too. Even Zayn could see it.
Nevertheless, he'll find out. He can't give up that easily. Not when the omega blushes the way he does and smiles the way he does at Louis.
Louis sips his coffee slowly, to the point where the last bit is horribly cold. At some point, one of the other baristas comes to his table to ask if he wants anything else.
The barista has brunette hair and spectacles and Louis catches the distinct Irish accent.
"Oh, uh, I'm okay thanks. Just waiting for a friend..." he says with a polite smile.
Unexpectedly, the barista smiles slowly. "Harry, you mean?"
"Uh, yes," Louis blinks.
"Right," he says, his smile looks like he knows something Louis doesn't. "Can I at least warm that up for you?"
Louis looks down at his coffee and nods, knowing he won't finish it if it's ice cold. The barista— whose name is apparently Niall as Louis catches sight of his name tag— takes his coffee cup from the table.
"Don't worry. He'll warm up to you eventually. He just needs some time," Niall says and before Louis can even reply, he's walking away.
He shakes his head and looks down. Louis knows his crush on Harry isn't exactly subtle but apparently it's obvious enough to Harry's co-workers too.
Louis wonders if they make fun of him for it. Though he truthfully doesn't really care because he's just that into the omega. If Harry were his, Louis wouldn't mind showing him off at all. He should be showed off. He deserves to be.
Louis would worship the ground he walks on if only Harry would just give him a chance. All he's asking for is one date. Surely it's not that out of the question if Harry is also into Louis.
Which is something else his co-workers seem to know if what the brunette barista implied earlier is anything to go by.
Niall brings back his coffee that's thankfully warmed up again. Louis means to ask him to elaborate about what he said earlier but he doesn't even get a chance to because he slips away quickly again.
Louis sighs and sips his coffee again, switching between looking at his phone and looking up at Harry. Harry, who does catch Louis looking sometimes but doesn't do anything besides his usual shaking of his head and displaying a small smile.
He's clearly endeared by Louis, at least to some extent. So Louis is hoping after staying, waiting for Harry to finish his shift, it makes some sort of difference and Harry can change his mind about going out on a date with Louis.
It feels like Louis waits forever but he doesn't mind because eventually Harry walks to the back, untying his apron as he does so, making Louis stand up. Niall steps up to where Harry was standing and Louis chews on his lip, contemplating what to do next.
They won't allow him to walk into the back. So what does he do?
He decides to go to where the back door leads out instead, waiting for Harry to step out. Abandoning his coffee cup, Louis moves quickly to make his way to the back.
It's in somewhat of any alleyway but not dodgy enough to count as one of those you see in horror movies and it makes it easier to spot for Louis too.
Louis pushes his hands into his blazer pocket and walks slowly to the back door, leaning against the wall next to it.
He knows he seems insane right but god, there's just something about Harry he can't seem to shake. Something about the omega draws Louis in to the point where Harry occupies his mind constantly. It's like his Alpha is screaming with how much he wants to make Harry his.
The sound of the door clicking open makes Louis stand up straight, heart beating rapidly. Harry walks out, this time with a jacket over his plain white shirt and a bag over one shoulder. He startles a bit when he sees Louis, holding a hand over his heart.
"Louis," he breathes out. "God, why did I just know you were going to be here?"
"Because you know me so well already? We're just that in tune with each other," Louis shrugs.
Harry snorts, shaking his head. "What are you doing here?"
"I want to take you out on a date," Louis says.
Harry sighs, head dropping like he's tired. Before he can speak, Louis quickly adds, "it's just one date, I promise you'll have fun. We can do whatever you want to."
"Louis, I've already said no. More times than I can count," Harry says in an exhale then walks past Louis.
Louis of course follows behind him even though he's taking hasty steps. "Can you at least tell me why? Because I know it's not because you don't like me too."
Harry stops in his tracks on the sidewalk and turns to face Louis, his scent driving Louis insane. "Trust me Louis, you really don't want to date me. Hell, I'm in no position to date anyway. It's just— it's complicated."
Louis frowns, confused. "What— what does that even mean?"
Harry sighs once again and shakes his head twice. "I really don't have time for this. I'm running late as it is. I need to go," he says, turning to a Toyota and clicking the car keys in his hand.
He looks at Louis right before he gets into the drivers seat, one hand on the top of the open door, a flash of emotions passes through his eyes. "I'm sorry, Louis. But I'm sure you'll find someone else you can take out on a date in no time. It's just not going to be me."
Louis fish mouths for words but then, before he knows it, Harry is in the drivers seat and turning out of the parking, the silver car disappearing down the road.
Louis groans in frustration, wiping his hand over his face. What on earth did Harry mean by that?
He didn't deny being into Louis too but he said it's complicated and that Louis wouldn't want to date him which is preposterous because that's all Louis has been wanting for weeks now.
Also, how could he assume Louis would just find someone else so quickly when all Louis has been doing is daydreaming about this silly omega with pretty eyes and curly hair and pink lips.
Louis resists the urge to stomp his foot on the ground like a toddler who didn't get their way. But dammit Harry is making this hard.
Here Louis thought Harry is just playing hard to get but now apparently it's complicated? What does that even mean? It could mean so many things. And Louis is one to ruminate so the possibilities are endless.
Maybe he isn't attracted to Louis? But that can't be it, Louis knows it's not. The tension between them is there— the spark rather.
This is so frustrating. Harry is so cryptic and closed off. Louis can't even get a read on him.
Louis huffs, slightly annoyed and not to mention embarrassed, and stomps away to his car, slamming the door shut and driving home.
*
"The red one looks better," Louis says, scanning the dress hung up in front of him.
Penelope nods, placing it on the bed and grabbing the phone so she's closer to the camera again.
"Why are you asking me to help pick out a dress for your engagement party again?" He asks her. "Don't you have friends, mum maybe— or your sister for this?"
She rolls her eyes, sitting down on the bed next to her dress that's still in view. "First of all she's your sister too. And second, it's not that they aren't of any help, but I need my brother's opinion too."
"Uh-huh. And has Delilah seen any of the options yet?"
"No." She shrugs.
"Well, you know she's going to have her opinion and you'll have to listen to her at the end of the day, not me or even mum for that matter," Louis says, stirring the pasta in the pot. "Jesus fuck this thing burnt me!"
"That's what happens when the stove is hot," she quips.
"Ha ha very funny," Louis rolls his eyes and grabs a cloth to move the pot of pasta into a bowl.
"Oh, are you actually cooking?" She gasps. "You hardly ever cook. Oh! It's the cute barista guy isn't it? He finally said yes to you?"
Louis' heart gives a dull ache at the rejection he'd once again faced from the omega. "No, I'm just hungry and trying out some new things. He didn't say yes to me."
She frowns, her lips pouted. "What? Why not?"
"I don't know. He said it's complicated and I wouldn't want to go out with someone like him, then something about not even having time to," he huffs, grabbing a fork and his phone to take to the island.
"That's a shame," she hums, "maybe there's a lot going on in his life, you know?"
"I mean, I guess. But if I were him I'd at least want to give us a try. Because there's chemistry between us, Pen, I can feel it," he sighs, stabbing his fork into the pasta and pushing some into his mouth. "Ah fuck! That's hot too."
She laughs, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, Louis. Look, I know you said you feel chemistry between you two but maybe it's best if you let this one go."
Louis swallows, looking down at his sad attempt at pasta. "I feel like even if I want to, I wouldn't be able to. There's just something about him..."
"Well, from the sound of it, you may have to because this omega doesn't seem to be changing his mind any time soon and you don't want to be too pushy. Although from what you've told me, you already sound pushy."
"Hey, I'm not pushy," he says defensively, "I am determined— there's a difference."
"I know it may be to you, but it seems like he's just not interested in a relationship right now so maybe just let it go, even if it's for the time being."
Louis frowns. "Well his friend from the coffee shop said he just needs time," he grumbles.
"Maybe he does... without you constantly being in his face and asking him out," she says raising a brow at him. "Maybe just get to know him as a friend?"
Louis scrunches his nose. "But I'm attracted to him. It wouldn't be fair to either of us to lie and say I want to be friends."
"Well, then I guess you'll just have to take a step back," she shrugs.
"Yeah, I guess so," he frowns again, pushing around the pasta in his bowl.
"Is your pasta at least good?" She asks.
"Mediocre," he says. "Nowhere near as good as mum's."
"Well, yeah. She has a mum's touch. Everything will always taste different because it comes from her."
"Speaking of— what did mum have to say about your dresses?"
"She liked all of them. You know how she is," Penelope rolls her eyes. "To her I look good in everything."
"She's your mum of course she thinks so," Louis says.
"Yeah, which is why I asked you because I know you'll be honest and Delilah definitely will be. Hannah is similar to mum so I can't ask her."
"Your best friend isn't honest with you?" Louis asks, raising a brow at her.
"She is but I think she's just emotional for me right now, you know?"
Louis doesn't know but he nods anyways. "Why are you getting a dress two weeks before your engagement party? Isn't this something people do months before?"
"Because you know I do things last minute. I couldn't decide at all. It's better if I decide closer to the time."
"Don't tell me you're going to do that for your wedding dress too..." he raises a brow at her.
"No I've already started looking for that. Dee would kill me if I didn't."
"Yeah, she would," Louis chuckles, shaking her head. "Speaking of, how is she? She's really bad at answering her messages."
"What else is new?" Penelope laughs. "She's okay. Uni keeping her busy, you know how it is."
"Masters? I have no idea actually. I don't know how she does it."
Delilah and Penelope are twins and they're five years younger than Louis. Delilah decided to study for her masters degree in chemical engineering and she plans to work towards her PhD.
Penelope was much more on the creative side of things. She loved her art and her history and her uni degree was in fact that; art history. But once she was done with her bachelors, she was done completely and Louis was the same.
"It's good that she's doing well though," Louis says. "Does she still want to do a big thing for her birthday?"
"Our birthday," Penelope rolls her eyes. "She does but I don't because I'm already spending so much of money for the engagement party and the wedding."
"Don't worry about money, Pen. You know that," Louis says.
"I know but we can't keep relying on you," she says.
Louis rolls his eyes. "Why not? It's not like I have any other responsibilities. No school fees, no pups to feed, no mate to provide for. I'm in this big empty house all on my own. I don't mind giving you guys money at all because I literally don't need it."
"Louis, you're thirty-two, not one hundred years old. You have time to do all of those things," she says sadly.
"I know but you're twenty-seven and you're getting married!" Louis says with a huff. "I want that too. I've always wanted that."
"And you'll get that, okay? Give yourself a break, brother bear. You're doing your best right now and when the right omega comes along, you'll know it. Until then just do you. Have some fun."
Louis slumps his shoulders, placing his fork down. "I know. I'm overreacting. I just feel down I guess. I really wanted to take Harry out."
"The barista?"
"Yeah."
"You'll get over it," she waves it off. "Now please help me decide on some shoes before you go to bed?"
"Fine," Louis huffs.
He gets where she's coming from but she doesn't understand how much Louis actually likes that stupid omega. She doesn't feel what he's feeling and yes, it's insane because they haven't even had a proper conversation, really. But Louis just feels it. It's not something he can explain.
*
Going back to the coffee shop is awkward. And it's mostly because Louis is getting in his head for sure. Because apparently he's being too pushy. Pfft, whatever that means. Louis is just a very determined person who doesn't give up easily.
There's nothing wrong with that... right?
He takes a deep breath and steps in the queue of people to get his coffee. He hears Harry's deep yet soft voice talk to a customer up front and his heart swoons. He has the loveliest voice; thick and sweet like pure honey.
He has to give himself a pep talk beforehand and resist the urge to flirt just to see the omegas cheeks turn that beautiful shade of pink. He tries his best to distract himself until he reaches the counter where they both seem to look right at each other at the same time, eyes locking.
"Hi, Louis," Harry says first.
Louis inhales and smiles. "Hey," he greets back. "Usual, please?"
Harry's brows furrow, looking at Louis curiously. He nods and grabs a cup, starting his usual routine to make Louis' coffee.
It's uncomfortably silent between them and Louis hates it. He's normally throwing a line or two at Harry by now just to watch him blush or smile but it feels so... wrong to do it now?
And Louis has gotten rejected before but this last one was different. Before, it was kind of cute because Louis thought he was playing hard to get but now, apparently it's more complicated than that.
Harry hands him his coffee with a friendly smile on his face, a touch of softness at the edges. Louis thanks him and... then he leaves.
He actually has to pause outside of the coffee shop once he's out to think about what the fuck he's doing. Louis still wants some sort of explanation but Harry isn't really obligated to give him one.
Maybe he is being too pushy and take a step or two back would be helpful. He sips his coffee thoughtfully as he walks back to his office building. It's a good thing he's going away for his sister's engagement party this weekend because he needs to just get his mind off of this. Some booze and cake will do the trick.
*
"Ugh, you should have been there, Pen. It was super awkward," Louis groans, collapsing onto her bed and sighing, looking up at the ceiling.
"Maybe you should find another café?" She suggests, looking at herself in the mirror as she applies what Louis thinks is blush.
"I guess I will. He does actually make a nice coffee though," Louis says thoughtfully. "It's just... I don't want to either."
"Well then you're making yourself miserable," she says, glancing at him.
"I just... I wonder what it is, you know?" Louis sighs, noticing a cobweb at the corner of the ceiling. "I still can't stop thinking about him."
"I can see that," she huffs. "And I will gladly help you with your emotional crisis but I need mum and Delilah's help right now with my dress."
"Oh right," Louis pushes himself off the bed and gets to his feet. He walks up to his sister and places a kiss on her cheek. "I'll see you in a few then?"
She nods and distractedly says, "See you, big brother."
Louis walks out of her room, mind still occupied by Harry as he looks for his mum and sister. He eventually finds them in the kitchen, getting the champagne into ice buckets.
"You have been summoned," he says, leaning against the threshold of the door of the kitchen.
"She ready to put on her dress?" His mum asks. Louis nods.
"Great," she walks passed Louis and gives his shoulder a small squeeze.
Louis looks at Delilah in question. "She apparently wants you there too, you know?"
She narrows her eyes at him, arms crossed over her chest. She looks so much more like their mjm even though her and Pen are twins.
"What?" He asks.
"You have an Omega and you didn't even tell me," she raises her brows at him.
Louis sighs. "He's not mine. I wish he was but he isn't interested. Well— I think he is interested but he apparently thinks I wouldn't want to date him and that it's complicated."
"Oof, sounds like insecurity speaking to me," she says, nose scrunched. "Maybe you dodged a bullet."
Louis feels weirdly protective over Harry. Well, in hindsight with everything else he's feeling, he supposes it's not that weird.
"He's a great person. I just... I don't know I wish I would know why. He's so cryptic and shit," Louis says.
"Well, ask him then?" She says, brows furrowed.
"But he's cryptic," Louis huffs.
"So ask him again. And then get your closure and move on," she says, a bit apathetically. "There's plenty of Omegas who want you, you know?"
"None of them are Harry," Louis frowns. "And they are... I don't know it's not that they're not enough, but my Alpha feels that way, you know?"
She gives him a small smile. "Listen, when this blows over— which it will— we'll set up a dating profile for you, how's that?"
Louis frowns. "Dating profile? Uh, no thank you. Besides you don't have to write him off so quickly you know?"
"Brother I think he's done that to you already," she says with pursed lips. Louis' frown deepens but he says nothing else.
"I need a drink," he says to himself and walks to their cupboard that holds the expensive whiskey. He hears the faint sound of her footsteps disappear into the hallway and lets out a breath.
Yep. Definitely going to be four days full of booze and cake.
*
Coming back to work on a Monday was a bad idea because Louis is extremely hungover. His sisters engagement party was a blast but he should have known that just because the party was over, doesn't mean they stopped drinking.
Needless to say, the one thing he needs right now is a good cup of coffee and of course the first place he thinks of is the cafe Harry works at.
Sure there's coffee at their work place but it's nowhere near as good as what he gets from the coffee shop. And he's survived on that from the morning so he deserves a good cup now. Maybe Harry has something to do with that. Who is Louis kidding? He probably does.
He's still very aware of the fact that things are going to be very awkward though and just because he had a break from seeing Harry on Thursday and Friday last week, doesn't mean he stopped thinking about him.
And yes, Delilah was right. He is going to ask for an elaborating because why not, right? It's worth a shot.
If the complication is maybe that Harry stays very far away for some reason, Louis will go there or he'll pay for Harry to travel to this end if he has to.
There's nothing that could be so complicated that they can't at least try to make a plan around it. And why Harry thinks Louis wouldn't actually want to date him is beyond Louis.
Maybe that's something he'll just have to see for himself.
Lucky for Louis, there's only one person in line before him who's already being helped so he won't have to wait long to get his coffee.
Louis slips in quietly and steps behind the man— an Alpha from what he can tell— and waits patiently, bouncing on his feet.
Before he knows it though, he's walking to the front and he faces Harry again after days of not seeing him. Louis passes him a pursed smile.
He watches the Omegas eyes widen, as if he's surprised.
"You're here," Harry says.
Louis raises a brow at him. "Uh, yeah? Hi?"
"Hi," he breathes out, shaking his head. "I— I thought you'd maybe—" he shakes his head again, cutting himself off. "Never mind I— uh, what can I get you?"
His eyes do this weird thing where they seem like they twinkle, like an anime character. Louis notices the way he's chewing on his bottom lip, biting back a smile.
Then it clicks.
"You missed me," Louis says with a slow smile. "Oh my god you missed me, didn't you?"
Harry groans, rolling his eyes. "I never said that. I'm just surprised to see you here."
"Yeah, because you've missed me," Louis says matter of factly. "You were worried, weren't you?"
Harry's cheeks turn that lovely shade of pink that Louis missed dearly. "I— I just hoped that if you were getting your coffee somewhere else that you were okay..."
And that doesn't make any sense at all but no matter, Louis can read between the lines.
"Don't worry, love. You're the only barista in my life right now," he says, effortlessly flirting again.
Harry snorts, shaking his head. "And there you go again."
"Ah, and you've missed it," Louis says, looking at Harry carefully. "You missed me."
Harry looks up at Louis, their eyes locking for a few seconds before he sighs. "Can I get you your usual?"
"Yes please, love," he says, quirking his lips.
He watches Harry make his coffee and a lightness returns to his heart. There may be some hope after all.
Harry missed him for gods sake. That has to mean something, right?
"You look like you haven't slept," Harry remarks as he pours the steaming milk into the cup.
"Are you worried again?" Louis asks.
Harry chuckles, dimples popping. "Here's your coffee. Hope it helps you look a little bit more alive."
Louis chuckles in surprise at his cheeky remark.
Harry smiles shyly.
"Thank you for this. And for your cheeky comment. I like that side of you," Louis says, winking.
He's seen glimpses of it before and he's just intrigued. He wants to know Harry more. He's endearing.
Harry huffs out a laugh. "You're welcome. It's, um. It's nice to see you back."
"I was only gone for two days, love. Calm down," Louis teases with his best charming smile.
Harry laughs again. And god, all Louis can think about is how beautiful he looks. His smile shapes his whole face.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Louis," Harry says.
"Maybe you will," Louis shrugs.
Harry shakes his head, but Louis would dare to say it's fondly. "Bye, Louis."
"Bye, love," Louis raises his cup up to his face as gesture to say goodbye before turning around and walking out, feeling happier than he was days ago.
So maybe there is hope and he could try again? He'll have to do it carefully, perhaps.
*
It eases into something a bit more comfortable during the rest of the week and it's all because Harry missed him. He did and even if he wouldn't say it out loud, he implied it and Louis could tell.
He keeps the flirting to what it used to be but he doesn't try to ask Harry out. Harry reacts the way he normally does; he blushes, he'll flirt back but he'll try to cover it up with a cheeky remark but it only makes him more endearing to Louis because bantering is one of his love languages.
On Friday morning, as he finishes up his coffee from lunch time, he decides to stop by in the afternoon again. Maybe it's too soon but it's been a week now— he can just hang out and watch Harry work if he has to. That's good enough for him.
"Don't tell me you're still on this, Louis," Zayn sighs as they walk to the lift.
"I'm just curious because I can't leave this alone knowing we have something between us and we didn't even try, you know?"
"But you did try," Zayn says, stepping into the lift next to Louis, "and he said no a few times."
"But you were there! You saw there was something there, right? You know it's not just me," Louis says.
"I know it's not, but this Omega doesn't seem to want anything to do with you," Zayn says with a wince. "Maybe not anything but not anything romantic..."
"I'm going to try, Zayn," Louis says indignantly. He's made up his mind.
"Fine but I do have someone to set you up with when you're done with this," Zayn says.
"The Omegas that you've rejected you mean?" Louis asks dryly.
"Well— maybe but there's nothing wrong with them, they're just not my type, you know?"
"No one is ever your type," Louis mumbles.
"Hey, I have high standards there's nothing wrong with that," Zayn says.
Louis rolls his eyes. "You keep telling yourself that, Zayn."
"Anyways, I wish you luck, Louis and hope you get to your senses soon so we can maybe go out and have a guys night to just... you know, hook up with Omegas or Betas or even other Alphas?"
Louis rolls his eyes once again. "Goodbye, Zayn."
"Good luck, Louis," Zayn says in a laugh.
They go their separate ways and Louis puts his laptop bag in the car, deciding to park his car on the street outside of the cafe since he's leaving one time anyways.
He finds a spot not too far away and takes a few deep breaths, going over what he should say to Harry in his head.
Louis is well aware this could all go to shit but he's also well aware that this could also work out in his favour and he's never been one to look at the glass half empty.
Determined, Louis gets out of his car and locks it, before making his way to the cafe. He stops in his tracks, however, when he sees a car door open and Harry stepping out.
He's a few feet away and it doesn't look like he's noticed Louis, but that's also because he seems distracted. He's hurrying to the back door and bending down, pushing his upper half into the car.
Louis can't exactly see what he's doing from where he's standing but once he does, he feels his face go cold.
Harry helps a little girl jump out of the back seat of the car. She's tiny, with bouncy curls and a bright red coat with what looks like a bunny rabbit teddy bear in her hand.
Harry reaches down to place a kiss to her cheek, his own cheeks denting with dimples as he smiles at her.
"Don't forget my juice, mama," she tells Harry, her voice adorable and sweet and soft.
"Right," Harry says, reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out a box of juice, handing it to her. "Can we go inside now?"
She nods jerkily, making him smile. He extends his hand out for her to take and leads the way to the back door of the cafe.
Louis stands there for a solid minute or two in utter shock. That child is Harry's. He concluded that after seeing her face alone. She looks so much like Harry from her light brown locks to her smile and doe eyes.
This is crazy. Has Louis gotten it all wrong? Is Harry mated already? Is he with someone already?
If that were true, why couldn't he just tell Louis that? And why would he sometimes flirt back with Louis?
It can't be.
He frowns to himself, taking much slower steps towards the coffee shop this time, looking down at the ground thoughtfully.
How could Harry not tell him this? If his daughter was why things would be complicated, couldn't he have also just said that?
Louis opens the door to the cafe and immediately, Harry's eyes meet his. His expression falls upon seeing Louis' and Louis is grateful the cafe is empty because as soon as he's up to the counter he blurts out, "you have a kid."
Harry's face falls once again then hardens. "You saw her..." he trails off.
Louis nods in response. "How could you not tell me you were mated or had an Alpha already?" He once again blurts out. "And that you have a kid together?"
Harry sighs, wiping a hand over his face. "Because I knew you'd judge me if you found out that I actually don'thave an Alpha or partner in my life for that matter and I'm raising my daughter on my own."
"Why on earth would I judge you for that?" Louis asks in disbelief.
"Because you're an Alpha. Your first assumption now was that I had to have someone to raise a pup with and you've just proved me right," he says, crossing his arms over his chest.
"That's not— don't reduce it to that. If I see someone with a child, regardless, I'm going to assume there's two parents involved and that has nothing to do with you or omegas specifically."
Harry locks his jaw, arms still crossed over his chest, eyes avoiding Louis'.
"This is what you meant by 'complicated' isn't it?" Louis asks, because he has to know. He did come here to find out anyway.
Harry nods, his guard dropping the slightest bit. He looks around at the mostly empty cafe and then at Louis. "Come to this side so we can talk a bit without making a scene please?"
Louis obliges and follows him off to one side of the counter where it's empty and only some lonely pies are on display.
"Yes, it's complicated because of her, Louis. She's my daughter and I'm on my own raising her. It's not easy and she'll always be my first priority. Between her, this job and trying to study, I just don't have time," he says apologetically.
Louis regards him carefully. Beautiful, pretty Harry with his lovely smile and bright eyes. "Okay, I get that. I would put my child first too if I were in your situation."
Harry seems relieved when he smiles. "Thank you. Besides, not many people are willing to date someone with a child already. Which is okay, but, yeah I just don't have time for that sort of thing. Some people think they do and then—" he shakes his head, cutting off his rambling. "Anyways, thanks for understanding."
Louis chews on the inside of his cheek. "Wait," he says before Harry can go back to the front. Harry looks at him in question. "Where is she now?"
Harry's eyes narrow marginally. "She's at the back... sitting with my friend while I finish my shift. Why?"
"I wanted to know if she's all right," Louis says honestly.
Harry searches his eyes and nods. "Oh, thank you, I think?"
Louis chuckles softly. "So, um, you said no to me all those times because it's complicated for you because of your daughter, not because you didn't like me?"
Harry snorts, shaking his head. His eyes soften a bit. "Of course it wasn't because I didn't like you. I do like you I just... I just can't. I don't even really have the time to, even if I wanted to."
Louis' heart feels lighter. He smiles. "Tell me what your typical day looks like."
Harry tilts his head at Louis curiously but he obliges in answering his question anyway. "Um, I wake up first then I wake up Bella—"
"What time?" Louis interrupts and takes note of the name. Bella. Sweet.
Harry's brows furrow. "Six thirty and I wake up Bella by seven. We're out of the house by seventy thirty, seven forty five latest and I drop her off at preschool by around eight, then I'm here for my shift by eight fifteen to start at eight thirty—" he smiles, amused. "Are you— why are you even asking me any of this?"
"You'll see," Louis smiles back. "Please continue. You may get a customer soon and we're having a very important conversation here."
Harry chuckles, shaking his head. "Um, okay. I work here until five and then I normally pick Bella up from aftercare at her school and I'm home by six thirty, sometimes earlier — traffic is shit most days though— then I'm making dinner and I like us to eat before seven thirty. I bath and get Bella ready for bed so she's out by around eight then I study or do any uni work I need to catch up on. Sometimes we have night lectures I attend online. I'm done with my day around ten thirty or eleven most days."
"Wow," Louis exhales. That does sound like hectic schedule and he understands why Harry says he doesn't have time. But where there's will there's way.
"Yeah," Harry says in a breathy laugh. "So you understand now?"
Louis nods. "So why is Bella here today? It's still four thirty."
"There was a measles outbreak at their school," he scrunches his nose. "So I had to pick her up."
Louis nods. "Okay, one more question then I'll get you get back to your work."
Harry's lips twitch in amusement. "Okay?"
"Do you get a lunch break? Because I'm here during mine and you're always working."
Harry nods. "I get fifteen to twenty minutes just after one. Sometimes it's longer depending on the day. Why?"
"Fifteen to twenty minutes, huh? I can do with that," he says, mostly to himself but Harry catches it.
"Do what with that?"
Louis smiles, shaking his head. "You'll see," he says. "I— she's really cute, by the way and you seem like a great d— mum."
His eyes flash with emotion. "Thank you," he says softly.
"You're welcome, Harry. I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?" He says.
"Wait— what were you talking about? You don't have anything else to say after all of this?" Harry asks, looking at Louis dubiously.
Louis chuckles. "I have a lot to say but we'll talk, don't worry. I think you have a customer, love."
Harry stares at Louis, eyebrows furrowed before turning to the front desk and seeing an older looking lady walk up to it. He curses under his breath and gives Louis one last look of confusion.
"I'll see you tomorrow," is all Louis says and throws in a wink. "Get yourself and Bella home safely."
He knows he doesn't really need to say it because Harry is more than capable but he can't help it. Harry nods, still very much perplexed. Louis can't help but chuckle.
He turns around and walks out of the coffee shop with a new plan in mind