Chapter Text
Louis' POV
“And there he is, man of the match, the thirty-five-year-old centre midfielder, the one and only Louis Tomlinson, who has once again left us all positively gobsmacked today.”
“I’m going to have to agree with you there, Gail. He’s once again proven why he’s the finest playmaker England has ever seen.”
“He is, right? I can’t recall any other player captaining our national team, driven by the sheer amount of force we’ve seen from Louis. Just look at his smile. Oh, he’s so truly happy right now, isn’t he?”
“I mean, he’s just won the World Cup, Gail. He must be positively buzzing right now. I know I’d be.”
“Oh, hush, John.”
“Oh, and as always, you have the entire team’s kids making a straight line towards him to celebrate.”
“Yeah, because they know who gives the best swirlies, and it’s not their own fathers,” Gail, the female pundit, adds with a bit of a laugh. The camera focuses on Louis as he's swirling his teammates’ kids in the air. “Oh, they all love him so much, don’t they?” she adds as they watch the kids all clinging to Louis in some way. Be it his hands, his arms or his legs. “Oh, they all want a piece of him. Poor Louis.”
“They certainly do, Gail. But we all know that every single one of those kids has got him wrapped around those tiny little fingers of theirs.”
“They most certainly do, John.” Gail agrees as Louis is seen crouching down to listen to everything the kids around him have to say. He’s pictured laughing with his head thrown back, and he can’t help but smile at the way the kids around him mimic his movements.
“One can’t help but think he’d be such an amazing dad once he decides to give up the bachelor lifestyle, huh?”
“Oh, most definitely, John. But I think we both know that’s not happening anytime soon. He’s made it pretty clear that football is his number one priority, and he has no time to focus on anything else. It's that mindset alone that has brought him so many unimaginable achievements.”
“It sure has, but then again, Gail, he’s pushing forty, and is bound to retire within the next few years-”
“Oh, come on, John. Thirty-five is barely pushing forty. He’s still got a good few years left in those legs. I don’t think he’s ready, or, let’s be honest, I don't think the country is ready for him to step down anytime soon.”
“Oh, I know that I’m definitely not, but coming from me, a dad of four and married to the most beautiful woman on earth, no professional achievements could ever measure up to the joy they bring to my life. One can’t help but wonder if that’s the price he’s paying to make the country’s dream come true.”
“Well, John. It’s certainly a personal choice. No one is holding him hostage and forcing him to lead us to another glorious victory, are they? Louis is focused on what’s important to him, and to the great relief of the country, that’s football. He’s still got the rest of his life ahead of him to think about starting a family and all the other simple things life has to offer. For him, at this moment, football is life, and it would be selfish for anyone to expect him to change.”
Louis scowls at Gail’s last reply. It’s not like he’s never heard it before, because he has. It’s the ‘22 World Cup post-match commentary. Louis has seen this video at least once a month while scrolling through Instagram over the last three years. It's not new to him, though the last few times he’s seen it, it’s left a bittersweet feeling in its wake.
See, the thing is, three years ago, when those things were said, Gail was right. These days, though, his dream leans more to having his own family rather than playing uncle of the year to his sisters' and teammates’ children.
It’s not that easy, though, is it? But then again, Louis thinks, nothing is when you’re a closeted international sports star.
He could come out, if he wanted to, that is. No one is forcing him not to. Over the years, tabloids have outed him on so many occasions that he’s completely lost count, but that’s not what scares him. No. What scares him is the backlash they always get from football fans for insinuating that Louis Tomlinson is anything other than a straight alpha male.
Louis, for the most part, does not want that kind of rise directed at him when all he wants to do is play football. It’s all he's ever wanted to do, since he was old enough to kick a ball. For God's sake, his first word was ball. His grandpa loves telling that story to anyone willing to listen.
Football has been all he’s ever known in his life. To a certain extent, it’s safe to say that Louis lives and breathes the sport. And he’s fine with it. He’s been fine with it. The plan was always to retire before he turns forty, which gives him another year.
The thought of not playing anymore is daunting to say the least, but on the other hand, Louis is more than ready to start living his life without having to worry about what others might think. What the people who only know him as the man leading them to victory after victory would think. He wants to live without having to carry the burden of being judged or scrutinised for being his true self.
He’s kept his private life private all of these years. Hell, he’s not even out to his team. Well, except Liam and Zayn. But he only came out to them when he walked in on them celebrating a tad more intimately than normal teammates would.
Be that as it may, as far as the team is concerned, they’re the only two who know, and to some degree, it’s led to them becoming a close-knit trio. It’s good, though, to have somebody on the team who understands what you’re feeling and going through, and for that, Louis is eternally grateful.
His family, on the other hand, is the most supportive bunch under the sun. Lottie, for one, is always prying, trying to get him to go on a date or at least just shag someone. She’s always telling him, “It’s the best way to get rid of built-up tension, Lou.”
Louis, though, would rather not. He’s been in two serious relationships with men that he thought would be endgame. Both times, he was happy beyond belief. Both times also proved that happiness was just an illusion, as both men eventually grew tired of basically living in his closet, and Louis ended up buying their silence about his sexuality.
So yes, dating has taken a backseat on the ride that is his life. As for the shagging part, he’s quite content with his right hand, thank you very much. It doesn’t talk back and is always available.
He's still staring at his phone when it buzzes with a message from Daisy.
Dais [09:17]
Mum says I have to ask you if my boyfriend can come with us for the holidays
Louis simply stares at his phone.
Daisy has a boyfriend?
Louis [09:18]
You have a boyfriend?
Daisy's reply comes almost instantly, as if she's been waiting for him to ask.
Dais [09:18]
Yes, Lou. I have a boyfriend. His name is Ryan, and we're very much in love. Now, can he come?
Louis is sceptical, and rightfully so. He's lost count of how many times people have tried getting close to his family to gain information on him. Sadly, some people quickly learned that selling tidbits of his personal life to a gossip rag was a surefire way to make a small fortune.
He tries to think of a way to tell her that he's not really comfortable with the idea, but before he can start typing his response, another string of replies from his sister appears on his screen.
Dais [09:20]
I can sense your discomfort over the phone, and I wanted to tell you to please not worry
I made him sign an NDA when we started getting serious
He’s the one, Lou
I know it in my heart
Louis has to laugh at these replies. What does a twenty-old-year-old know about the one? She's yet to start living her life for God's sake. He knows better than to tell her that, though.
Louis [09:22]
You made him sign an NDA?
He settles on asking instead.
Dais [09:23]
I did… and he didn't even bat an eye, Lou. Not even when I told him that we'd castrate him with a blunt knife if he so much as mentions your name to anyone
Louis chokes on air.
Louis [09:24]
Bloody hell, Dais!!!
You can't just say something like that to someone
Dais [09:25]
He didn’t mind Lou
He said he'd even give me the knife!
He’s so nice, and I really want you to meet him
Louis sighs. He normally avoids these conversations as best he can. His family knows that he's not interested in meeting anyone unless they’re extremely serious about them.
Lottie and Fizzy have gone through the exact same thing with him, with the only exception being Phoebe. She ended up dating her high school sweetheart, Jack, and Louis thinks he’s a rather pleasant guy.
Be that as it may, Daisy seems to have found someone with whom she sees a future, and who is Louis to deny her that? Surely this Ryan must be serious about her, too, if he's willing to provide the knife for his castration, and that's after signing an NDA.
Louis [09:26]
Where'd you even find an NDA?
Dais [09:26]
I asked Shawn for one
Of course, she asked his agent for one. Clever girl. Although he'll be having a word with Mister Mendes for not mentioning it.
He’s about to reply when more messages from Daisy pops up on his screen.
Dais [09:27]
Please Louuuuuuu
We really want to spend the holidays together, and I really want it to be with my family
But I'd understand if you’re not comfortable, and we'll spend it with his family instead
Louis knows it's not an ultimatum, and that even though it would mean the world to his sister for them to spend the holidays with her family, she's still looking out for him first.
He can appreciate that.
Louis [09:28]
We're not spending the holidays apart, Dais
You know how I feel about that
I'd love to meet this boy who is "the one"
He imagines her rolling her eyes before the three dots, which indicate she started typing, appear again.
Dais [09:29]
He’s not a boy, Lou
He’s 25… a young man
And thank you
Louis smiles. His heart stutters at the thought of how fast his sisters have grown into young, impressionable ladies.
Louis [09:30]
No need to thank me, love
I hope he can cook, though!
He means it as a joke. Louis has a personal chef, but this year, Luigi is spending Christmas with his own family, and Louis has been left rather high and dry on the prospect of having their meals planned and ready for the two weeks his family will be staying with him.
Phoebe starts typing again immediately, and Louis lets his head fall back in laughter when her one-worded reply appears on the screen.
Dais [09:30]
No!
Louis is busy typing his reply, wanting to tell her that he's not welcome, when the next message appears.
Dais [09:31]
He’ll tell you that he can, but my advice to you would be not to believe him
More laughter bubbles from deep within him at his sister's blunt reply.
Louis [09:32]
That bad?
Dais [09:32]
I don’t want to talk about it
It was bad enough that I had to lie to him and tell him it was good because he was being romantic and all
But no
Does Luigi need help?
I’ll help if he does
Louis grimaces while he starts typing again.
Louis [09:33]
Luigi won’t be here this year
Louis watches the dots at the bottom of his screen appear and disappear numerous times, and he’s sure Daisy is busy writing an essay about how they’ll do the cooking when they’re here, to which he’ll reply that it’s not necessary, but since they insist, who is he to stand in their way?
He’s rather caught off guard when it’s only a single word that appears on his screen after a whole five minutes.
Dais [09:38]
Oh
And okay. What? Judging by how long he stared at the dots indicating she was busy typing, that’s not at all the reply he expected.
Louis [09:39]
Yeah
This year, we’re sorting out the food ourselves
Don’t sound too excited
Dais [09:40]
I mean… I, for one, am not
I don’t know the first thing about cooking, Lou
You do know we live off precooked meals, right?
Louis [09:41]
Says the one who offered to help Luigi???
Dais [09:42]
Yeah…
Because he’d be in charge and just tell me what he needs me to do
Like rinse the veggies and stuff
Louis snorts out a laugh before he starts typing again.
Louis [09:43]
We’ll have Mum to help
Daisy's reply comes almost instantly again.
Dais [09:43]
No!
Mum’s been looking forward to these two weeks since June
We’re not going to have her cook for twenty people every day, Lou
She needs to rest as well
In fact, we’ll be the ones helping with entertaining the twins so she can catch a break
Louis sighs. She’s right, and he knows it. He’s about to tell her as much when another message pops up.
Dais [09:45]
Does Luigi not love us anymore?
Why won’t he be there?
Louis smiles at this. Luigi’s no doubt become part of their family over the years, and as strange as it will be not to have him around this year, he could never expect the man to choose Louis' family over his own. Besides, it’s not every day your only daughter gets married.
Louis [09:47]
Katie’s getting married on the 23rd
Dais [09:48]
Shut up!!!
Really???
A bit rude not to invite us, don’t you think?
Louis rolls his eyes. What on earth is his sister on?
Louis [09:49]
You’ve met her once
Dais [09:50]
Twice
Louis [09:51]
Right
My bad
You should be standing right up front with her
Dais [09:52]
Don’t be silly, Lou
We’re not nearly close enough for me to be her bridesmaid
But an invite to her wedding would have been nice
Louis wants to tell her that meeting someone twice does not constitute grounds for being invited to their wedding, but before he can, another message appears on his screen.
Dais [09:53]
Besides, we’re like an extended family
Luigi is like our dad as well
Which, now that I think about it… I could totally be her bridesmaid
Louis [09:54]
Stop talking shit, Dais
Let him spend this special time with his family
Daisy's still busy typing back when he receives a notification of a message from Lottie
Lotts [09:54]
Daisy’s saying Luigi won’t be there?
Who’s going to cook?
Louis [09:55]
Well, good news certainly travels fast, I see
Lotts [09:56]
It’s a disaster, Lou
What are you talking about?
Upon reading her reply, Louis struggles to contain his laughter.
Louis [09:57]
Relax, would you?
I’ve got it under control
He has absolutely no idea why he just told her that.
None whatsoever.
Lottie’s reply comes instantly.
Lots [09:57]
You sure?
Louis should totally tell her that he was just talking out of his arse and that he most certainly does not have it under control, but here he is, grimacing while he types his reply.
Louis [09:58]
Yup.
“Fuck,” he whispers to himself. Or so he thinks, because he’s left shaken when someone finally speaks from right behind him.
“What did you do now?”
Louis whips his head around to look at Shawn, who stares down at him with arched eyebrows.
“I might have told Lottie that I’ve got everything under control with regards to food and stuff for their visit,” he sheepishly admits.
“And that would constitute an exasperated ‘fuck,’ why?” Shawn asks, confusion evident in his tone.
“Katie’s getting married, and Luigi won’t be here to sort all of that out.”
“Oh fuck, I forgot about that.”
“Yeah.”
“So what now?”
Louis slowly shakes his head, staring in front of him at absolutely nothing. “I have no fucking idea, mate.”
“Fuck.”
Sighing, Louis stands to his feet. “That’s exactly what I said, innit?”
Rolling his eyes, Shawn sits down while Louis unlocks his phone when it sounds with another message tone.
Dais [10:02]
You’re such an asshole, Lou
Lottie says you’ve got everything under control
Why do you always have to give me a little heart attack whenever we talk?
God, she’s such a little drama queen, but he sends her one last reply before pocketing his phone.
Louis [10:03]
I’m the oldest
I’ve earned that right
“Want something to drink?” he asks Shawn while making his way over to the fridge in the bar.
“Water’s fine, thanks,” Shawn replies, falling back against the sofa.
Louis nods, getting himself a bottle of water as well.
“What are you going to do?” Shawn asks instead of thanking him when accepting the bottle.
“I have absolutely no fucking idea, mate,” Louis replies in all honesty.
Shawn snorts out a laugh. “Are you ready to go?” he asks, getting up and moving towards the door.
“I am,” Louis tells him with a nod. “Are you?”
Shawn stops in his tracks and turns on the spot. “Would I be leading the way if I weren’t?”
“Stop with the sass, Mendes,” Louis answers while walking past him. “And tell me when you sent an NDA to my sister for her boyfriend to sign and never told me about it?”
“What?” Shawn utters the word with pure confusion lacing his voice.
“Daisy,” Louis clarifies. “She’s got a boyfriend that she wants me to meet. She said you sent her one, when was it?” he asks, trying to figure out how long they’ve been together.
Shawn frowns, his eyes narrowing as he seemingly has to think about it, and Louis shakes his head in disbelief.
“It’s not a trick question, mate; I just need to know more or less how long they’ve been seeing each other,” Louis informs him while pulling the door close behind them.
Shawn shakes his head. “Sorry, Lou, I’ve completely forgotten she even asked, never mind when.”
Louis huffs, pulling his lips to the side. “Well, check your phone. Surely she would have sent you a message about it.”
It’s as if a light bulb appears, and Shawn reaches for his phone, scrolling away while getting into the car.
“And? Louis arches his brows in question while sliding behind the steering wheel.
Shawn keeps scrolling for a few more seconds before releasing a breath which Louis didn’t even know he was holding. “Found it,” he states, breathing out a relieved sigh.
Louis can’t help but roll his eyes and grin. Shawn Mendes is one hell of an agent, but if there’s one thing he excels in, it’s being dramatic for no particular reason.
“Well?” Louis prompts, his eyebrows still arched when turning on the engine.
“Hmmm?” Shawn snaps his head towards him, raising his own brows as if to ask, ‘What?’
“Are you going to tell me when she asked for it, or do you need me to fucking punch it out of you, mate?”
Shawn huffs out a laugh. “Sorry,” he apologises, looking down at his phone again. “It was, um, the fifth of February.”
Louis’ heart stutters a little before filling with pride. Daisy's been seeing this guy for ten months, and today is the first time he’s heard about him. If that doesn’t scream that the guy isn’t using her to get info on Louis, then he doesn’t know what does. God, he’s so happy for his sister he could scream.
He’ll tell her as much when he sees her again, but right now, he needs to get to the bottom of why Shawn's head seems to be anywhere but in the car with them.
“You good?” he asks, pulling out of the garage and steering the car down his driveway.
Shawn frowns when looking at him. He points at himself while asking incredulously, “Me?”
“Is... there... anyone else in the car?” Louis asks, feigning his hesitance, and making a show of looking to the backseat.
“Oh, fuck off,” Shawn snaps, although Louis is certain there is no venom behind his words.
“Want to talk about it?” he asks. Shawn may be his agent, but after twenty years, they’ve formed a rather special bond, and if anything, Louis considers him more of a brother than anything else. Shawn’s always looked out for him, and well, Louis likes to think he’s done the same.
Shawn sighs, then pulls his lips to the side. “Saw Niall for the last time last night.”
“Ah,” Louis sounds, nodding along. “The elusive Niall. What’s going on with him these days, and why for the last time?” he asks.
Shawn’s been hung up on this guy for the past three months after meeting at some function, but from what Louis understands, neither one of them has the balls to officially ask the other out.
“He’s going back to Ireland for the holidays,” Shawn answers, shrugging.
“He’s Irish?”
Shawn pulls a face. “I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned that before, Louis.”
Louis' brows furrow while he thinks, trying his best to recall if that particular subject has ever come up in their conversations.
“I’m pretty sure you haven't,” he argues, smiling at the way Shawn rolls his eyes. “If only you had the balls to properly ask him out, there’s a chance he’d have invited you to Ireland with him, hmmm?”
“Oh, shut up,” Shawn huffs. “I doubt he would have. We’ve only been seeing each other like two, maybe three times a week for the past three months. It’s not that serious.”
Louis’ eyebrows almost reach his hairline with the way they shoot up. “Oh,” he says while looking at Shawn. “Are you seeing other people as well?”
Shawn sits up straight and looks at him like he’s suddenly grown two heads. “What? No!” he exclaims, exasperated.
Louis purses his lips, nodding. “Is he?”
“Is he what?”
“Seeing other people?”
Shawn sighs, leaning back in his seat. “I don’t know,” he answers softly. “I don’t think so,” he adds after a few beats, before a soft “I hope not,” ultimately falls from his lips.
Louis’ heart aches for him. He loves love. He loves people being in love. He loves knowing his family and friends have the freedom to love. Just because he’s not allowed himself the luxury for the last decade does not mean he’s against the idea of it. He’s just decided that he’ll wait until after his retirement to start looking for himself again.
Be that as it may, he still feels bad for the man sitting next to him, wishing there was something he could do to help these two clueless fools along.
Silence falls between them while Louis continues to drive and Shawn stares out of the window.
Louis is mostly humming along to "Champagne Supernova," currently playing on the radio, when it comes to him. He balls his fist and swings it towards his friend. He doesn’t mean to hit Shawn's thigh as hard as he does while exclaiming, “I’ve got it!”
Shawn doesn’t scream. At least not immediately. He does ball his own fist, bringing it to his mouth to bite down on while rubbing the spot where Louis’ hit just landed with his other hand. He takes a few moments before turning his body to face Louis. “Why the fuck are you assaulting me?” he grits out while continuing to rub the spot, wincing as he does.
“Sorry,” Louis sheepishly apologises. “But I’ve got the solution to both our problems.”
Shawn frowns. “You do?”
Louis nods. “He’s a chef, right?”
“He’s a sous chef,” Shawn corrects. “His friend is the head chef.”
Louis rolls his eyes. Now is not the time for semantics. “But he knows how to cook, right?”
“I mean, yeah.”
Louis’ eyes light up while a blinding smile spreads across his face. “So!” he exclaims again.
Shawn keeps frowning, though. “So?” he asks, confusion in his voice again.
Louis purses his lips when turning to face his friend when they stop at a traffic light. “I need a chef,” he starts saying. “And you need a chance to man up and pull your head out of your arse to ask him out.”
“I-” Shawn starts saying, but Louis cuts him off.
“It’s a win-win for both of us. Except I’ll be the one paying while you get your act together.”
Shawn watches him for a moment, seemingly thinking about what Louis has just proposed. “That’s a stupid idea, Lou.”
Gasping, Louis brings a hand to his chest. “The fuck do you mean that’s a stupid idea? I need a fucking chef, and you need to spend more time with the lad. How is that a stupid idea?”
“Did you forget the part where I told you he’s going to Ireland for the holidays?”
“But he could be staying. I’d even pay him double for the two weeks of his holiday he has to offer up.”
“He won’t-”
“Have you asked him?” Louis cuts him off without hesitation.
“No, but-”
“Right. So don’t come tell me he won’t when you don’t know for sure, yeah?”
Shawn sighs, then rolls his eyes. “Fine,” he says while reaching for his phone. “I’ll ask him, but-”
“No buts until you’ve talked to him,” Louis cuts him off again, while turning his attention to finding a parking spot and getting out of the car. “We’ll be around twenty people, including three kids, and remember to tell him I’ll pay double for his services. Whatever it takes, to be honest. Food is the last thing I want to be worrying about,” he adds with finality before closing the car door and sauntering off towards the training grounds.
>>>>> ♡ <<<<<
After a gruelling four-hour training session, Louis finds Shawn waiting for him in the locker room.
“You good?” he asks when Shawn smiles at him the way he only does when he’s done something and is scared to tell Louis about it.
Shawn nods, clearly forcing a smile, and Louis shakes his head a little. He’s not really sure if he wants to know what his friend is trying to hide from him right now.
Sitting down, Louis takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly while looking back up at the man who is now fidgeting with his fingers while shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
“What did you do?” he asks, arching his brows. When Shawn grimaces slightly, he’s really not sure if he wants to know. “Shawn,” he prompts, his voice stern.
Shawn lifts his hands, gesturing for Louis to calm down before he finally starts talking. “I, um, have some good and bad news,” he says, a nervous giggle slipping his throat. “Which, um, which do you want to hear first?”
Louis can’t possibly think what the bad news could be. It’s not like they’re waiting for a new sponsorship deal or something, so his heart drops before asking, “Is, is, is my family alright?”
Shawn frowns. “What? How would I know?”
Relief washes over Louis for a second. “The fuck do you mean bad news, then?” he exclaims, drawing the attention of Liam and Zayn, who slowly approach them while getting dressed.
“Everything alright?” Zayn asks when sitting down next to Louis.
“I’m not sure,” Louis answers. “Is it?” he asks, looking back up at Shawn.
“I mean, yeah,” Shawn answers, his voice slightly high-pitched. “I just, um-”
Zayn cuts him off when he snorts out a giggle. “What did you do?”
“Nothiiiiiiing,” Shawn huffs, pouting. It causes the three men in front of him to start laughing. “Stop laughing,” he tells them, stomping his foot like a child.
“Ooooooh,” Zayn mocks, relaxing back against the wall behind him.
“Shut up,” Shawn tells him with a pointed stare. “I didn’t do anything,” he insists, and then moments later, he softly adds, “Well, nothing I wasn’t supposed to.”
The way he grimaces and the nervous look he gives Louis grabs the latter’s attention, and “What the fuck did you do, Shawn?” he finally demands.
“Don’t yell at meeeeee,” Shawn huffs, folding his arms over his chest.
“I-” Louis starts, but Shawn cuts him off.
“I only did what you told me to do,” he informs, letting his arms fall to his side while stomping his foot again.
Louis is a little confused. He’s just finished a training session from hell, and for the life of him, can’t remember what he told his friend to do. “What did I-” he starts asking, but gets cut off again.
“The chef!” Shawn exclaims, exasperated.
“Ooooh,” Louis’ eyes widen. “That’s fucking awesome, mate. What were you going on about good and bad news earlier then?”
“Right,” Shawn notes. He claps once before pointing at Louis. “So that’s the good news, right?”
Louis nods.
Shawn grimaces again. “Right, so the bad news is, Niall does not want to do it-”
“The fuck do you mean he doesn't want to do it?” Louis cuts him off. “You just said-”
“Would you let me finish?” Shawn cuts him off as well, clapping his hands together with every word as it leaves his mouth.
Louis stares at him, his eyes narrowing.
“Wait,” Liam suddenly chimes in. “Is Niall not the guy you’ve been shagging? The cute Irish one?”
Louis nods.
Shawn rolls his eyes.
Zayn looks offended when he asks, “Since when do you call other guys cute?”
“Hush, baby,” Liam replies softly, and looks around before leaning forward. “You know no one is as cute as you.”
Zayn rolls his eyes again, huffing while folding his arms over his chest and staring up at Shawn.
Louis watches them, completely endeared. God, how he longs to have someone to bicker with like that. But in the grand scheme of things, he knows that’s not possible right now. He’s got the last six months of his career ahead of him, and he needs to focus on that. He’s thirty-two goals away from a thousand career goals, a feat no British player has ever achieved before.
This is something Louis wants to do. The ultimate goal, so to speak. His name would go down in history, and nothing could ever erase his achievements, not even the imminent news of his coming out after it's all said and done.
Giving in to his desires would surely cause him to lose complete focus, and that’s the absolute last thing he needs right now. So for now, he’ll just be happy for his friends.
“You were saying?” he says to Shawn, who has seemingly been admiring their friends as well. His words draw him back to reality, and Shawn clears his throat before he answers.
“So what I was trying to say before you so rudely interrupted me, Niall does not want to do it behind his friend’s back.”
Louis furrows his brows. “Okay?”
Shawn grimaces again. “And you told me to do anything it takes,” he reminds, widening his eyes while waiting for Louis’ acknowledgement.
Louis carefully watches him, his eyes narrowing again when he asks, “Do I want to know what-”
“I mean, you’re paying for it, so of course you have to know.”
“Oh God.”
“It’s not that bad,” Shawn tells him, grimacing again right after.
“Stop making that fucking face, it's making me expect the worst. Just fucking tell me what this is going to cost.”
“Okay,” Shawn says, clapping his hands together again. “So I asked him, right? And he said he does not want to do something behind his mate’s back since he’s technically employed by him.”
“But he’ll be on vacation, though, won’t he? So it’s technically not even work-related.”
“I’m not going to question his loyalty, Louis,” Shawn tells him without hesitation.
Louis lifts his hands apologetically. “Right, sorry. Please continue.”
“Thank you,” Shawn says, nodding once. “So like I was saying, he does not want to do anything behind the chef’s back.”
Zayn snorts. “Does this story progress past the part where he does not want to do anything behind his mate’s back, or-”
“Shut up, Zayn,” Shawn cuts him off. “I just need Lou to understand that he was adamant about that part,” he explains, looking at Louis again.
Louis nods. “Okay, mate. I understand. Can we move this along, though?”
Taking a deep breath, Shawn starts fidgeting with his hands. “So I told him they could both come.”
“Both?”
Shawn nods once. “Yes, both him and the chef.”
“Do we really need two chefs? We’re only twenty people. Luigi-”
“Did you forget the part where I mentioned he wouldn’t do it without the head chef?” Shawn cuts him off, his voice laced with annoyance.
Louis sighs and rolls his eyes. “Right. Fine. I suppose it’s fine if they both come.” He points at Shawn. “You're lucky I’ve got fifteen bedrooms.”
Shawn smiles, grimacing again, and it’s really starting to annoy Louis, because “What now?” he asks.
“Riiiight,” Shawn starts, fidgeting with his fingers again. “So, um, so the thing is…”