Chapter Text
Current Day
Stupid fucking granite countertops.
It’s not like he’s blaming them. Beefing with them, maybe. They started this whole ordeal after all.
Now they sit here, cold and unaffected while he’s cracking. Empty where they used to hold his life: cutting boards, the little ceramic jar stuffed full of utensils, the stand mixer, the jar of dog treats.
All that’s left are the memories of baking, cooking, drinking, dancing, kissing, and every mess all that love left behind.
He slaps his hand down on the cold stone, forehead falling down against his skin. Each echo of his mother’s voice bouncing off the cool surface making his blood pressure climb.
“Louis… you can’t be serious!” His mother cries through the phone, carelessly tossed down after being switched over to speaker to save his eardrums. He quickly clicks the volume lower as her voice echoes through the empty kitchen. “What have you done? There’s no way you let this happen!”
“Mother. I’ve told you. It was mutual.”
“Don’t you give me that, Louis Tomlinson! Jamie was the best thing that ever happened to you! You need to fix this! Do you understand me? Fix this!”
He knew this would be her reaction, so he can’t act surprised.
“I can’t…”
“I’m coming over!”
He continues calmly, “You can’t come over. The place is empty. She’s already moved out. She pulled away in a moving truck with all her things five minutes ago. We didn’t renew the lease.”
The audible gasp has him turning the phone volume down again. He knows she’s at her limit. “And you’re just telling me this now? I don’t believe this. I just can’t believe this! I’m calling Jamie.”
Louis sighs, loud enough for her to hear it. “Alright Mom. You do that.”
“Excuse me, young man.” Young man… Really? “You’re in no position to be speaking to me like that! Once again, you’ve screwed everything up, and I’m left trying to fix it! We’ll talk about this when you come home.”
“I’m not coming home, Mom.”
Silence. Five seconds. Ten seconds. Then, the barely there words, “I have to go.”
Click.
Well, that went well.
He takes one more look around the empty space he used to call home, and the pile of boxes by the front door, and wonders what his life would look like if they’d never moved in.
One last time, he curses these stupid fucking granite countertops.
——
Last Year
“Oh my gosh, babe! This is beautiful!” Jamie’s gentle hand grazes the stone, and Louis’ eyes trail up to her face.
It’s right there, clear as day. This is the one. Her eyes are lit up like the literal sun, and she’s wearing one of those smiles that hurts your cheeks.
“Appliances are high-end.” He agrees, opening the refrigerator and letting out a whistle at how spacious it is. “Lots of space for you to bake.”
“Lou, this place is perfect.” She slides up behind him, running her hand up his shoulder, and he closes the fridge, turning to face her. She spins in his hold to look at the kitchen with him, pulling his arms around her stomach. “Look at it.”
“Yeah, lots of counter space. Natural light. I can see you here, making a mess with your doughs and mixes.”
She giggles in his hold. “I can see it too.” She points to the center island staged with barstools. “You’d sit right there, sneaking fingers full of my batter.”
He kisses her cheek. “Damn right.”
”And look at these countertops, granite?!” She turns again, this time kissing his lips, a little sadness coming across her features.“But you loved the house on Lilly Rd, and the trail behind it. You could do your walks there when we get the dog.”
He shrugs it off. “I can walk anywhere. The kitchen on Lilly Rd was awful. You couldn’t bake in that. Appliances were old. Countertops were tile babe. And there’s a dog park here. I think it’s the better choice.”
“Are you sure?”
“Course,” he shrugs. “Happy wife, happy life.”
She giggles. “I’m not your wife.”
“Yet.”
She kisses him one more time and moves to further explore the cabinets and pantry, only getting more excited with each one. Every discovery has her gasping and calling him over to look at it. By the time she’s seen everything, he’s wearing one of those smiles that hurts your cheeks.
Making her happy brings a sigh of relief. There’s also the added benefit that he can’t think of a single negative thing his mother could say about the place.
It’s perfect.
It’s been a tough year. The stress of working extra shifts while trying to save up to live on their own has taken a toll on their relationship. He’s excited to move in with her and put it all behind them. Every long night, every stupid fight; they can all stay in the past where they belong.
From here on out, it’ll be just like this. Just like this moment that makes it worth the trouble.
“So… what are we thinking? Is this the one?” The voice of the leasing agent enters the space after giving them some time to tour it alone. Jamie looks at Louis, the happiness and hope in her eyes turning him into mush right there.
“It is,” he says. “We’d like to apply.”
“Perfect!”