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Louis pulled open the door to Flower Styles, a tinkling bell announcing his arrival. Gemma didn’t look up from where she was arranging flowers at a long table behind the counter.
He sighed loudly. She still didn’t look up.
Walking behind the counter, he threw his bag down, sat on the stool, and slumped against the till. He glanced back at his best friend, but she continued to ignore him. Fine. He didn’t need her sympathy anyway.
“I smelled your self pity the moment you walked through the door.”
“Christ.” Louis clutched his heart at the sudden sound of her voice, nearly toppling off the stool. “And I have no idea what you mean. I’m simply lonely and bereft due to being a single omega for so long. I’m probably going to have touch depri soon.”
“You broke up with Jack less than a month ago.”
“And?”
“And you live with an alpha. You probably make Liam cuddle you every night. You’re just being dramatic.”
“Well, obviously.” Louis sniffed. “And of course I’m dramatic. I’m an actor.”
“You’re in uni.”
“For drama!”
“And we’re all very proud of you. Even if you bring it up every chance you get. But anyway, how about my brother?”
“What about your brother?”
“Maybe you should date him.”
Louis’ jaw dropped. “Do you have another brother I don't know about? The only one I know of is annoying and tells terrible jokes and wanted to name your shop Simply Iris-istible.
“That’s the one.”
“Well even if I was interested, which I am not, I doubt I'm his type.”
Gemma smiled as she tied a ribbon around a vase. “I thought you always say you’re every alpha’s type.”
“I’m every alpha who isn’t a wanker’s type. This is true.”
She held the ribbon in place as she glued the bow. “So Harry is a wanker?”
“Yes. He once told me my braces were “too much"."
“That was like two years ago.” Gemma finally stopped and turned around to look at him. “Hey, is that why you stopped wearing them?”
Heat creeped into Louis’ cheeks. “No! I just moved on in my style journey.”
“Huh. Well, I’m pretty sure you’re his type and always have been. He stares at you in this weird creepy way when he thinks you aren’t looking.”
“He does? I mean, ew. So he’s a creep then? No thanks.”
Gemma shrugged and turned back to the vase.
Louis narrowed his eyes at her back. “Why are you suddenly bringing this up now anyway? I’ve known you forever, and you’ve never pushed Harry as a romantic option for me.”
“You weren’t ready for a serious relationship until now.”
This was news to Louis. “What? I am?”
“Yeah. That's why it didn’t work out with Jack.”
“Oh.”
He considered this for a minute. Gemma did know him better than anyone. And by the time he broke up with Jack, he’d begun to find himself wishing for more quiet nights in than nights out at the club. Someone to hold his hand and cuddle and meet his family and—take care of him. Huh. He apparently did want a serious relationship.
“So you think Harry is like mating material then?”
Gemma dropped her scissors. “Bloody hell, Louis. I didn’t say you had to mate with him. You haven’t even agreed to go on a date with him yet. Just act nice to him when he shows up for his shift and see where it goes.”
Louis shrugged. He left his perch at the till and wandered into the back room to make some tea.
He’d always thought Harry quite attractive. His boyish cuteness had grown into a bit more of an alpha handsomeness over the years. Even his scent had changed from a sweet vanilla cupcake into a deeper vanilla muskiness. Louis shivered a bit at the thought.
The kettle flipped off, and Louis opened a cupboard to grab out his usual cup and tea. But when he pulled out the box of Yorkshire Tea, he discovered an absolute travesty. Someone, clearly Harry, had put some of his offensive herbal tea into the box clearly tainting the entire thing.
He stormed out of the back room, the tea box held high in his hand.
“See? This is why I can’t possibly date Harry! He’s put his disgusting herbal shite in with my Yorksh—” The word died on his lips as he stared directly into Harry’s astonished green eyes. He’d forgotten how beautiful Harry’s eyes were even though he’d seen him just yesterday. Funny that.
Harry’s jaw which had been hanging open finally closed. “I didn’t know dating you was a possibility.”
A bit of a shiver crossed Louis’ skin at the sound of Harry’s deep voice. He cleared his throat. “Um, it’s not.”
“Because of the tea?”
“Ehm, yes?”
“If that’s your only objection, I’ll take care of it right now.”
Harry stepped closer, invading his personal space, as he snatched the box of tea from his hands and grabbed out all the herbal tea bags. Louis swallowed as he watched Harry’s long fingers grasping all of the tea bags in one large hand. He swayed a little on his feet as Harry’s scent washed over him.
A smile unfurled across Harry’s stupidly handsome face as he steadied Louis with one hand and stuffed all the tea into his pocket with his other hand. The smile turned into a one sided smirk that carved out a dimple. And as a final act of absurdity, Harry’s tongue actually lolled out of his mouth.
“I’m going to have to air out the shop now,” Gemma sighed. “Way too many pheromones flying around in here.”
“Louis?”
“Mm?”
“I promise never to put tea in your tea box ever again if you’ll go to dinner with me tonight.”
“Um, like a date?”
“Yes, Louis. A date. I’ve been waiting years for you to see me as an alpha and not as Gemma’s annoying little brother.”
“Oh.” Louis’ heart thumped in his chest. “Years?”
Harry’s face flushed with colour. “Yes. Years. I’ve known all this time that I’m the man for you. Just been waiting for you to notice I’d grown up into the alpha you’ve been looking for.”
“Yes.”
“Yes?”
“Pick me up at eight.”