End Of The Day

I barely slept last night, yet I somehow manage to pull myself together enough to make it to Louis’ rental. Preston answers the door. “Good morning, Lea. Are you alright?”
“Morning, Preston. I just had a bad night.”
“I’m sorry. Can I get you anything?”
“Just Louis, please.”
At that exact moment I hear Louis’ voice from the stairs. “Lea, is that you? I’m so sorry, I’m running late. Mornings aren’t really my thing. I’ll just get the tea…” He stops abruptly in front of me. “Lea? Are you alright, Love?”
The genuine concern in his eyes causes my tears to return.
He approaches me, gently touching the side of my face. Getting extremely close to me he whispers. “Please tell me what’s wrong.”
I tell him all about the conversation with Monica.
Louis shakes his head. “Well that’s quite shitty of her, isn’t it?”
I can’t help it, I laugh. That laugh feels so good.
Louis smirks. I realize he knew exactly what I needed. I feel my heart do some crazy flutter thing; I‘ve never felt that before.
Louis takes my hand. “Come with me, Darling. We’ll make some tea and figure this out.”
He directs me to sit in a stool at the counter. I watch as he makes our tea.
“So, I stayed up most of the night looking for a place online. It’s impossible though. It’s the middle of the month and most places only start on the first of the month.”
Louis nods his head.
“None of my friends have any room for me at their places and I can’t afford a hotel.”
“Have you eaten, Lea?”
I shake my head. “I can’t eat.”
Louis brings the tea over, sitting on the stool beside me. “At least eat this, please.” He says as he hands me a banana.
The look on his face tells me I better eat the banana. I peel it as I complain about the prices in LA. “If I go where I can afford, the area is scary as hell. The nice areas are way out of my price range.”
I turn to look at Louis as I take a large bite out of the banana. His eyes are focused
on my mouth. He bites his lip.
“Louis?”
He looks up to my eyes. “Sorry, Love, what was that? I think I got distracted.” He smirks.
I push on his chest. “Funny.”
He laughs, then taking my hand. “Sorry, I was just trying to make you laugh.”
I grin. “Thanks. It feels good to laugh, release a little stress.”
I see the smirk on Louis’ face, his eyebrow shoots up. I swear I can literally see the naughty thoughts in his mind.
“Don’t say it, Tommo.” I turn the banana towards him and he takes a bite.
“Alright, I’ll bite me tongue.”
Before I can even think it through it just comes out. “Or I can bite it for you.”
I’m honestly not sure which one of us looks more surprised by my comment. Louis’ shock turns into a smirk. Which causes me to smile. “Sorry, apparently with you I have no filter from my brain to my mouth.”
“Love, don’t apologize for that. I like it.” He winks.
I laugh, then turn more serious. I touch the side of Louis’ face, lightly rubbing his stubble with my thumb. “Thanks for making me forget for a few moments that I’m homeless.”
Louis puts his hand on my thigh, squeezing it gently. “You are not homeless, Lea.” He pauses, looking in my eyes. “Why don’t you move in here?” He puts his finger up, raising his eyebrows, pausing my protest. “As you can see I have plenty of room here. If you want, it can just be till you find someplace else. No strings,and I promise to behave.”
He gives me puppy dog eyes.
I can’t help myself, I have to tease him. “Well never mind; if you’re gonna behave then what’s the point?” I smirk.
He grins. Moving in closer to me. “Well the behaving part is completely negotiable.”
Good Lord! Maybe I’m the one who has to worry about behaving if he keeps looking at me like that. I swallow hard. “I appreciate the offer. I just don’t know if it’s a good idea.”
Louis sits back. “I tell you what, think about it today. Then come have dinner with me tonight and you can let me know then.”
“Alright.” I look at my watch. “Crap, I have to get to work.”
“I’ll walk you out, Love.”

Louis opens my car door for me. “Have a good day, Gorgeous. And promise me you won’t worry.”
“I promise to try.”
Louis smiles. “That’s fair. I’m only a call away if you need me.”
He puts his hands alongside my face. His eyes are on my mouth, then moving up to meet my eyes as he leans for a kiss. I feel myself completely relax as his sweet kisses leave me with the hope of more to come.
He holds the door as I get in. Then leaning in the open window, he kisses my forehead. “Bye, Love.”
Louis stands there watching as I drive away.
I feel my heart do that flutter thing again.

Notes