Harry pouted as he sat on the couch at Nick's later that night. He knew he had told Zac he would call Colton but that had been a lie, a lie just to get under Zac's skin and maybe just make him hurt like Harry had hurt when he had realized that something sexual had been happening on the other end of the phone.
He wasn't sure what hurt worse though. Knowing Zac now knew how Carrick felt or knowing Zac hadn't even cared enough to stop and answer the phone. They both hurt and stung at him and maybe he should have never got that invested in Zac over time but his crush had been building ever since he was sixteen and the friends with benefits thing had only made it worse.
Harry was quite sure that had maybe changed his feelings to love. He was in love with a man who would only ever see him as a best friend that he could fuck occasionally and that hurt so he really wasn't sure he cared if the thought of him being with Colton sent Zac on edge, even if it was a lie.
"You going to tell me how you got that huge ass gash on your head that you had to get stitches for?" Nick asked as he sat down beside Harry on the couch and when he saw Nick handing him a open bottle of beer Harry took it from the older man.
Taking a drink of the beer Harry tried to think of a way to tell Nick what happened without sounding pathetic but he wasn't sure that was possible in this case.
"I fell down when trying to hang up a picture in my room," Harry explained as a blush grew on his cheeks under Nick's stare. "I probably shouldn't have even been standing on a mini ladder but I couldn't reach the exact place I wanted it and I somehow lost my balance and the picture frame came with me and some of the glass got on me and that's how I got a huge gash on my forehead."
Nick stayed silent until Harry finished his story and only then did he laugh, "Harry you are fucking giant. I doubt you needed a mini ladder for anything."
"I did for that," Harry defended as he felt his blush deepen again.
"Nah, I think you probably wanted Zac's attention and it backfired," Nick shrugged as he took a drink of the beer and Harry swore if he could he would have killed Nick with his mind.
Going silent for a bit he sipped on his beer occasionally before speaking, "Maybe I did want Zac's attention," he admitted finally hating that he was that pathetic that he'd do something to get hurt just to get Zac to come running. "I...fuck him though okay. Who the hell answers the phone while getting sexually pleasured?" he asked unable to hide how bitter he felt. "I would have handled it better had he just ignored my phone call instead of him answering and having to listen to him come because of another man."
Nick studied Harry for a bit as a silence enveloped them again and Harry half felt like Nick was trying to pick apart every word he said. The older man did have a habit of that, hell it seemed he had a habit of knowing him better than Zac did and yet Zac had known him longer.
"You really are gone for him aren't you Haz?" Nick asked a genuine curiosity to his tone. "Like over the moon gone for Zac."
"Over the man and bells sounding and fireworks going off in my head gone," Harry answered as he frowned and finished the beer, sitting the empty bottle on the table in front of the couch. "Pretty pathetic huh?"
Nick scrunched up his nose, "Kind of cute actually," he teased before finishing his own drink. "How about going to bed with me though?" he asked as a smirk fell on his lips. "No funny business, just two friends cuddling."
At Nick's offer Harry smiled slightly before nodding his head maybe a bit too eagerly, "I do like a nice cuddle," he said as he watched Nick stand up and offer his hand out. Taking the man's hand he stood from the couch as well and walked with Nick to his room.
It was a room he had been in countless times but tonight may have been the first time he wasn't in the room to have sex or do some sort of sexual act.
Stripping down to his boxers in silence he eventually climbed into the bed beside Nick and as Nick's arm went around his waist he closed his eyes. It was a bit awkward being the little spoon again when ever since being with Zac it was him being the big spoon just because Zac liked being held and Zac was his baby and his baby got whatever he wanted.
"Night Hazhead," Nick muttered as he left a light kiss behind Harry's ear, an action that made Harry purr.
Hmming his response back he kept his eyes closed and fell into a fitful sleep. It was probably the worst sleep he had, had in months but maybe he could blame Zac for that.
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Waking the next morning it took Harry some time to realize where he was, mainly because the bed was empty and after getting up and dressed he walked into the living room where he found a note from Nick, telling him that he had to run out since he had his daily morning radio show to do.
Laying the note back down Harry took several deep breaths knowing he'd have to call a cab soon and go back to the apartment he shared with Zac and Taylor but that thought hurt him because he really didn't want to see Zac again. Not right now while his emotional wound was still fresh but he knew he couldn't avoid Zac forever.
That was the main thought that got him through the phone call with the cab and the main thought that helped him walk out to it when it arrived. He had to face Zac eventually and he may as well just do it even with his fresh emotional wound. Then again maybe he could just find a way to stay glued to Taylor's side even if that meant watching Taylor getting romantic with Daphne. Anything had to be better than seeing Zac.
When the cab arrived back to the apartment Harry paid the driver and got out before making his way inside and up to the apartment, where once he made it to the door he just stood there several minutes before knocking because he hadn't taken his key with him last night to the hospital.
As the door was thrown open Harry really had no time to process as two arms pulled him into a hug, a hug that slowly moved him inside and the longer he was in the hug his brain finally processed the situation and he found out the person hugging him was Zac.
"I was so worried about you," Zac muttered as his grip on Harry tightened as they now both stood in the living room. "Stayed up all night baking."
"You baked?" Harry asked his voice squeaking slightly.
Zac mmhmed as he loosened his grip on Harry, "Made chocolate chip cookies and I even added M&M's to them," he said as he pulled away from Harry some though his arms moved down to Harry's waist and his lips soon found their place on Harry's head where his stitches where.
The moment Zac's lips came into contact with his skin and he began to kiss Harry's literal physical wound he had to close his eyes and remind himself that even though Zac had baked his favorite cookies and that now that he was showing him affection that he had hurt him last night and he wasn't going to be easily swayed to forgive him.
"I'm sorry," Zac muttered in Harry's silence as his lips moved away from the wound and down Harry's forehead to his cheek. It was this gesture that surprised Harry because Taylor could walk in here at any moment and catch them and Harry was half sure that Zac didn't want anyone to know how close they were which was why he had never told Zac about him accidentally telling Taylor.
"Sorry for what?" Harry asked as he opened his eyes and it was at his question that Zac moved away from him again though he still didn't let go of Harry.
It seemed as if Zac was afraid of letting go of him and normally Harry would like that but today it just hurt.
"For not getting to the hospital in time," Zac answered as he looked away from Harry's gaze though a guilty expression had settled on his face. "For...for the phone incident," he whispered though Harry heard him. "I...I tried telling him but he just..he didn't..."
Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "I don't really want the details," he said as he removed himself from Zac's grasp finally. "I think I heard enough to get the gist of something happening," he spoke as he walked away from Zac, heading into the kitchen to go find those cookies Zac said he had baked.
It wasn't the most nutritious breakfast for a Sunday but he hadn't ate yet and at this point Harry was sure anything would do.
"I didn't intend to tell you the details," Zac spoke as he followed Harry into the kitchen. "I just...just wanted to say sorry for last night."
Harry nodded his head silently as his eyes landed on the container on the stove. Not saying a word he walked over to it and opened it before taking out two cookies.
"Are we going to be okay?" Zac asked in Harry's continued silence which only made Harry heave a sigh as he got down a plate and put his cookies on them.
In all honesty he wasn't sure how he could answer Zac right now because he wasn't sure if they would be okay. Half of him wanted to ask if Zac was dating Carrick now but then the other half figured if they were doing something sexual that meant they were and so he had his answer and knowing that...well he wasn't sure how they could be okay.
How could he and Zac just go back to being just friends after so many months of crossing the line? How could Harry just ignore the feelings he felt even more now, even with the pain Zac had brought him.
"I don't know," Harry finally spoke as he went to the fridge to get the milk out so he could pour himself a glass of milk to drink while he ate the cookies.
Zac heaved a sigh himself now and Harry turned to face him as he put the milk away after pouring himself a glass. Zac looked almost as broken as he felt or then again maybe Harry was just projecting.
"I want us to be okay," Zac said as he eventually locked eyes with Harry and for a minute Harry thought he was imagining things as it seemed Zac inched closer but when Zac was literally right in front of him he realized that he hadn't been imagining it. "Tell me how I can make us okay?"
Before Harry could even open his mouth to answer Zac though, Harry stood there frozen as Zac's lips latched onto his and he knew he shouldn't have kissed him back. After last night he should have pushed Zac away and told him to go to hell because he had Carrick now but Harry did none of that.
No, he allowed himself to kiss Zac and as the kiss deepened he let his hands go to rest on Zac's ass because well he needed something to grab and hold onto and Zac's ass had always been the best to hold on too.
It was only when they both heard the sound of someone clearing their throat did they pull away from the kiss and as Zac moved away from him, Harry blushed as they both came face to face with Taylor who looked like he was judging them but Harry was sure he had no room to judge seeing as both he and Zac had caught Taylor in far worse situations.
He wasn't sure what hurt worse though. Knowing Zac now knew how Carrick felt or knowing Zac hadn't even cared enough to stop and answer the phone. They both hurt and stung at him and maybe he should have never got that invested in Zac over time but his crush had been building ever since he was sixteen and the friends with benefits thing had only made it worse.
Harry was quite sure that had maybe changed his feelings to love. He was in love with a man who would only ever see him as a best friend that he could fuck occasionally and that hurt so he really wasn't sure he cared if the thought of him being with Colton sent Zac on edge, even if it was a lie.
"You going to tell me how you got that huge ass gash on your head that you had to get stitches for?" Nick asked as he sat down beside Harry on the couch and when he saw Nick handing him a open bottle of beer Harry took it from the older man.
Taking a drink of the beer Harry tried to think of a way to tell Nick what happened without sounding pathetic but he wasn't sure that was possible in this case.
"I fell down when trying to hang up a picture in my room," Harry explained as a blush grew on his cheeks under Nick's stare. "I probably shouldn't have even been standing on a mini ladder but I couldn't reach the exact place I wanted it and I somehow lost my balance and the picture frame came with me and some of the glass got on me and that's how I got a huge gash on my forehead."
Nick stayed silent until Harry finished his story and only then did he laugh, "Harry you are fucking giant. I doubt you needed a mini ladder for anything."
"I did for that," Harry defended as he felt his blush deepen again.
"Nah, I think you probably wanted Zac's attention and it backfired," Nick shrugged as he took a drink of the beer and Harry swore if he could he would have killed Nick with his mind.
Going silent for a bit he sipped on his beer occasionally before speaking, "Maybe I did want Zac's attention," he admitted finally hating that he was that pathetic that he'd do something to get hurt just to get Zac to come running. "I...fuck him though okay. Who the hell answers the phone while getting sexually pleasured?" he asked unable to hide how bitter he felt. "I would have handled it better had he just ignored my phone call instead of him answering and having to listen to him come because of another man."
Nick studied Harry for a bit as a silence enveloped them again and Harry half felt like Nick was trying to pick apart every word he said. The older man did have a habit of that, hell it seemed he had a habit of knowing him better than Zac did and yet Zac had known him longer.
"You really are gone for him aren't you Haz?" Nick asked a genuine curiosity to his tone. "Like over the moon gone for Zac."
"Over the man and bells sounding and fireworks going off in my head gone," Harry answered as he frowned and finished the beer, sitting the empty bottle on the table in front of the couch. "Pretty pathetic huh?"
Nick scrunched up his nose, "Kind of cute actually," he teased before finishing his own drink. "How about going to bed with me though?" he asked as a smirk fell on his lips. "No funny business, just two friends cuddling."
At Nick's offer Harry smiled slightly before nodding his head maybe a bit too eagerly, "I do like a nice cuddle," he said as he watched Nick stand up and offer his hand out. Taking the man's hand he stood from the couch as well and walked with Nick to his room.
It was a room he had been in countless times but tonight may have been the first time he wasn't in the room to have sex or do some sort of sexual act.
Stripping down to his boxers in silence he eventually climbed into the bed beside Nick and as Nick's arm went around his waist he closed his eyes. It was a bit awkward being the little spoon again when ever since being with Zac it was him being the big spoon just because Zac liked being held and Zac was his baby and his baby got whatever he wanted.
"Night Hazhead," Nick muttered as he left a light kiss behind Harry's ear, an action that made Harry purr.
Hmming his response back he kept his eyes closed and fell into a fitful sleep. It was probably the worst sleep he had, had in months but maybe he could blame Zac for that.
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Waking the next morning it took Harry some time to realize where he was, mainly because the bed was empty and after getting up and dressed he walked into the living room where he found a note from Nick, telling him that he had to run out since he had his daily morning radio show to do.
Laying the note back down Harry took several deep breaths knowing he'd have to call a cab soon and go back to the apartment he shared with Zac and Taylor but that thought hurt him because he really didn't want to see Zac again. Not right now while his emotional wound was still fresh but he knew he couldn't avoid Zac forever.
That was the main thought that got him through the phone call with the cab and the main thought that helped him walk out to it when it arrived. He had to face Zac eventually and he may as well just do it even with his fresh emotional wound. Then again maybe he could just find a way to stay glued to Taylor's side even if that meant watching Taylor getting romantic with Daphne. Anything had to be better than seeing Zac.
When the cab arrived back to the apartment Harry paid the driver and got out before making his way inside and up to the apartment, where once he made it to the door he just stood there several minutes before knocking because he hadn't taken his key with him last night to the hospital.
As the door was thrown open Harry really had no time to process as two arms pulled him into a hug, a hug that slowly moved him inside and the longer he was in the hug his brain finally processed the situation and he found out the person hugging him was Zac.
"I was so worried about you," Zac muttered as his grip on Harry tightened as they now both stood in the living room. "Stayed up all night baking."
"You baked?" Harry asked his voice squeaking slightly.
Zac mmhmed as he loosened his grip on Harry, "Made chocolate chip cookies and I even added M&M's to them," he said as he pulled away from Harry some though his arms moved down to Harry's waist and his lips soon found their place on Harry's head where his stitches where.
The moment Zac's lips came into contact with his skin and he began to kiss Harry's literal physical wound he had to close his eyes and remind himself that even though Zac had baked his favorite cookies and that now that he was showing him affection that he had hurt him last night and he wasn't going to be easily swayed to forgive him.
"I'm sorry," Zac muttered in Harry's silence as his lips moved away from the wound and down Harry's forehead to his cheek. It was this gesture that surprised Harry because Taylor could walk in here at any moment and catch them and Harry was half sure that Zac didn't want anyone to know how close they were which was why he had never told Zac about him accidentally telling Taylor.
"Sorry for what?" Harry asked as he opened his eyes and it was at his question that Zac moved away from him again though he still didn't let go of Harry.
It seemed as if Zac was afraid of letting go of him and normally Harry would like that but today it just hurt.
"For not getting to the hospital in time," Zac answered as he looked away from Harry's gaze though a guilty expression had settled on his face. "For...for the phone incident," he whispered though Harry heard him. "I...I tried telling him but he just..he didn't..."
Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "I don't really want the details," he said as he removed himself from Zac's grasp finally. "I think I heard enough to get the gist of something happening," he spoke as he walked away from Zac, heading into the kitchen to go find those cookies Zac said he had baked.
It wasn't the most nutritious breakfast for a Sunday but he hadn't ate yet and at this point Harry was sure anything would do.
"I didn't intend to tell you the details," Zac spoke as he followed Harry into the kitchen. "I just...just wanted to say sorry for last night."
Harry nodded his head silently as his eyes landed on the container on the stove. Not saying a word he walked over to it and opened it before taking out two cookies.
"Are we going to be okay?" Zac asked in Harry's continued silence which only made Harry heave a sigh as he got down a plate and put his cookies on them.
In all honesty he wasn't sure how he could answer Zac right now because he wasn't sure if they would be okay. Half of him wanted to ask if Zac was dating Carrick now but then the other half figured if they were doing something sexual that meant they were and so he had his answer and knowing that...well he wasn't sure how they could be okay.
How could he and Zac just go back to being just friends after so many months of crossing the line? How could Harry just ignore the feelings he felt even more now, even with the pain Zac had brought him.
"I don't know," Harry finally spoke as he went to the fridge to get the milk out so he could pour himself a glass of milk to drink while he ate the cookies.
Zac heaved a sigh himself now and Harry turned to face him as he put the milk away after pouring himself a glass. Zac looked almost as broken as he felt or then again maybe Harry was just projecting.
"I want us to be okay," Zac said as he eventually locked eyes with Harry and for a minute Harry thought he was imagining things as it seemed Zac inched closer but when Zac was literally right in front of him he realized that he hadn't been imagining it. "Tell me how I can make us okay?"
Before Harry could even open his mouth to answer Zac though, Harry stood there frozen as Zac's lips latched onto his and he knew he shouldn't have kissed him back. After last night he should have pushed Zac away and told him to go to hell because he had Carrick now but Harry did none of that.
No, he allowed himself to kiss Zac and as the kiss deepened he let his hands go to rest on Zac's ass because well he needed something to grab and hold onto and Zac's ass had always been the best to hold on too.
It was only when they both heard the sound of someone clearing their throat did they pull away from the kiss and as Zac moved away from him, Harry blushed as they both came face to face with Taylor who looked like he was judging them but Harry was sure he had no room to judge seeing as both he and Zac had caught Taylor in far worse situations.
