Hot(tie) In Herrre
Someone's been on a bit of a roll...
Niall was sprawled on his couch later that evening, his smart phone on his chest, and an empty plate that had once contained a half loaf of homemade soda bread on his stomach.
He knew he had to call Liam. Before this morning, it would have been for a lighthearted chat leading to firming up plans to meet for drinks. Now, it would be to apologize profusely for offending Mr. Model, and presumably, Liam as well.
Or…he could just confirm that he was as big an asshole as Liam no doubt currently thought he was, and never call at all. Put the whole embarrassing episode behind him, and slink off into oblivion. Very tempting, but…
Niall groaned and fished in his pocket for Liam’s card. He had to make things, if not right, at least less wrong.
Niall dialed Liam’s mobile number and held his breath.
“Liam Payne speaking.”
“Uh…Liam. Hi…it’s Niall.”
Silence.
“I just wanted to apologize, as sincerely as I possibly can, for my behavior this morning and for upsetting, um, for upsetting…” Niall still didn’t know Mr. Model’s proper name. “…your client. I was way out of line, and - ”
“Now’s not really a good time for me, Niall.” Liam said quietly.
“Oh. Right. I just…”
“I’m still at work. Can I call you later?” He sounded calm, but that was probably because Liam couldn’t yell at Niall to get stuffed in front of his coworkers.
“Yes. Yes, whenever is good for you.”
“Thanks.” Liam hung up.
Niall knew that was more than likely the last time he would ever hear Liam’s voice.
He stared forlornly at the soda bread crumbs and put the plate on the coffee table. He thought about ringing up Louis, but he had an eight o’clock class the following morning, and showing up for work hungover was probably not a good idea. Sylvia, who had somehow refrained from calling Niall a bleeping idiot when he’d told her about his latest fumble, had invited him to spend the evening watching Dateline with her, but those true crime shows always freaked him out.
Niall sat up, dug the remote out of the couch cushions, and turned on his TV. Tyra Banks appeared on screen. She was critiquing a young, pretty woman’s urban-decay themed photo shoot. America’s Next Top Model. Niall resisted the urge to throw the remote at the screen and wondered why the Universe hated him.
After flipping through several channels and not having his interest caught, Niall clicked off the telly and turned on the stereo.
So take a good look at my face
You’ll see my smile looks out of place
If you look a little bit closer, it’s easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
I need you, need you
Outside I’m masquerading
Inside my hope is fading
Just a clown, oh, yeah
Since you put me down…
Niall slumped back into his sofa and belted out the lyrics along with Smokey Robinson so loudly, he almost didn’t hear his phone going off.
Niall quickly muted the stereo and answered.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Niall. It’s Liam Payne.”
“Oh, I wasn’t sure I’d hear from you again.”
“I did say I’d call you.” Liam’s tone was very business-like.
“Man of your word, then.”
Silence.
Niall cleared his throat.
“So, I’m assuming that, um, that…your client told you about this morning.”
“His name is Harry, and yes, he was just here.”
Niall hoped that he hadn’t pissed Mr. Model off so badly that Harry had made a special trip to Liam’s office to tell him what a loser Niall was.
“Well, I…of course, I wanted to apologize for my behavior. I am so sorry. I was completely inappropriate, and I don’t even know why that came out of my mouth to be honest. So, if, um, you could pass that message on to Harry?”
“Harry’s had to deal with a lot of harassment in his field,” Liam wasn’t quite chiding, but he was very serious. “He’s learned to take it in stride for the most part, but you really blindsided him.”
“I didn’t…I did not mean to harass him.”
“Perhaps ‘harass’ is harsh. But he certainly wasn’t expecting to get hit on.”
“I wasn’t…I wasn’t trying to hit on him, either.” Niall said weakly. How much of a scumbag did Liam think he was?
“Mm.”
“I was just…trying to gauge how serious you two are.” Niall admitted.
Liam sighed softly.
“I told you that we’re friends. Is there a reason you’re persisting in thinking otherwise?”
“Well,” Niall decided to be honest. How much deeper could he dig himself, anyway? “I actually did return your call after our dinner. Harry answered your phone and said you were in the shower.”
Niall could practically hear Liam shaking his head.
“You certainly are good at jumping to conclusions.”
Niall was in no position to deny it.
“But I’ll humor you in this case.” Liam continued. “There’s a basketball court on the roof of Harry’s building. After shooting hoops, I don’t really feel like being a sweaty mess when I get in my car, so I shower over there. And if I asked Harry to answer my phone, I was expecting a call from my assistant.”
Niall’s first thought was that he truly was a bleeping idiot.
His second was, rich bastards, because Harry had a semi-private basketball court, and Liam had a car in New York City.
His third was the image of Liam being a sweaty mess, which brought back some good memories from their People Fitness days.
Niall knew he’d been silent too long, but all he managed to reply with was;
“Oh.”
“Anyway, I will certainly pass your apology on to Harry. Goodnight.”
“Liam, wait!”
Liam stayed on the line.
“I’d really hate for us to end things on a sour note.” Niall said. “I mean, I obviously don’t know what your intentions were when you suggested we get together again…”
“It was just for a friendly drink.”
“Right. Well…I don’t suppose that invitation still stands?”
Liam chuckled, probably at Niall’s nerve.
“Listen, Niall, I think you’re a very intriguing guy, who’d definitely be worth getting to know, but I’m not going to lead you on. Things with my ex got really messy, and I’m not at a point right now where I’m looking for any kind of relationship.” Then he added, “Or casual fling, just so we’re clear.”
“Got it. I totally respect that.”
There were a few moments of quiet before Liam spoke again.
“Tell you what…I will be at Bulls and Bears off Wall Street at six-thirty tomorrow having a cocktail with some coworkers and friends. You’re more than welcome to join us.”
“Oh. Okay. Thanks.” Niall was wondering if Harry would be there, but he had the sense not to voice his curiosity.
“Have a good night, Niall.”
“You, too.”
That had gone a lot better than he’d expected. True, Liam had said he wasn’t looking for a relationship right now, but that didn’t mean he would never be looking for a relationship again. In the meantime, they could get to know each other better, and Niall could see just how compatible they’d be.
Niall pressed the Google app on his mobile and punched in “address Bulls and Bears Wall Street”.
Niall was sprawled on his couch later that evening, his smart phone on his chest, and an empty plate that had once contained a half loaf of homemade soda bread on his stomach.
He knew he had to call Liam. Before this morning, it would have been for a lighthearted chat leading to firming up plans to meet for drinks. Now, it would be to apologize profusely for offending Mr. Model, and presumably, Liam as well.
Or…he could just confirm that he was as big an asshole as Liam no doubt currently thought he was, and never call at all. Put the whole embarrassing episode behind him, and slink off into oblivion. Very tempting, but…
Niall groaned and fished in his pocket for Liam’s card. He had to make things, if not right, at least less wrong.
Niall dialed Liam’s mobile number and held his breath.
“Liam Payne speaking.”
“Uh…Liam. Hi…it’s Niall.”
Silence.
“I just wanted to apologize, as sincerely as I possibly can, for my behavior this morning and for upsetting, um, for upsetting…” Niall still didn’t know Mr. Model’s proper name. “…your client. I was way out of line, and - ”
“Now’s not really a good time for me, Niall.” Liam said quietly.
“Oh. Right. I just…”
“I’m still at work. Can I call you later?” He sounded calm, but that was probably because Liam couldn’t yell at Niall to get stuffed in front of his coworkers.
“Yes. Yes, whenever is good for you.”
“Thanks.” Liam hung up.
Niall knew that was more than likely the last time he would ever hear Liam’s voice.
He stared forlornly at the soda bread crumbs and put the plate on the coffee table. He thought about ringing up Louis, but he had an eight o’clock class the following morning, and showing up for work hungover was probably not a good idea. Sylvia, who had somehow refrained from calling Niall a bleeping idiot when he’d told her about his latest fumble, had invited him to spend the evening watching Dateline with her, but those true crime shows always freaked him out.
Niall sat up, dug the remote out of the couch cushions, and turned on his TV. Tyra Banks appeared on screen. She was critiquing a young, pretty woman’s urban-decay themed photo shoot. America’s Next Top Model. Niall resisted the urge to throw the remote at the screen and wondered why the Universe hated him.
After flipping through several channels and not having his interest caught, Niall clicked off the telly and turned on the stereo.
So take a good look at my face
You’ll see my smile looks out of place
If you look a little bit closer, it’s easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
I need you, need you
Outside I’m masquerading
Inside my hope is fading
Just a clown, oh, yeah
Since you put me down…
Niall slumped back into his sofa and belted out the lyrics along with Smokey Robinson so loudly, he almost didn’t hear his phone going off.
Niall quickly muted the stereo and answered.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Niall. It’s Liam Payne.”
“Oh, I wasn’t sure I’d hear from you again.”
“I did say I’d call you.” Liam’s tone was very business-like.
“Man of your word, then.”
Silence.
Niall cleared his throat.
“So, I’m assuming that, um, that…your client told you about this morning.”
“His name is Harry, and yes, he was just here.”
Niall hoped that he hadn’t pissed Mr. Model off so badly that Harry had made a special trip to Liam’s office to tell him what a loser Niall was.
“Well, I…of course, I wanted to apologize for my behavior. I am so sorry. I was completely inappropriate, and I don’t even know why that came out of my mouth to be honest. So, if, um, you could pass that message on to Harry?”
“Harry’s had to deal with a lot of harassment in his field,” Liam wasn’t quite chiding, but he was very serious. “He’s learned to take it in stride for the most part, but you really blindsided him.”
“I didn’t…I did not mean to harass him.”
“Perhaps ‘harass’ is harsh. But he certainly wasn’t expecting to get hit on.”
“I wasn’t…I wasn’t trying to hit on him, either.” Niall said weakly. How much of a scumbag did Liam think he was?
“Mm.”
“I was just…trying to gauge how serious you two are.” Niall admitted.
Liam sighed softly.
“I told you that we’re friends. Is there a reason you’re persisting in thinking otherwise?”
“Well,” Niall decided to be honest. How much deeper could he dig himself, anyway? “I actually did return your call after our dinner. Harry answered your phone and said you were in the shower.”
Niall could practically hear Liam shaking his head.
“You certainly are good at jumping to conclusions.”
Niall was in no position to deny it.
“But I’ll humor you in this case.” Liam continued. “There’s a basketball court on the roof of Harry’s building. After shooting hoops, I don’t really feel like being a sweaty mess when I get in my car, so I shower over there. And if I asked Harry to answer my phone, I was expecting a call from my assistant.”
Niall’s first thought was that he truly was a bleeping idiot.
His second was, rich bastards, because Harry had a semi-private basketball court, and Liam had a car in New York City.
His third was the image of Liam being a sweaty mess, which brought back some good memories from their People Fitness days.
Niall knew he’d been silent too long, but all he managed to reply with was;
“Oh.”
“Anyway, I will certainly pass your apology on to Harry. Goodnight.”
“Liam, wait!”
Liam stayed on the line.
“I’d really hate for us to end things on a sour note.” Niall said. “I mean, I obviously don’t know what your intentions were when you suggested we get together again…”
“It was just for a friendly drink.”
“Right. Well…I don’t suppose that invitation still stands?”
Liam chuckled, probably at Niall’s nerve.
“Listen, Niall, I think you’re a very intriguing guy, who’d definitely be worth getting to know, but I’m not going to lead you on. Things with my ex got really messy, and I’m not at a point right now where I’m looking for any kind of relationship.” Then he added, “Or casual fling, just so we’re clear.”
“Got it. I totally respect that.”
There were a few moments of quiet before Liam spoke again.
“Tell you what…I will be at Bulls and Bears off Wall Street at six-thirty tomorrow having a cocktail with some coworkers and friends. You’re more than welcome to join us.”
“Oh. Okay. Thanks.” Niall was wondering if Harry would be there, but he had the sense not to voice his curiosity.
“Have a good night, Niall.”
“You, too.”
That had gone a lot better than he’d expected. True, Liam had said he wasn’t looking for a relationship right now, but that didn’t mean he would never be looking for a relationship again. In the meantime, they could get to know each other better, and Niall could see just how compatible they’d be.
Niall pressed the Google app on his mobile and punched in “address Bulls and Bears Wall Street”.