Chapter Text
Henry walks down the main street of Austin, Texas. David hops next to his feet, floppy ears waving around happily. He hasn’t been outside the UK, let alone outside Europe, so at first the idea of leaving felt scary. Yet now that he’s on American soil, he can’t deny it feels refreshing to be in a completely new country and environment. This was what Shaan suggested to him, after all, and maybe this is good. Maybe he’ll get something good out of this. A fresh start for him and his new book.
After checking in to his AirBnB which he rented for the next three weeks, he heads out with David. He doesn’t want to be that idiot with a physical map, so he tries to locate around the city with his feet. Henry has never been excellent with geography outside the UK, and the streets and buildings look so different here. He decides to let David lead the way, because he probably has better navigation than Henry has. All he tries to avoid is other dogs, because David’s never been a big fan of other dogs. To his surprise, Henry doesn’t face other dog walkers down their walk.
He tries to get his head straight. Henry always tends to overthink and stress about the smallest things. It doesn’t help that Shaan is already pressuring him with the new book, and he has put a deadline at the end of this week to write at least 10,000 words to submit to him. So far he has written zero. The only thing he has written is the plot synopsis, nothing more than that. Henry knows he can do 10k words easily, but at this moment all he needs is just a little inspiration. That’s why he travelled almost 8,000 kilometres to a country he’s never been to. To get out of his writer’s block.
As he explores the city streets, passing by a dog friendly coffee shop that he thinks will be a good place for writing - his eyes catch upon a small bookstore. This one isn’t a fancy one like he saw when he travelled from the airport, rather old and a bit worn out. It looks relatively.. cosy. There’s a narrow, crooked bookshelf outside the window, with a line of books on sale. Henry looks both ways on the street for any passing cars.
“Come along, David,” he says as the beagle barks excitedly, before crossing the street for the bookstore. This could be what he needs for inspiration. He used to visit bookstores and libraries back in London, and the atmosphere of stories always filled him with motivation to write. Maybe he can get the same here, or at least find a book he doesn’t already own. Henry stops at the front of the bookstore, browsing the books on sale.
Then, out of nowhere, a small delicate hand tugs at the hem of his trench coat. It’s a young girl, with dark curly hair on pigtails. She’s wearing a pastel pink dress with sunflowers on it.
“Are you single?” the girl asks in a sweet child-like innocent voice, staring at Henry with her big, brown eyes. Her long lashes blink slowly at him, waiting for an answer.
“Er, excuse me?”
“My daddy needs a special friend,” she speaks, still staring at Henry. “That’s what my auntie says.”
So, Henry thinks, children don't really have filters whatsoever. Or at least this one, who’s very open and not at all discreet.
“Can I pet your dog?” she asks then, as David is already approaching her, sniffing at her yellow ballerina shoes.
“Oh, yes you can. David is a very friendly dog,” Henry tells. The brown haired girl kneels to the ground, letting David sniff at her hand before petting him.
“What a funny name,” she giggles, David letting out a happy purr from her eager pettings.
“Well, he’s named after -”
“Daddy would like him too,” the girl continues with a sweet chuckle, scratching behind his floppy ears.
“Where’s your father, sweetheart?”
“He’s in there,” the girl points inside the bookstore. “He is working.” Henry takes a look from the bookstore’s window. He sees the tall bookshelves, filled with a wide selection of books. He sees a counter in the middle, behind it a man with similar curly hair and eyeglasses fallen down his nose, who’s leaning down the desk writing something with a thoughtful look. Henry’s eyes slide at the man, taking in the image through the window. Dark wavy curls, dimples to die for, exposed arms and chest. Henry has to nervously swallow for some reason. He keeps staring and no, handsome doesn’t begin to cover it.
“Auntie says he works too much,” the girl continues, now hugging David, her tiny arms around him. David who doesn’t seem to mind at all. “That he needs a date.”
“A-a date?”
“I don’t know what that is,” she says, pursuing her lips thoughtfully. “Auntie says it’s a grown-up thing.”
“Er, yes, it is.”
“You didn’t answer me,” the girl whines, hugging David tighter.
“I should, uh -” Henry scratches his neck. He notices the man down the cashier now looking straight at him, intrigued, adjusting his glasses up on his nose. It’s like his alluring glare is piercing through Henry, his heartbeat starting to race. Maybe he’s staring at him like that because Henry, who is a complete stranger, is talking to his daughter. “I better get going.”
“What’s your name?”
“It's Henry, but David and I need to get going.”
“Can I see him again?” she says with begging eyes, kindly placing David to the ground from her arms. “I really like him. He’s so fluffy.”
Her father keeps looking at him, but for some reason doesn’t move from the counter seat. There’s something about the man looking at him that Henry can’t quite put his finger on. Those dark wild curls, small stubble, then taking a pile of books into his muscular hands from the counter. Henry wonders what it’d feel like if those hands –
“My daddy would like David too,” the girl smiles innocently at Henry, disturbing his thoughts, and he’s happy she did so. He doesn’t need to think like that, he doesn’t need to go there for a random stranger. He gives her a polite smile, briefly looks back seeing her father stepping closer to them. He adjusts his glasses on his nose once more, Henry gulping because a move like that shouldn’t be so attractive.
“Bye,” Henry waves awkwardly, takes David into his arms and dashes across the street in panic.
It’s raining like cats and dogs the following day, and Henry opens his umbrella. There’s a mischievous click, rain suddenly pouring through it. So he just broke his only umbrella, which is absolutely fantastic. David whines at his feet from the cold, so he takes him into his arms, opening his jacket to cover him from the rain.
“It’s gonna be okay, David,” he coos to him, pressing David against his already soaked chest. He quickly scans around, thinking of solutions. It’s too far away to go back to his rented apartment. The dog friendly coffee shop has a ‘closed’ sign by the door.
It’s when his eyes seem to catch a certain bookstore, and Henry thinks, what the hell. He doesn’t have any other options, and he feels David shake against him under his jacket. He sprints across the street, hoping that he hasn’t closed the store for today. To his surprise, it’s open, the doorbell ringing as he enters inside.
“Hi, welcome to the Shelf of Tales. How may I help –” a deep, yet kind voice starts, clearly a sentence he’s said a thousand times by now until it’s cut short when a man appears behind the bookshelf. It’s the same dark curly haired man with glasses, his eyes trailing at him up and down, eyes focusing on his chest and David’s curious head that peeks out from Henry’s jacket. He’s wearing a blouse with a dress shirt underneath, and black pants.
“Er, hello,” Henry clears his throat awkwardly, holding David. “You don’t mind, do you? It was absolutely drenched out there.”
The man takes a moment in staring at Henry, before he blinks back to reality.
“Uh, no problemo. I have some towels and dry clothes in the back.”
“There’s no need –”
“It’s fine, really. Give me a sec.” He disappears behind a curtain to the back office, returning with a white set of towels, and what seems to be a very comfortable hoodie.
“I have a bathroom in the back if you want to use it,” he says, while offering the towel and hoodie to Henry. He only takes the towel.
“That’s all right, thank you,” Henry says, opening his jacket to place David on the floor. He shakes his wet fur, splashes flying around. “Sorry,” Henry apologises, trying to make David stop. Luckily it doesn’t splash around the books, only leaving a small dribble of water on the floor. Henry stands up, patting the towel on his soaked dress shirt until he catches the man staring at him.
“Quiet day?” Henry tries to strike up a conversation, creating some sort of small talk. He leans his back on the bookshelf with his arms crossed, still staring at Henry with his warm, brown eyes. Suddenly, he looks almost aggravating.
“You the one who tried to take my daughter for a walk with their dog?”
“Excuse me?” Henry puffs, not expecting that. His hard eyes stay on Henry. “No, no. I swear I haven’t said anything like that. I don’t even know your daughter.”
“You are the first British guy I’ve seen here, who also has a beagle.”
“I might have talked with your daughter yesterday, but I promise I did not suggest any of that. I assure you.”
He looks relaxed, shoulders loosening up. “I know that. Isabel tends to exaggerate.”
“Oh,” Henry realises. His mouth tugs into an amused grin. “You were joking.”
“Can you blame me? You looked all cute when you panicked, I couldn’t help myself,” he grins, looking all smug that he accomplished to get Henry.
Henry blushes. “R-right. Um, David, no!” he shouts, but David runs away with his leash, diving into a pile of boxes next to the cashier desk. Henry stumbles into something on the ground, David running around his feet so that suddenly Henry falls on his back on the floor. It’s not a big fall, but he feels the ache in his back. Then someone gasps:
“Oh, shit.” Before Henry can open his eyes, someone falls on top of him. He feels a warm body’s weight on him, and when he opens his eyes, dark curls flow over his cheeks. The man shakes his head, curls flying all over Henry’s face – a delicious smell of pine and sandalwood shampoo filling up his nostrils, as he pops his head up to meet Henry’s eyes.
They’re close, as in really close, that Henry can feel his hot breath on him. He notices how his brown eyes glaze down at Henry’s lips for a second, before back in his eyes.
Henry’s heart skips a beat the way he looks at him under his long lashes, how his hand is resting on Henry’s chest, fingertips slightly moving.
“You alright?” Henry asks. The man scratches his head, squinting his eyes.
“Um, yeah. Your dog totally smacked me and tied my legs with the leash. He’s one piece of work, isn’t he?”
“Oh, my God. I’m so sorry.”
“Nah, it’s fine. It’s actually quite comfortable here,” he winks suggestively, Henry realising how close together they still are, how close their faces are, feeling his cheeks gaining a bit of colour. He tilts his head adorably, strays of dark curls falling over his eyes. “Hi, I’m Alex. You do this often?”
“No, never. Let me just..” Henry grunts, ignoring the signals he’s getting from a literal stranger who’s on top of him. This couldn’t be more embarrassing. He also ignores the disappointed pursuit of mouth from Alex when Henry manages to get off him. He notices David’s leash is still wrapped around his ankles. “Let me just untangle you. Just a second.”
Alex goes to sit next to the tilted boxes and fallen out books, David still running around the store. Henry takes a hold of his leg, loosening the leash and pulls it around his ankles.
“You usually work from the floor?”
“No.”
“You seem awfully familiar with it.”
Henry manages to pull the leash away, helping Alex up. “I’m really sorry. I don’t know what came over to David. He’s usually really friendly.”
“That’s okay. Got to know you a bit closer, right?”
Again, Henry blushes. Why is this gorgeous American hunk flirting with him? This doesn’t usually happen to Henry, especially when you accidentally fall over the floor with wet clothes, a man on top of you. Not to mention the sweaty clothes dried up to Henry’s skin, and flat, ruffled hair. He’s a literal mess.
“Do you need a hand?” Henry points at the floor, to the fallen books from the box.
“You offering?” He winks again, another missed beat of his heart and Henry forgets to breathe.
“I meant the books.”
“Oh. Thanks, I got it.” Alex leans down, Henry not being able to look away when he leans over. The tight pants really do.. compliment his figure. Henry clears his throat, going after David. He’s around the other bookshelf, sitting politely with his innocent eyes like he didn’t just cause a big mess here.
“You’re in big trouble, mister,” Henry scolds, taking David into his arms. He lets out a happy bark, not caring about what he caused.
Henry paces back, seeing Alex carry the box over the counter, arms tightly around it, making his biceps flex. Right.
Alex catches him staring, Henry instantly looking elsewhere. “You find what you were looking for?”
“What?”
“You need help finding something?”
“No, er, the rain looks like it will be stopping soon. I don’t want to trouble you no longer,” Henry says as a pathetic excuse, as if the rain isn’t splashing louder against the bookstore window at the very same moment.
“I didn’t catch your name.”
“It’s Henry.”
“Well, Henry, you aren’t troubling me at all. In fact, this is the most interesting thing that happened all week.”
“It’s only Tuesday,” he states flatly.
“These last months haven’t exactly been very action-packed, to be honest,” Alex comments. His anxious eyes meet Henry. “I mean, business-wise.”
They share a gaze that is longer than is necessary. So, like always, Henry panics. “Right. You have anything by Fitzgerald?” He hopes Alex doesn’t see his panic. Alex simply smiles warmly back at him.
“Not right now, but I have an order coming up in the next few days for special covers, including special editions of The Great Gatsby and The Beautiful and Damned. If you want, I can take your number and let you know when they’re in.”
“That’s all right.. I’ll, um -” his phone starts vibrating in his inner pocket, Henry taking it out. It flashes the name ‘Shaan’. “I, uh, I have to take this.”
“No problemo, Henry,” Alex smiles brightly. He can’t deny there’s a small spark flying in his chest the way he says his name, or the way Alex seems to have one of those radiating sunny smiles that lights up the entire neighbourhood. “Feel free to drop by anytime. I’m basically here all the time everyday. From nine to five. Saturdays from ten to three. Sundays closed.” This man can’t still possibly be flirting with Henry, it’s his imagination. It must be.
“Thanks for letting me stay here. And for the towels,” Henry mutters shyly. “Sorry about the mess. Maybe I can - repay the damages?”
“I’m all open up to suggestions, Henry.”
“I’ll.. take this,” he panics again, his shaky hands taking the first book nearby.
“You fan of Colleen Hoover?”
“Who isn’t?”
“Alright. That’ll be 19.99$.”
Henry takes out a fifty dollar bill from his wallet. “Keep the change.”
“This is way too generous of you, Henry, I can’t -”
“Please. For the mess. I.. gotta go now. Bye.”
Alex gives him a sweet smile, so Henry feels something strike his chest again, as he shyly waves and steps out the bookstore. It’s actually hard to leave the bookstore like there is an invincible pull for Henry to stay there.
Somehow he finds the willpower to answer Shaan, walking up the street as it clears out from the rain. He places David on the ground, and for the entirety of the phone call he keeps thinking about how those deep brown eyes kept looking at him, feeling like they drilled into his very soul, making a permanent place there.
It’s only day after, and Henry doesn’t know why his assured steps find the way to the already familiar bookstore. He doesn’t know why this American curly haired bookstore owner seemed to leave such an impression on Henry that was the only thing going in his head to the point he couldn’t get any writing done. It’s absolutely crazy, because Henry isn’t typically hung up on boys, not to this level anyway. There has to be another reason why there is an unexplainable pull towards the bookstore.
The doorbell rings as he steps inside, after tying David on the pole outside. He doesn’t want to repeat the same mistake of him running around the store again, causing a mess. Something drops in Henry’s stomach, a disappointing grunt escaping his lips when he sees there’s someone else behind the counter than the dashing curly haired guy Alex.
Instead, it’s a woman with the same shade of tanned skin, similar dark curls falling over her shoulders. Her eyes are focusing on her phone, but when Henry walks further in the store she startles, snapping her phone away under the desk.
“Oh, hello. Sorry, I didn’t see you there. How can I help you today, sir?”
Henry hesitates, looking around, biting his lip. “Just browsing, thank you.”
Henry tries to casually look around like this is his first time here, but feels her interesting glance follow his every step.
“I know you,” she says after a while when Henry tries to hide behind a bookshelf, taking out a random book in his hands. The woman comes around the cashier desk, leaning against the bookshelf in front of Henry. “You’re Henry, aren’t you?”
“I’m sorry, do I know you?”
“You’re blonde and have a posh British accent. I hardly think my brother has met any other British guys here. Unless there’s some sort of British conference in Austin that I don’t know about.”
“Your brother?” Henry asks, curiously.
“I saw the way you looked at me. You came to see Alex, right?”
“No. I just remembered I needed some new books,” Henry tries to lie, but apparently his sister is as perspective as Alex. And as headstrong.
“Are you sure? ‘Cos you did leave quite an impression on him.” Henry tries his best to read the synopsis of the book he’s holding, and try to hide his curiosity of her words. “He couldn’t shut up about this blonde guy who made a mess at his bookstore.”
Henry keeps his cool, still eyes at the back of the book, like he hadn’t been thinking about Alex. Or how Alex apparently had been talking about him to the point he told his sister.
Henry slowly lifts his eyes up from the book. “Where’s he now?”
“Alex had to take Isabel to the doctor. No need to panic, just a regular check, so nothing to worry about. Something about vaccines before she starts school. So Alex asked me to cover him here today.”
“Oh, okay.”
“He’s single, you know,” she continues, frankly. So she’s more direct than Alex. Something about her reminds of his daughter.
“Excuse me?”
“Isabel’s mom hasn’t been in the picture for a long time. Took off after she was born. My brother’s dating life has been like a dry dessert ever since. He never talks about the people he meets, but then suddenly he can’t shut up about some cute British guy who stopped at his bookstore.” Henry doesn’t know how to respond to that. Or if Alex really called him cute to her, or if she’s just exaggerating. “So, just saying. He’s single. And you’re totally his type.”
Henry wonders if all Americans are like this, or just his family. His sister is just like Alex, big mouthed and without filters, something Henry isn’t used to in his silent type of a family.
He places the book back on the shelf. “Right, er, I should get going. I have some errands to run.”
“See you around Henry! Don’t be a stranger!” she chuckles, waving as Henry panicky jogs out the bookstore.
Henry knows he should write more. He tells himself he’s already written for three hours straight at the coffee shop, and deserves to have a break. He hasn’t written much – but at least he’s written more than the other days. It’s still better than writing nothing at all.
Henry looks around the coffee shop. He could take a walk around the neighbourhood. Just a regular walk, going to get David from his rented place, because David needs it. He’s in need of a walk. And if that particular bookstore just happens to come to David’s walking path, it will be out of pure coincidence.
So, Henry saves his latest work draft, shuts down his laptop and collects his things. He walks back to his apartment that’s only two blocks away from the coffee shop to get David. He’s very clingy to Henry as soon as he takes him, even during their walk he keeps circling around his feet. Henry hates leaving David alone, but he knows he needs to learn to be alone. Maybe next time he’ll take David with him because it’s a dog friendly coffee shop.
As Henry walks on the main street, somehow finding a light in each step, like they know where they are going and enjoying each step. There's a rush in him he doesn’t recognise, mixed in with anticipation.
Henry has not been anticipating going to the bookstore again. Absolutely not. Yet when Henry sees the familiar store window, his heart starts thumping out of sync. His palms get sweaty when he fumbles on the door handle, cautiously entering the bookstore. The doorbell rings again, David letting out an excited bark. Henry’s quick eyes find the cashier desk empty, but hears someone rustling behind a bookshelf.
Alex’s head pops up behind the shelves, messy curls over his forehead, adjusting his fallen glasses back up. The sight shouldn’t be that alluringly attractive, but when a bright smile appears on his face, so it’s like his smile brightens up the entire store, revealing his dimples – Henry knows he’s a lost cause.
“Oh hi there, Henry. I was hoping you’d pop by.”
Henry feels his cheeks warm up. “Yes?”
“The classic order just came in this morning,” his restless fingers tap on a sealed box, gesturing to follow him. “Last time I checked, you were interested in these bad boys.”
Alex spends the next ten minutes yapping about the classic novels he ordered, and if Henry wasn’t attracted to him before (he denies it), he surely is now. There is nothing more attractive than a man who’s interested in classical literature. Alex does seem to have a wide knowledge of books and classics, and maybe Henry acts more surprised when he tells about a fact like Henry didn’t already know about it.
“Did you know that Jane Austen didn’t have a male pen name, though she published all her novels anonymously under the name ‘By a Lady’?” Alex exclaims, as he places a couple of Austen’s special edition books on the smaller shelf on the counter.
“You don’t say,” Henry says, trying to act surprised.
“Wait. Did you know that already?”
“I majored in classical literature. I know a thing or two about Austen.”
“Oh, yeah?” Alex arches his eyebrows, as he walks behind the cashier, scanning the books. “You also want the Pride and Prejudice edition one, then?”
“Sure,” Henry finds himself saying, not entirely sure why, because he ordered that very same one the first moment it was revealed. He has that one and most of the classics in their special collection boxes back in his London apartment.
“Awesome,” Alex says, fingers tapping on the book. “You want me to wrap these up for you?”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Are you sure? There’s a chance that the books will get scratches in your bag, and it is a special edition, after all.”
Henry almost crashes on the postcard shelf on the front desk. After hearing those words from coming out his mouth, the way Alex is warmly staring at him, he’s ready to get on his knees at the very moment.
“You doing okay? You look a bit sweaty there, man.”
“I’m fine, thank you. Please wrap the book for me,” Henry stutters, coughing in his throat as his mouth feels drier than before, Alex’s curious eyes on him not helping. He digs up his wallet. “How much is it?”
“29.99$, but I can give you a discount,” Alex mutters casually, taking out yellow wrapper paper from a drawer.
“No need for discounts. I’ll happily pay the full price.”
“You’re practically a regular by now, Henry. I give 10% off for my regulars.” Henry watches as Alex skillfully wraps the book in the yellow, yet old style flower paper.
“There’s no need, thank you.”
Alex's brown fascinating eyes look up to him, and something makes his leg twitch. “So, Henry, I heard you were asking me the other day.”
Henry can hear the pleasure in his voice. “No, I, er.. was just walking near the bookstore. That’s all.”
“Really? That’s not what June told me.”
“You should know by now how people in your family have a habit of exaggerating,” Henry explains dryly. Alex swirls the wrapped book, with an irresistible grin on his lips that makes Henry’s legs shake more.
“Wow, was that actual sarcasm I heard?”
“I might have come inside the bookstore just for one second.”
“From the rain, right?” Alex teases, fully knowing it was sunny that day.
“Yes. Obviously.”
“He’s behaving a lot nicer today, isn’t he?” Alex says, leaning over the cashier to take a look at David who’s innocently sitting next to Henry’s feet.
“Yes. I honestly have no idea what came over him the other day.”
“That’s all right. You’re a good boy, aren’t you?” Alex cutely coos at him and Henry seriously needs to lean on the cashier corner because Alex’s deep voice saying such a sentence is affecting his body more than it should. In response, David stands up, wailing his tail excitedly.
“How old is he?”
“Almost two years, but he still acts like a puppy at some times,” Henry answers. Alex nods, fingers restlessly tapping on the wrapped book.
“So, Henry. How long are you staying in Austin?” He investigates Henry with an intriguing look, at the same time he types on the cashier machine. “Don’t give me that look. I know pretty much everybody in this town. I most certainly would remember someone like you.”
Flirting isn’t exactly unknown territory for Henry. He can say he detects it pretty easily, he’s seen how spontaneously and easily Pez does it and sometimes, people flirt with Henry. So he knows Alex is flirting with him, but it doesn’t make any possible sense why. Sure people flirt with him, but someone like Henry doesn’t usually get attention from someone like Alex. Naturally attractive and irresistibly charming. A gorgeous guy like Alex could get anyone. He doesn’t need a nerdy, a bit chubby and introverted writer like Henry.
“I’m staying just for a couple of weeks.” Henry takes another fifty dollar bill, seeing his wallet is filled with plenty of pound bills he probably should exchange to dollars. “Here. Keep the change. As a tip.”
“Again?” Alex smirks cockily, the top of his tongue peeking out his mouth. “Rather generous of you, mister, thank you. What got you to visit Austin, anyway?”
“Work, mostly.”
“Huh. All work and no play, then?”
“Yes, pretty much.” Henry takes a look at Alex who’s fingers jiggle around the fifty dollar bill. Then, he slowly lifts his eyes up to Henry. Henry feels his palm get sweaty, cheeks blushing and he can’t deny how butterflies fly in his stomach just from his captivating glare. “I don’t seem to know much about this city, though.”
“Do you need someone to show you around? ‘Cos if you need a guide, I’ll happily show you around Austin.”
“Are you asking me out on a date?” Henry bluntly asks, no idea how the straightforward words bubbled out of him, because he’s usually not this direct. Not at all. Alex tilts his head to the left, his black curls falling over his forehead, making him look absolutely adorable.
“It doesn’t have to be, unless you want to,” Alex grins, yet there's a small hint of worry in his eyes. Henry recognises that ‘a slight change I just asked out a straight man out’ kind of look. “There’s this great art exhibition about contemporary art that opened last week. I heard it’s pretty good, and have been wanting to check it out. If you’re interested, that is.”
“Sounds nice, but I’ve got tons of work to do.”
“Well. If you change your mind, here’s my number,” Alex quickly scrabbles on the receipt. He offers it to Henry, and he stares down at the paper that has ‘Alex’ written in long cursive letters, with a drawn heart at the end, and his number under it. Henry stares at it, making the decision on the spot, which is rather spontaneous from someone like Henry.
“Are you free tomorrow?”
Alex’s face lights up, a happy grin appearing on his face. “Yeah, I am. I close at five.”
“Wonderful.”
“It’s a date, then?”
Henry tries his best not to blush, or act too excited about it. He’ll do so he can write his book, that’s all. For research. “It’s a date.”
“See you tomorrow, then, Henry,” Alex smiles widely, he must know the power his deep dimples have. Henry has to resist the urge to lean over and plant a kiss on his dimples on each cheek.
Somehow, Henry gathers the willpower. He takes the wrapped books Alex offers to him, also noticing he placed a couple of heart stickers on them. Henry waves at him, shoving the receipt with his number into his pocket. His steps are clumsy and he almost stumbles into a small shelf, but manages to stand up and pull himself together so Henry doesn't look like a complete fool. Like this wasn’t his first time he got the courage to ask a very attractive guy out.
Henry does date, but recently it’s been very slow in the area, ever since his last break up that didn’t go that well. Because of that he’s given up on the whole ordeal, the whole idea of love and dating, not believing it’s something he can have.
He held the press tour for his last book, and distracted himself maybe a bit too well. He’s not used to being approached, especially by people like Alex. Besides, Henry never makes the first move so it’s why he surprised himself by being so spontaneous asking him out. But there’s something about Alex. Something he can’t figure out, and there’s this uncharted force pulling towards him. Henry needs to calm himself before the date tomorrow, so he won’t be an anxious mess.
He walks back to his apartment with David. David senses something, he’s always been able to sense when Henry is stressed or nervous. It’s not the same kind of nervousness he felt when publishing his first book, or when speaking in public. It’s a good kind of nervous, butterflies flying in his stomach and the anticipation of meeting Alex again.
The first moment when Henry stepped out of the plane to Austin, he had regrets coming here. It’s not going to change anything, or help Henry with his book. He even considered this trip being a mistake and should just fly back to London.
Now, when he types Alex’s number on his phone, he thinks again. There’s something inexplicable about Alex, something that Henry needs to discover. He would never forgive himself if he didn’t uncover that, or the feelings that already flourish in Henry. There’s a feeling bubbling in Henry’s chest he hasn’t felt in a long time, a feeling he almost doesn’t recognise.
It’s hope.
Maybe coming to Austin wasn’t such a bad idea, after all.