𝐌𝐑. 𝐏𝐀𝐘𝐍𝐄 ✧ 𝘻𝘪𝘢𝘮

thirty five

"It's my birthday and you're not paying attention to me, how dare you, Zayn."

Zayn snickers as he sends his message to Liam before looking up at his best friend who's pouting at him. "I'm sorry — this was important though."

"If it wasn't your mom or dad then no, it actually wasn't important," Harry huffs out, looking around the crowded restaurant to see if their food is coming already.

Zayn smirks, "Does it count when I've actually called Liam daddy before?"

Harry stops sipping his drink, the straw falling out of his mouth as he stares in shock at what Zayn's just said. His mouth opens and shuts before he's letting out a gag. "Like I needed to know that, honestly."

He shrugs his shoulders — laughs at the horror on Harry's face. "It's been one day Zayn — reel it in please and focus on me. You two really couldn't wait another day to get back together? That's selfish of you, Malik."

"No."

Harry lets out a big sigh but he's got a smile on his face as he looks at Zayn, who's smiling back at him. He knows his best friend is happy for him — the birthday boy told him as much after Zayn called him yesterday and gushed about him and Liam finally being in a relationship again.

After Liam had dropped him off at Harry's last night (he and Liam cuddled together on the sofa for the rest of the night (after their talk) until midnight, when Zayn decided he should probably hear back to Harry's), Zayn couldn't stop blabbing about Liam to Harry and their relationship. He couldn't stop repeating the words Liam told him to his best friend, who despite being sleepy, still squealed with him over Liam's declarations of love.

Last night, they both decided that doing things right this time around was obviously the best way to start their relationship off. Meaning, they were going on a date first — a few dates actually — before they would get intimate with each again. He didn't mind that — although he couldn't wait to finally get to feel Liam touch him again — he knew that it was best for them to start their relationship off right.

"What was so important then?"

Zayn shrugs but he's got a wide smile on his face, "He says that he's going to drive up next weekend so we can have our first date."

Harry wiggles his brows before he's snickering at the bashful look on Zayn's face. "How sweet of him. I may be your best friend but I am not okay with him sleeping in our dorm and hearing you guys go at it all night long, forewarning."

Zayn rolls his eyes, "He's not going to stay in our dorm — and I told you we weren't going to have sex after the first date."

His best friend snorts and looks at him with a pointed look as he takes a bite of his food. "Do you really think you can hold off that long?"

He nods his head confidently because he knows he can hold off until after a few dates with Liam. It's going to be really hard but he'll just keep reminding himself that this is what's best. Zayn can definitely hold off — he wants this relationship to work and he will do anything he can to make sure that happens.

"Well I'm happy for you — honestly," Harry admits, grinning softly at his friend. "I'm glad you two worked everything out yesterday and — I really hope everything is better this time. I know how much he means to you, Zayn."

Zayn grins — stares off in the distance as he thinks about Liam's words from yesterday and how they had him feeling on cloud nine. He couldn't believe that it was happening at first — felt like a dream hearing Liam say he was ready to be in a relationship again.

He looks to Harry when the other boy lets out a groan, "I hate being single — I'm going to be suffering seeing you all happy and lovey-dovey with Liam."