Young & Beautiful

and repeating the gesture with Liam who looks utterly delighted.
“Good to see you, Horan! How’s the old man?” Liam asks with jolly etiquette.
Niall grins in that way that suggests he’s on the verge of barking laughter, hands splayed on his
hips, and stance dominant. The dragon is out to play. “He’s great. Stop by and see him any time!
He’s usually at the studio. You know.”
“I do, and I really must. It’s been so long since we’ve had a proper sit down.” Liam’s words are
perfectly articulated, his accent sickeningly posh, and Louis wonders if he learned how to read by
way of an etiquette manual.
Unlike Niall, with his chunky Rolex and huge white shoes and agape mouth.
“Yeah. He actually likes you, so he’d enjoy that. You can bring Bill along!”
“What an excellent idea! Father hasn’t socialized in forever—the business has kept him so busy.
He’d love to see Jonathan again.”
Dear lord.
“I told you he’s only friends with middle-aged men,” Zayn smirks at Louis as he brings the teacup
to his perfect lips.
Louis stares at the pair as they talk, completely out of his element. “Fair enough. Well, then. Tea?”
He sits down to the right of Zayn, just like that very first luncheon, and immediately holds his cup
up to Liam expectantly, batting his eyelashes.
Liam grins and pours from his teapot immediately as Niall takes a seat beside Louis.
“Thank you,” Louis smiles, then brings the cup up to his lips and takes a large gulp. And nearly
spits it out. “What the hell??” he splutters, almost dropping the priceless fixture.
“What’s wrong?” Liam asks, alarmed.
“Is this whiskey?” Louis coughs, clutching his throat in alarm.
Zayn smiles smokily. “Don’t be daft, Louis. It’s Darjeeling and scotch.”
Oh, obviously.
“Are you sure there’s Darjeeling?”
Zayn looks up at Liam who shrugs. “I put a bit in, I think.”
“You think?”
“This is fuckin’ delicious!” Niall suddenly boasts, guzzling his cup like it were water.
Louis stares, his own throat still burning.
That boy.
“Not all of us came out of the womb with a bottle of whiskey,” Louis glares, secretly marveling at
the way he refills his teacup instantly and pours it down his throat without even a blink of the eye.
“Thatta boy,” Zayn smirks, and offers Niall a cigar.