Louis lives on a tiny island off the coast of England and runs a sailboat touring company. When Niall is sidelined for the summer after his knee surgery, Louis needs a temporary new partner. Who better to fill that role than Harry, recently returned to the island after five years away?
Louis is pretty sure there are plenty of better options. They don't get along until they do.
Harry is bent over a thick book when Louis crawls into the tent. “Some light reading before bed?” he asks, his voice light.
Harry looks up. “Hmm? Oh, uh, I guess.” He holds up the book to show the cover: a guide to the plants and animals of the area. Louis owns several himself, but doesn’t recognize this one – perhaps a new edition?
“Trying to learn something I don’t know?” he says. He means to say it teasingly, but it comes out almost sharp, and Harry stills. Guilt settles in Louis’ stomach, replacing the knot of insecurity and competitiveness that had sparked there moments earlier.
“I don’t know about that,” Harry says. “I just find it interesting. And I figure this is a good time to learn as much as I can. I’ve learned a lot from you these past weeks.”
