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“You never really answered my question.” Alex says as he squeezes his head under the book Henry’s holding and settles right in between his arms.
“Alex, I’m trying to read here.” Henry adjusts his glasses.
“Yes. I see that. And you look so sexy doing it as well. But answer my question.”
“What question?”
“Which other famous boys have you shagged?” Alex grins up at him and Henry rolls his eyes.
“Alex.”
“Come on,” Alex insists petulantly, “I'm curious, that's all.”
“Well,” Henry slips a bookmark between the pages he was currently on and sets the book aside, “even if I wanted to tell you, I couldn't. I've signed NDAs, love.”
“NDAs? Plural?”
“If you're going to get jealous then I can't reveal anything to you.”
“Okay, no. I won't get jealous, I promise.” Alex says with as much sincerity he can muster and Henry raises an eyebrow. “I'm serious. Besides, none of them got to marry you, did they?” Alex smiles, bringing Henry's hand up to drop a kiss right by where a silver band rests.
“That's sweet, but I still can't disobey a contract.”
“Contract, schmontract. You married me. I’d argue that a marriage contract trumps all other contracts.” He sees Henry is about to protest again when he adds, “Okay, we can do one thing. I'll try to guess the people. You can just answer with a yes or no. That way you won't technically be saying who it is.”
“Alright, fine.” Henry sits up against the headboard, “Ask away.”
“Okay, first question. How many guys?”
Henry sighs. “One.”
“Just one?”
“We're talking about famous people here, darling. Couldn't risk getting involved with too many of them, you know.”
“Ah. Yes, of course.” Alex nods before continuing, “Okay so next question; is this person our age?”
Henry seems to think for a moment. “I guess so, yes.”
“Is this person famous for being in the entertainment industry?”
“Yes.”
Alex hums. “The film industry?” he asks. Henry simply shakes his head so he then asks, “The music industry?” And Henry nods.
Alex huffs. “That doesn't narrow it down enough. It would be so much easier if you just told me.”
“Yes but darling, this is so much more fun.” Henry chuckles.
“Fine. American or British?”
“I thought you were only going to ask yes or no questions.” Henry quirks an eyebrow.
“Ugh. Is he American?”
“Nope.” Henry answers, clearly enjoying this all too much.
“Is he British?”
And Henry doesn't answer right away. Alex leans in slightly. A few seconds later Henry says, “Yes.”
Alex goes over all of the information he has gathered so far. “A famous British singer around our age. I might be getting close here.”
“You might be.”
Alex worries his bottom lip between his teeth as he tries to figure out which questions to ask next. “Solo act? Or a part of a band?”
“Uh, both, I think?” Henry sounds a little unsure.
“How can it be both?”
“He used to be part of a band.” Henry says and suddenly, Alex gets a clue who it could be.
“Henry. Was this guy a part of One Direction?”
Henry winces before slowly nodding.
“Henry George Edward James Hanover Stuart Fox!” Alex practically yells and Henry lets out a surprised laugh. “You're telling me you fucked someone from One Direction?”
“No need to be so crude, love.” Henry teases. Alex hits him on his arm.
“Shut up and answer me. Who was it?”
“Still can't tell you.”
“Oh for fuck’s sake Henry, all of them are fucking British.”
“Well, not all of them.”
“Yeah you would know.” Alex says as he gets up from where he's sitting and shuffles over to Henry and settles on his thighs. “Now tell me, which of those boys have you shagged?” Alex asks in the most British accent he could muster.
“I did sign an ND-”
“I don't care about NDAs. I'm a lawyer, it's fine. I'll handle it if something happens.” Alex interrupts, his hands gently grabbing onto Henry's shoulders.
Henry, because he loves to tease Alex in more ways than one, still refuses to give Alex the name. Instead, he has him call out every member's name. Finally, Henry says ‘yes’ to one of them.
“ Harry Styles?! ” Alex screams, his eyes wide. Henry doesn’t say anything. “How? When? What?! ”
“As much as I enjoy you enthusiastically bouncing like this, my thighs are starting to hurt, Alex.” Henry says and Alex lifts himself off.
“When did this happen?”
“It was a couple of years ago, back when they were all still in a band. Bea dragged me to a concert.” And Alex’s jaw flies open.
“You mean to tell me you lived the fantasy of every teen girl at the time?”
“You could say so.” Henry bites the corner of his lip to keep himself from smiling, but it doesn’t help much.
“Wow. Can’t believe I’m married to someone who’s hooked up with Harry Styles.” Alex says and Henry gives a noncommittal hum.
But then he shifts in his place, like he does when he’s feeling nervous before saying something.
“What?” Alex asks, sensing his hesitance.
“Well, it wasn’t exactly just a one time thing.”
“So you saw him again?”
“There might have been a couple of dates.”
And Alex does not get jealous, no. The little twitch in the corner of his mouth was not because he feels jealous, no. It was because of the cold. And global warming probably.
“Next you’re going to tell me that he wrote songs about you too.” Alex drily laughs, trying to come off as very casual.
But Henry doesn’t catch his poor attempt at being nonchalant and replies, “I’ve heard some rumors, Bea and Pez have had some theories. They even once told me to just text him and ask but that would've opened up a whole can of worms an-”
“You still have his number?” Alex interjects.
“Well, he’s a good contact to have, isn’t he?”
“Yeah, of course.” Alex replies in a very monotone voice before sliding off the bed and walking out into the living room.
“ Fuck. ” Henry mutters under his breath. “Alex!” He calls out before he goes after him.
Henry finds his husband lying on the couch under the throw blanket, quietly scrolling through his phone. He sighs and goes to sit down beside him. Alex, on hearing his footsteps, hides his face further in the blanket. But Henry doesn’t need to see his face to know that Alex, 100%, is pouting.
“I thought you said you weren’t going to get jealous?” Henry says. He gets a grunt in response. “Come on darling, it was years ago.”
Alex still doesn’t budge. Henry lets out a breath before he nudges himself into the empty space beside Alex. And as expected, Alex's arm makes its way around Henry’s waist, resting on his thigh. Because no matter how mad Alex might be at Henry, his arms always find their way around Henry.
“What’s on your mind?” Henry asks.
“Nothing.”
“It definitely is something.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Alex.”
“Henry.”
“You and I both know that I’m not going to stop till you tell me.”
Alex sighs, he knows Henry is right. He takes a second before putting his phone aside and shifting so that he’s face to face with Henry.
“It’s just that, I can’t do any of that, you know?” Alex says in almost a whisper.
“Can’t do what, love?”
“Write you songs and shit.” He gently traces the back of Henry’s hand. “You’re the romantic type. You’ve written stuff for me over the years which are so beautiful they make me cry. I can’t do that.”
“Oh darling,” Henry brings his hand up to gently cup Alex’s cheek, “That doesn’t matter to me at all.”
“But you deserve to be loved like that. Honestly, I won’t be surprised if he has a whole album of songs about you. I know if I could do that then I would.”
“Alex, no one can love me better than you do.” Henry says firmly. “And I need you to remember that please.”
“But-”
“No ‘but’s. I married you , Alex. You’re enough for me.”
Alex blinks, a small smile slowly appearing on his lips. “Okay.”
“Now come on,” Henry says as he gets up, “let’s go have dinner. I’m starving.” He gives a small tug on Alex’s arm, forcing him to get up as well.
Alex stands up and stretches. “What do you want to eat?”
“I feel like Thai food tonight.”
“Thai food it is then.” Alex says. He grabs his phone off the couch and hands it over to Henry. “You can order it. I need to run to the toilet for a bit.” He gives Henry a small kiss before walking off.
“Alex, oh my god.”
Alex is almost at the bathroom door when he hears Henry from the living room and immediately makes his way back.
“What is it?” Alex asks.
“Were you trying to figure out which songs are about me while you were sulking on the couch?”
Shit. It seems Alex had forgotten to close Spotify before he tossed his phone aside.
“Ah, well.” Alex rubs the back of his neck. Henry walks over, rests his arms on Alex’s shoulders, and presses a little kiss on the tip of his nose.
“Don’t worry. You’re cute when you’re jealous.”
“I hate you.”
“No you don’t.”
“No I don’t.”