13. A Beautiful Rendition

Foxx just smiled as Harlow plopped down in the chair next to him at the dining table with a sigh. Hair still wet from the shower, the man was now in a T-shirt and pajama bottoms. After the many, many, many trips up and down the stairs…Harlow had been drenched in sweat. The human had looked as if he'd gone for a swim in his jeans and jumper.

As far as Foxx was concerned, cleaning up had been fun… Mostly because he hadn't actually done any of the cleaning. He'd supervised though, making sure Harlow stored the pies away properly, in the large freezer that currently sat in one of his unused guest bedrooms.

"Why would you have them put the freezer upstairs?" the human growled. A question that Harlow had asked many times over the last few hours.

The man was sure complaining a lot about something they were lucky to have even gotten. As it was, he'd paid an exorbitant price to have it delivered earlier that day. Not that he couldn't afford it. It was just the principle of it all. And that principle had gone out of the window when it came down to either waiting until next week for their normal delivery schedule or…bribing the fuck out of them.

"Well, where else would they put it? There is no room down here. Not unless I tear out some cabinets. Which…" He pursed his lips. "I may do it at one point. But, for now, that's where it fits. Anyway, let's eat."

Foxx had removed the pie and other food he'd been keeping warm from the oven, filled two plates, and set the table while Harlow had showered. Alongside the plates, sitting in the center on the wood and resin dining table, was a cherry pie with a golden number four and six candle in it. Right next to the pie was a lighter, and a small box wrapped in heart paper with a red ribbon—the present he'd gotten for Harlow.

"Brat," Harlow grumbled. The man's gaze flicked down, and after a moment, his brow rose. "You get me something, Foxx?" The human was eyeing the small box.

"I did. You can open it after we eat."

Harlow snorted and picked up his knife and fork. "What is on my plate?"

"Chicken and mushroom pie, mashed potatoes, and because I know you like green stuff, broccoli."

Foxx had, of course, opted for corn—the best vegetable, besides potatoes.

He watched Harlow take his first bite of pie, just waiting for his reaction. The human groaned the second his mouth closed around the fork.

"Good?" Foxx asked.

Harlow grunted. "Mhm, I can taste the calories."

He rolled his eyes. "I used as many healthy substitutes as I could without ruining the taste, you big baby. Your health obsession aside, as long as you like it, all is good." Foxx grinned evilly, before adding, "Because I'd hate to force you to keep eating something you didn"t like day in and day out. Though, this isn't the only type of meat pie I made."

Harlow snorted, and shook his head before taking another bite. After swallowing, he asked, "So how long are you planning to try to keep me in pie hell?"

"Until I'm satisfied."

"Petty fuck."

"Always," Foxx giggled before taking a bite of his own pie. He groaned—ahh, so good!

They ate in comfortable silence, but once they'd both taken their last bite, Harlow asked, "Dessert or present first?"

"Present," Foxx hummed. "But I have to sing Happy Birthday first before you open it."

"Singing?!" Harlow gasped, sounding horrified. "It's my birthday, can't you spare my ears?"

"My voice isn't that bad!"

In his opinion, his voice wasn't bad at all! The nerve!

"It is, Foxx. It really is."

Foxx huffed. "Well, it has to be sung, it"s your birthday!"

"Then I'll sing it!" Harlow snapped.

"FINE!" Sniffing in indignation, he grabbed the lighter and lit the two candles on the cherry pie. "Sing!" he ordered. Tossing the lighter on the table, he crossed his arms and glared at the human.

"FINE!" Harlow growled, before clearing his throat and starting to sing.

Foxx started to glare harder on realizing that Harlow…didn't sound bad—the audacity!

When the human finished, he blew out the candles. "Happy?"

"Hmph!" He pouted, turning away.

Harlow sighed. "Oh, for fuck's sake." The human grabbed the lighter and relit the candles. "Sing, you brat."

Foxx slowly faced forward in his seat with a smile. "Don't mind if I do."

"I do mind…so much."

Foxx giggled, ignored his grumbling and sang, in his opinion, a beautiful rendition of Happy Birthday.

As he finished up, Harlow leaned forward and blew out the candles again.

Foxx clapped. "Yay!"

The human rolled his eyes.

Still giggling, Foxx pushed the small box towards Harlow.

The man picked it up. Tugging the ribbon off before removing the paper, Harlow flipped open the lid of the small black box. A smirk now on his face, Harlow pulled out the small figurine—which was of a kitten sitting cutely in a box—and placed it on the table.

He smiled, just happy that Harlow seemed to like his gift. Buying it at the craft fair had been a good idea!

"A kitten from my kitten."

Foxx's smile dropped. "I'M NOT A CAT!"

"No? Hmm, well, either way, I'm about to make you purr," Harlow growled thickly.

Despite the deep rumble sending a shudder down his spine, Foxx stuttered in indignation, "Y-you?—"

"Let's quickly have a slice of pie, so I can get to my dessert."

Dessert?! "You… I… Old man!"

"At a loss for words, brat?" Harlow chuckled.

"Shut up and eat your damn pie!" Foxx hissed.