“Then let’s go,” Evie said. “LA is waiting. Will you tell Jayne I said goodbye, Shep? Simon? I wish he could have taken the day off.”
“I will,” Shep said. He was staying home to care for Parker. “Fly safe, okay?”
Evie pointed her fingers at Shep like they were guns. She fired off a few imaginary shots. “Don’t worry—no one can take down the Ultimate Weapon. I’ll let you know when we get in safe.”
There was nothing more left to say but final goodbyes. Dreading what was to come, Simon followed Evie and Harlow from the apartment and toward a future where Harlow was gone, and he was alone once more.
* * *
The driveto Paul C. Cleinfield International Airport was easy—while morning traffic clogged the major arteries leading into Aurora, the roads leading out of it flowed at a steady pace. From the corner of his eye, Simon spotted the monolithic buildings of Aurora’s downtown core, circumvented by their route, and the legions of residential buildings in various states of repair that housed the souls whose hearts were tied to the pulse of the city. How many of them were suffering heartbreak this morning? Simon traced his hands down the steering wheel pensively. He’d never know.
The exit from the interstate to the airport came too soon. Simon clicked on his turn signal and followed the curve, slowing as he merged with traffic funneling through the long-term parking and cell phone lots. The road divided, one fork leading to ground-level arrivals, the other to a ramp destined for departures. As they climbed, Simon’s heart grew heavy. He stole a glance at Harlow, who sat in the passenger seat and gazed out the window, chin in his hand, and wondered what he was thinking. Did they feel the same heartache? Pain was never really shared—it could be expressed in simple terms, but its root was inextricable. Like a wart wrapped around a nerve, it lurked behind the skin, swelling, hardening, until it became unbearable. Others could see it, and it could be spread, but the pain was personal. He wanted to rip it from his chest even though it would leave him empty and bleeding, but could he live with the scar it would leave behind?
“This is us,” Harlow said, pulling Simon from his thoughts. Simon pulled over, leaving the car in park without turning off the engine in the designated drop-off zone. Passengers around them grabbed suitcases from trunks, clustered on the walkways, and gave each other hugs goodbye. Simon spotted one pair—a college-age woman and an elderly relative—hug tightly. The young woman whispered something into her loved one’s ear, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Simon empathized. He understood.
“You ready, kiddo?” Harlow asked.
Evie hummed thoughtfully. “Got my sunglasses on, because thatalwaysworks. Got my hat. Got my hoodie they’re gonna make me take off at security, anyway. Got my flats, so I don’t have to worry about undoing a million laces, but can still run if I need to… yep. I think I’m ready.”
“And once we get inside?” Harlow asked.
Evie sighed. “Stay quiet. Stay cute. Head right to the VIP lounge.”
“Apart from the stay cute thing, sounds pretty spot-on with the normal routine.” Harlow redirected his attention to Simon. “Thank you for driving and for housing us while we were in town.”
This was it—the end. It gnawed at Simon, eating away at his resolve to stay strong. Harlow would open the door, take their bags from the back, and then be gone. The good times were over—life was about to rip them apart.
“You’re welcome.” Simon lifted the corners of his lips, but he couldn’t say he was smiling—it felt too flat and fake. “Can you text me when you get in safe?”
“Of course.”
Awkward silence set in. There were things Simon wanted to say, but with Evie in the car, it didn’t feel right to say them. Right now, Harlow was a father and a protector, not a lover. Simon would respect that. He took comfort in seeing unspoken words twitch on Harlow’s lips, heavy meaning pooled behind his eyes.
At last, Evie cleared her throat. “So, um, just so you know, I’ve got my hat and glasses on, which just so happens to be thebestcelebrity disguise in existence. Since no one ever is going to be able to tell it’s me, I’ll just step out of the van and get the bags from the back while you two, you know, have really boring adult conversations and definitelydon’tkiss each other’s faces off. Thank you for hosting us, and for being so sweet and understanding, Simon. I know that you’re totally not secretly in love with my dad or anything, but if you were, you’d have my stamp of approval. Just saying.”
Evie blew him a kiss, slid the back door open, and hopped out, leaving Simon blindsided. The shock must have shown on his face, because Harlow snorted. “You didn’t know she knew?”
“No!”
“Shep knows, too.” Harlow paused like he wanted to add something, then thought better of it. Instead, he put a hand on Simon’s thigh. “With Evie out in public, I can’t stay long.”
“I know.” It broke Simon’s heart to say it, but it was true. Harlow was needed elsewhere. Simon couldn’t make him stay. “I just…”
Pain twisted around Simon’s nerves. His sinuses opened, and the taste of saline spread across the back of his tongue.
“Text me,” Simon begged. He twisted at the hip and hooked his fingers in Harlow’s shirt, holding their bodies close, never wanting to let go. Every ragged breath he drew was laced with Harlow’s scent—subtle notes of alpha, sunshine, and memories of an ocean he had never seen. “Don’t forget.”
“I could never forget.” Harlow turned his head and pushed his lips delicately to Simon’s in a final, lingering kiss that curled Simon’s toes and brought tears to his eyes. How strange it was to be able to cry again—and even stranger to have someone to cry over. “I promise.”
“Goodbye, Harlow,” Simon whispered. A sob built behind his ribs, but he held it in. It was pain only he could feel—he didn’t want to burden Harlow with it, too.
“Goodbye?” Harlow smiled, but even his brand of sunshiny happiness could be overcast at times. His lips trembled. “It’s not goodbye. Goodbye for now, maybe, but this won’t last forever. If I have to bend time and space itself to see you again, I will. I promise. One day, youwillbe mine.”
He cupped his strong hand on Simon’s jaw and rubbed his thumb—just as calloused as it had been in Simon’s fantasies—across his lips. Then he smiled, a parting gift. It was the last smile Simon got before Harlow opened the door and left the car.
Goodbye for now.
Sights and sounds marked the moment, piecing together vivid, jagged memories that would wedge themselves forever in Simon’s mind. The impact of the car door. The flash of color from Harlow’s shirt as he passed from the front to the back of the vehicle. Thethunk!as the rear door slammed shut. Evie and Harlow, wheeling luggage behind them, on the way into the airport. Simon watched until they were behind the automatic doors, then watched for a little longer, secretly hoping that Evie might change her mind and rush back.
She didn’t.
Minutes passed. Tears fell.
Simon pressed his forehead against the steering wheel and wept.
