Like it was the most natural thing in the world, Glit moved from handshake to hug, giving Damien a chance to conceal their transaction.
“Just in case you wanted to make one final strike,” Glit whispered when he was close. “It’s on the house.”
“You’re fucking crazy,” Damien whispered back through a laugh.
“But only in the best way.” Glit broke from the hug and stepped away, his eyes bright with the same mischievous humor that his lovers thrived on. “See you again soon.”
The only Dad left on the wharf yet to say goodbye was Gwynn. He’d parted from Alex, his hands tucked casually in his pockets while the wind billowed his shirt. Guilt churned in Damien’s stomach.
Gwynn didn’t know.
Wouldn’t know.
Couldneverknow.
Not if they wanted to stay friends.
“So, this is goodbye.” Gwynn stepped forward. The sun shone in his dark hair and glinted off the lenses of his glasses. Over the last several days, he’d neglected to shave—his dark stubble was on the verge of being too long. One day, decades from now, would Matthew look like him? Damien couldn’t imagine it. While they shared the same dark features, Matthew was tender where Gwynn was tough, naive where Gwynn was wise. They shared the same heartfelt approach to life, but where Gwynn had been shaped by harsh circumstance, Matthew was still untouched.
Damien could keep him safe from life.
He could keep him happy. Sheltered. Pure.
The thought made goodbye even harder. Damien swallowed an uncomfortable lump that had been rising in his throat. Why was he so hung up on this? Matthew was forbidden fruit—he’d taken a bite and been tainted, and now he’d live with the knowledge of what he’d done for the rest of his life. The thing that never should have begun was over. He needed to move the hell on.
“Goodbye for now,” Damien corrected. He held out his hand. “Not goodbye forever. Don’t mistake my absence for surrender—the glitter war isn’t over yet.”
Gwynn smirked, digging the knife further into Damien’s heart. “Oh, I know.”
With gusto, Gwynn clasped his hand with Damien’s. Apop!echoed through the wharf. Fine rainbow glitter exploded from the gaps between their hands, showering Gwynn and Damien both. Startled, Gwynn jumped back, but it was too late—the damage had been done. Glitter landed in his hair and stuck to his shirt. It wedged itself into the gap between the frames of his glasses and his lenses. Damien wasn’t spared, but seeing Gwynn sparkle was worth it.
For a minute there was stunned silence, then TD burst into contagious laughter. It spread through the group like wildfire, consuming each of them until Gwynn and Damien were laughing, too.
“Get your ass out of here,” Gwynn grumbled in good humor, swiping a hand toward the ferry. “If you stay, it’s on—New York’s the only place you’ll be safe.”
Damien winked and backed onto the ramp. “I’ll see you guys online. Don’t go too crazy without me.”
“Without you?” Harley asked a moment before Damien bumped into him. “Never.”
Damien spun around to face him. Like usual, Harley was all sunshine smiles and positivity. It was impossible not to smile back. They shared a quick hug that left Harley glittering before Damien took back custody of his suitcase.
“See you soon, Knot,” Harley said with a terse nod. “We’ll be waiting in the chat for you. If the connection holds, maybe we can FaceTime while you’re waiting in the airport.”
“I’m sure the TSA will adore all our talks of war and threats of bodily harm.” Damien ascended the ramp, dragging his suitcase behind him. “TD’s going to get me detained.”
“Will not!” TD protested from the wharf.
With a final tug to get his suitcase over the top of the ramp, Damien arrived on the deck. The second he did, the operators swept past him and hurried into action. There was no going back now.
Ramp up, ferry unmoored, Damien crossed his arms on the railing and watched the distance between himself and his friends grow. His gaze drifted between the couples, never focusing on one set point for long. While he knew they’d meet again, leaving Fiji early was a defeat that would sting for weeks. The monster that was his career had sunk its claws into him and drawn blood, and the wounds wouldn’t easily heal.
Melancholy, Damien let a sigh out through his nose and was about to head into the central cabin when an abnormality onshore caught his eye. Someone else had joined the group.
Matthew.
He stood at the back, blocked almost entirely from view by xV and Mal. The stark contrast between them broke what little remained of Damien’s heart. Where xV and Mal were glowing, Matthew’s skin looked sallow and his eyes sunken. Heartbreak quivered on his lips.
He couldn’t say anything, but he’d come to say goodbye.
