“You should see it in the summer, but then it’s full of people. There’s a great ice cream shop here, and a fantastic Chinese restaurant. We can try it while you’re here.”
“I’d like that.”
As soon as we’d left the house, Harvey had taken my hand with no hesitation. The old Harvey would have glanced around, hoping no one would see us, but he didn’t falter.
“The place I work is just down here. Do you want to go in?”
“And miss the chance to speak to people who know you? Of course I want to go in.”
It wasn’t far, but the virus had taken a lot out of me, and by the time we got there, I was ready for coffee and a rest.
The bell over the door jingled, and a dark-haired, middle-aged woman approached.
“Harvey? What are you doing here? Oh, good lord. It’s you.” Her hand flew to her chest, her eyes wide.
“Calm down, Steph. It’s just Killian.”
“Just Killian?” She brushed her hands down her apron and fussed with her hair. “I’m so happy to meet you.”
She stuck out her hand, but Harvey batted it away.
“Steph, please don’t make a scene. We’re just here for coffee. Killian’s still recovering.”
“He’s the reason you couldn’t come in? You’ve been holding out on me?”
“Yes and no. Killian has been ill, and I’ve been looking after him for a few days.”
“In your house?”
“No, in a tent. Of course in my house.”
Harvey led us to a table by the window. “Do you want anything else? They do a great tuna sandwich if you’re hungry.”
“I’m good. Just coffee for me.”
I stretched my legs out and watched him walk towards the counter. He looked great, much better than three years ago.
An image of him lying on the floor formed in my mind, as it often did. I didn’t think he’d meant for me to find him.
From what he’d said, he was hoping he’d never be found. Thank fuck for small mercies that I’d come home early, or I’d have been walking in to a dead body.
I shuddered, pushing the image out of my head. Such memories didn’t serve me well and had often occurred when drunk and lost at the bottom of the bottle. Looking at him now, knowing what he’d gone through, he looked fucking amazing.
“What are you smiling at?” He placed two steaming mugs of coffee on the table and sat down opposite me.
“You. I was admiring your physique.”
“Oh, stop it. I don’t have a physique. I run a little, do some yoga, but that’s about it.”
“So, you’re limber, then.”
“Oh my God. We’re back to that again.”
“I’ve got three years to catch up on.”
“Are you trying to tell me you haven’t had sex in three years?” Harvey snorted. “I don’t believe that.”
“I might have, but they meant nothing. They were a means to an end.”
