I track every graceful step the woman takes and tug on Angel’s hand. Everything happens in slow motion as we both watch the stunning woman shift into a tall, broad-shouldered man.
The giant strolls past the pixies snapping at each other, and a single brush of his hand sends the women spiraling into full-blown hair-pulling madness.
Angel snickers behind me, clearly entertained by the shenanigans, but my eyes don’t stray from the man slipping into a dark corner booth, draped in a leather jacket.
It’s been two years, but the man lounging in that booth, smirking as he watches the chaos unfold with amused, mischievous eyes, is someone I’ll never forget. The club isdrowning in a crimson red hue, but I’d recognize Harvey in a crowd of thousands… even with my eyes closed.
That’s my best friend.
Harvey takes a slow sip of his drink, running a hand through his hair every few seconds like it’s an impulse. He had the same nervous tell when we were kids. I guess some things don’t change.
The sight makes me smile. As kids, Harvey never made an effort to style his hair. And now that his mom isn’t here to nag him, the mop on his head is overgrown and messy.
He’s really here. After two years of not knowing if he was even alive, I can’t believe I’m standing this close to him.
Suddenly, Harvey shakes his head and rubs his palms down his thighs. His eyes search the dance floor with a flicker of desperation. His Divine must’ve sensed my presence.
I hold my breath, and I wait for him to look in my direction, but instead, Harvey clamps his eyes shut. He mutters something under his breath and looks away. My heart drops when I realize he’s scolding himself for even entertaining the idea that I might be here.
Angel squeezes my shoulder, asking me to take a deep breath.
I can’t spiral into the what-ifs anymore. I need to face him. I’ve blamed myself for what happened to Harvey for so long, and if he feels the same… then he deserves the chance to curse out the person who ruined his life.
I square my shoulders and start walking toward Harvey. My steps pick up pace, but I freeze when Harvey turns to his left, and I finally see him in better lighting.
His face.
A chill runs down my spine at the realization that I’ve only seen his face with awful purple bruises in the last ten years. He looks healthy… more than healthy. Even sitting down, he resembles a small mountain.
Angel nudges me forward so I’ll stop stalling. I don’t let my knees give out until I’m standing in front of Harvey, armscrossed over my chest tightly like armor.
“I see you’re still causing chaos for your amusement.”
The moment Harvey’s eyes meet mine, the glass slips from his hand and falls to the floor, shattering into a thousand pieces.
“Monkey?”
Harvey goes pale like he’s seeing a ghost.
Once upon a time, we thought death was our only way out of that dungeon, so I might as well be a ghost for him.
Harvey keeps staring, his pale skin slowly turning red. He blinks—once, twice—then squeezes his eyes and looks away like I would disappear before his next breath. Spoiler alert… I don’t.
Then, because he’s a complete dumbass, he slaps himself. When I still don’t turn into smoke after the second hit, he finally jumps to his feet and throws himself on me.
“Monkey!”
Harvey buries his face in my hair, breathing me in and holding me like he’s still afraid I’ll disappear. I clutch him just as tightly, holding back tears as I feel his shoulders shaking. Every tear he sheds that drops to my neck threatens to rip my heart to pieces.
I can’t believe I’m holding him. And for once, I didn’t have to sneak into his cell to do it.
Harvey refuses to let me out of his tight embrace, even when my lungs start screaming for air.
“I can’t breathe, you giant asshole,” I wheeze out.
“Stop being a baby and let me crush you a little longer.” His voice cracks, and I give up trying to get his paws off me.
“I thought I lost you. I-I thought I’d never get to see you again. I’m so… I’m sorry, Nevaeh. I’m so sorry, I should’ve done m-more…”
