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“Party?” Harri asked, perking up.
“Booze?” Larri followed suit.
“We should clean up first.” Bronwyn frowned. “Look at the state of this place.”
Andrew covered his face. “Sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, Andrew,” I said. “And…guess what?”
“What?” He splayed his fingers so he could peek through them, even though his hands were see-through.
“You don’t have to worry about that happening again,” I reminded him.
A smile of wonder began to replace his embarrassment, and he dropped his hands to wring them together. “It still hasn’t sunk in properly.”
“Which is all the more reason to celebrate!” Ryan said. “Harold, stop peeking through the window and grab the broom!”
“HAROLD!” Bronwyn shrieked.
A ghostly squeal of terror sounded as Harold raced away and Bronwyn followed, raising her spoon high.
“Now the party’s really getting started!” Larri laughed.
“Let me go get Mr. Jangles and me crew.” Barth flourished his hat in the air. “We’ll party until the sun rises and keep going ’til it sets on the next day! And the next. And the next!”
“Maybe just until bedtime!” I called after him. “Oh dear.”
“I could use a drink,” Ted mumbled.
Popty detached himself from the carpet and reformed into his waiter shape, knocking Harri and Larri out of the way as he raced to get it with a PING!
Ted watched him in bemusement before he followed, calling, “Wait, let me see your options. Do you have umbrellas and olives?”
Music started up from the old gramophone in the corner and Harri and Larri started waltzing around the room, doing a circle around Andrew before sweeping him up into a three-way waltz.
It was as chaotic as you would expect a three-way waltz to be, and I laughed. My heart was close to bursting as I watched them be happy. And then it stuttered and nearly stopped when arms wrapped around me. Lips landed on my neck. A nose brushed against my ear and I leaned back into Ryan’s chest, closing my eyes.
I didn’t want to think about what came next. I couldn’t when I was so happy. I just wanted to hold on to that happiness for a few moments longer, enjoying the gift of an illusion that this would always be my life.
Friends happy.
Arms around me.
My heart full to the brim.
“Looks like things are really working out,” Ryan whispered.
I smiled, before it fell slightly. Except one. He’s not yours. I covered it up and turned to face him. “Weirdly, wonderfully working out.”
“Oh, twice the alliteration. It really is a celebration,” Ryan teased, cupping my bum lightly in his hands.
I gazed into his eyes, the flecks of blue like beautiful ocean waves. “Thank you for everything.”
“You showed me a whole other world, Owain Evans. There are no thanks needed.”
He leaned down and took my lips in a kiss that made my breath catch and my heart leap.
Settle, I said to it. And please hold yourself together. I couldn’t have it shattering when we both knew the end would come.
