And I thought I'd gotten away with it. Until my gaze panned the room, landing on my sister glaring at me from the back of the crowd. Arms folded, eyes narrowed, I knew straight away she saw through it.
With her shock of silver hair, purple eyes, and elfish complexion, Jazz always stood out. And being six-foot-five in four-inch heels and a rippling gold dress in a pub filled withpeople in shirts and jeans helped. They circled her for selfies and autographs, so I could slip away and avoid her.
I knew Jazz would pester me as soon as she grabbed me. She hated the comparison but she definitely had Mum's tenacity.
Molly jumped down from the chair, throwing herself into my arms, her beer splashing onto the floor as she burst out laughing.
She pulled back; her face shining as I met her with an equal expression, a dark pit forming in my stomach as I saw she was going to kiss me.
Even after a week, my lips were still fresh with the taste of Dom.
There were too many people looking to avoid it. The second she kissed me, I pulled back, her face dropping, quickly replaced with confusion. I looked at her intensely, searching for something, anything that I could respond to her with. I didn't know why I was still trying when I knew what I really wanted.
“Harry?” Molly furrowed her brow as I released her, keeping my body relaxed, my pose casual. That smile was still on my face, but I was close to bolting.
“I‘m still not feeling well; I’ll be back in a second,” I sounded so fake.
Molly still looked confused, and a wave of anger rolled through me. She still wanted things to be the same, even after all that. Even after everything she had done, she expected me to just fall back into our old pattern and carry on like nothing had changed.
Everything had changed. And it took Dom fucking it all up for me to see that.
I got halfway through the crowd before Jazz shot out an arm.
“Hey,” she forced me to stop. “What’s going on?”
I met her gaze, my real emotions showing through. “I’m really tired, Jazz.”
“Come on, it’s me. You can talk to me, you know that.”
I turned to her, looking at her openness and her concern. I knew she really meant it, and if it wasn’t a party specifically for me, she would have dragged me out of there, taken me to a quieter VIP bar, and bullied the story out of me. My sister was one of those obstinate people who forced her love on you, whether you wanted it or not.
“I’m fine. Really.” I tried to pull out of her grasp, but she wouldn’t let me go. I knew the uptight Fischer act would never work on her either.
“Right,” she said, her face softening as she eased her hold. “Where’s Dom?” she asked. I flinched back, my heart thudding. I’d been exposed so easily, and it only took two words.
“I need to go.” I yanked my arm back and nearly stumbled.
“Harry, please.” Her hurt beat from her, but I needed space. If we were alone, I would have let her see more of my pain, but I couldn’t do it when people were watching.
This is enough for you?
Dom’s voice was clear in my mind. I swallowed as I forced myself inside the bathroom, my heart racing. It felt like he saidthose words years ago, a lifetime, before everything changed so dramatically that I had no idea who I was anymore.
Harry
Alaugh echoed from outside the door, and I jumped into a cubicle, not wanting to be caught moping like an idiot in the men’s toilets.
I just needed five minutes to gather myself before I returned. That was all.
It would be an awful thing to break up with Molly at our own engagement party, but would it be any worse than what she had done to me the night she left? I’d forced us into that situation by not speaking up, and it would be even crueler of me.
Everything was ruined, and I clutched my phone in my shaking hand, willing him to call.
I just wanted to hear Dom's voice again. Just once. I’d stopped myself from listening to the last voicemail he left me, but he was still sending me texts.
As I pulled my phone from my jacket pocket, my apprehension flickered to life. It was the same feeling I’d had each time I was alone in bed, waiting for his message that would start the night.
What was I actually doing to myself? Because this entire month had just been filled with lies, and the strongest truth I knew was one that was too painful to face.