“Thank you for all your support, Kim,” I said.
“You are so welcome,” Kim responded.
“I just can’t believe after all these years, and how I treated you, you are still willing to help me.”
“What happened between us wasn’t your fault, Harry. Your dad died.”
“I know, but I could have handled it better.”
“It was just bad timing, that’s all.”
I was staring into Kim’s eyes, and so she into mine. The mischievous side of me wanted to suggest running away together, but I thought it was a step too far, even for a joke. When I first saw her face again after all those years, it suddenly brought back the feelings I had for her. In a way, I don’t think they ever left. I just buried them deep down, along with all my other feelings, positive or otherwise. I didn’t realise just how strong my feelings were back then. Just as I was almost getting lost in the fantasy, Kim’s hand slowly crept towards mine and gripped it tightly.
She smiled, and her full lips parted slowly as they made their way towards mine. As soon as our lips touched, the chemistry and attraction of bygone years exploded inside both of us. The passion started to build, and suddenly, I found myself almost frantically undressing Kim as she unclothed me. I paused for a moment to lock the office door, and then I did something I hadn’t done for a while. I made love.
I thought I would have felt guilty about it, but I didn’t. Not one bit. Emotionally, I had been all over the place in the weeks leading up to that moment, but I was feeling something I barely recognised because it had been that long. Happiness. Kim felt it, too; she giggled and smiled as she got dressed again.
“I’m definitely getting fired. I’ve not even been here a week, and I’ve been late, rang in sick, and now this,” I joked.
“You’re getting sacked? I’ve just slept with my boss on my second day,” Kim laughed.
I felt cheated that the happiness had only lasted a few short minutes before I realised that I had to go home. The smile must have slipped from my face because Kim noticed my mood change, and her smile faded, too.
“Where do we go from here?” Kim asked.
“I don’t know. You don’t fancy running away together, do you?” I smiled.
“I’m being serious.”
“Me too.”
“Are you going to tell Amelia?” she asked sullenly.
“I’ve just got to wait those two weeks. Then I’m leaving her.”
Kim came over to me and gave me another kiss and an amorous hug. We stayed like that for what felt like twenty minutes. I looked outside the windows and saw the city plunge into darkness; we had been here for hours. I didn’t know what I’d tell Amelia, and for the first time, I didn’t care either. Why should I? The next fortnight was about survival, nothing more.
“Do you believe in fate, Harry?” Kim asked.
“If you’d asked me a week ago, I’d have said it was nonsense,” I replied.
“And what about now?”
“I believe in fate,” I smirked.
XVII
THE STAR
AMELIA
My heart had stopped beating and hadn’t produced a single beat since I’d said Harry’s name. The shadowy figure of a man remained at the door in total silence as I edged towards him anxiously with my shaking hand outstretched.
“Please, don’t freak out,” the figure whispered softly.
“Take your hood off,” I said.
The man reached to his head, removed the hood slowly and turned to me. He had certainly been resurrected, but it wasn’t Harry.
“Steve?” Kim asked.
“Yes. Calm down, ladies, please. I can explain everything,” Steve said gently.
For a few moments, I thought it was all a deliberate lie. Even though I’d buried him, I somehow convinced myself that he could have walked through that door. Any feelings of hope or happiness were quickly overridden by bafflement and quiet anger. There was still a chance, though. Maybe he managed to fake the whole thing as a cunning plan to escape the Broadheads. He wouldn’t have been able to get in touch with me either. It would have put me in danger. Or maybe this whole thing was a tactical ploy he’d come up with to remove me from his life. It was the only way out for him, and he knew I wouldn’t let him go easily.
One thing was for certain: Steve wasn’t leaving this room until he had divulged all the secrets he had been harbouring. He had already got away with that once, and I wouldn’t let him disappear again until he spilt the beans and confessed every single thing he knew about Harry. If, by some divine miracle, Harry was still breathing, I would force Steve to take me to him.
“We are calm, Steve. What the hell are you doing here?” I said impatiently.
“This is Harry’s flat. He gave me a key, so I’ve been staying here since my house went up in flames.”
“Have you seen him?”
“Who?”
“Harry!” I shouted.
