Sage

31

Harry is letting me drive his car.

Those are words I'd never thought would be replaying in my head in pure disbelief as I switched lanes on the highway, glancing over at him to see that he was in the same position he was just ten minutes ago; hurriedly tapping on his phone as he bit on the inside of his cheek.

I had no idea who he was texting, but I knew it had something to do with the two officers that randomly showed up asking me about Danny going missing.

I hadn't even got a chance to process what was said before Harry cut them off and told them no.

After they clarified that they just wanted to clear up some confusion regarding Danny, which I still couldn't wrap my head around, Harry didn't budge. He was adamant about not speaking with them and told them that we had somewhere to be, which we didn't. The officers only nodded and allowed us to leave but not before handing me a small card and letting me know they will be in touch.

In touch for what?

How did they know Danny was even here? How long had he been missing? Was I a suspect? Why the fuck is Harry typing so loud?

My hands trembled as I inhaled a sharp breath through my nose, telling myself that this really was just a mix-up, but I couldn't ignore the gut-wrenching truth that clouded my mind: Harry was the last person I saw with him, and now he's acting odd, panicked even.

I told myself he'd just scared Danny away but thinking of it now, I fucking shot him. Danny will do anything to make me seem like the abusive one in our relationship so how come he went back home as if nothing happened? Surely he would have gone to my mom and Elijah to snitch, something he was familiar with whenever we got into arguments. He had a way of flipping the narrative and not only gaslighting me, but my family. And they believed it every time.

So why didn't he?

Could I really allow myself to believe that Harry scared him off so badly that he left town? Dropping out from getting his masters and just running away?

I recall the post he'd posted on Instagram and it only confuses me further, making my leg begin to bounce as I get off on an exit and immediately stop at a red light. I glance at harry, and he's still tapping away at his phone, his movements becoming harsher and angrier as he curses under his breath.

I grab my phone from the cup holder and unlock it, but Harry snaps his head up with furrowed burrows, "What are you- no, not while you're driving- no," He grabs my phone and tucks it back into the cup holder and I narrow my eyes at him, starting to become irritated with how he's acting.

"We're at a fucking red light," I gesture forward, "I just need to check something, and it's my phone, not yours," I grab the phone back.

"This is my car, Eliana, and I said no. Focus on the fuckin' road," He snaps. We stare at each other for a few moments, me genuinely trying to figure out why this flip suddenly switched in him but I secretly know. He's gotten himself worked up.

Harry motions toward the now green light and I press my lips together, placing the phone back in the holder and looking straight ahead as I drive and he begins to tap again.

The air in the car has gotten heavy and I hated to sound so cliche but Harry really wasn't acting like himself.

He was the usual dick I've grown to know but he's never actually worried or scared me the way he's doing now.

He knows something about Danny.

When we get back to his condo, Harry is displeased to find a couple of paparazzi outside, swarming him with questions about why the detectives were at his workplace. I have no idea how they manage to move so quickly but it only fuels my stress, my heartbeat quickens in natural panic as they begin to snap pictures, making my brows furrow and my face tighten in a grimace.