Evie | H.S |

8. Two consenting adults

Just a short little update. Thanks for the love 🫶🏼

"We haven't had fun like that in ages" Tommy reflected, ever the gentleman moving forward to light my cheeky cigarette.

"We might have got a lot wrong, but that kinda shit we always got so right" I laughed lightly, referencing our performance. It was the perfect analogy of us - fun chaos that was fleeting. It was always fleeting. Tommy inhaled deeply with a melancholy smile and paused in thought.

Ah don't do it Tommy.

"I think deep down we are right, Eve."

My lips twisted into a screwed pout, trying to absorb his statement. "Maybe in another lifetime, Tom" I told him wryly.

The last time I let myself slip back into him, I swore it would be the last. In an alternative universe, maybe we could make it work but putting any hope towards it in this lifetime was insanity at this point.

"Yeah, maybe" he said quietly, taking another drag. He kept his eyes lazer focused on his boots, kicking about some gravel.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

Footsteps and a husky voice of northern drawl interrupted us - but probably at a good time. Harry lingered beside me, his green eyes softened and coy.

"Not at all" Tommy spoke up quickly before I could, his reception now rather cool and I think Harry could sense that.

"I think everyone's wrapping up and ready to head back now" he told us.

"Yeah, ok" I smiled, throwing down my cigarette I stamped out the ember and moved to follow Tommy back inside, but Harry then gently grabbed my arm, sending a jolt of electricity through my body.

"Hey" he spoke softly, "can we go grab a drink?"

Don't do it, Evie.

I knew what I was like. It would be far easier to go ahead and say yes but the repercussions I'd go on to regret. I shouldn't. I couldn't. Could I?

I sucked my lips in between my teeth, weighing up my choices here. He must have sensed some hesitation because he continued and pressed with a gentle "please."

"Sure" I sighed and in an almost comical act, he sort of waved his hand and within a few seconds a black van pulled up.

What was I doing?

I hadn't even told anyone I was leaving yet.

"They know we're going" he answered me intuitively and that derailed me a little.

"Can you read my thoughts or something?" I chuckled with a suspiciously raised brow.

"No I can't" he murmured, hand at the small of my back, leading me to the van.  "I don't think I can read you very well at all."

The van only drove us for 10 minutes or so before we pulled up outside of an industrial looking brick building. There were a fair few bodies spilled out onto the sidewalk. The two security guys got out first, opening the door and ushering us to a side entrance and through a back storeroom. As we reached a stairwell the security backed off a few paces and Harry motioned for me to continue. I trailed up the few flights, completely unsure of where I was going or what I was walking in to. Reaching the top of the stairs, I pushed open the heavy emergency exit door and entered the unfamiliar space.

It was a small rooftop bar, it must have been closed just for us. A sole bartender ogled in my direction, but I know it wasn't me her eyes were on. The lights from the tall buildings all around us sparkled and if you listened hard enough, you could hear the low buzz of the city below. Harry briefly moved to the bar and soon returned.