He frowns. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
I glance through the window, and for the first time in forever, the world doesn’t look so dark and cruel.
“New York, eight years ago,” I say, staring at a bird soaring across the blue horizon. “You and I were wasted in Reflex bar.”
“Good times,” he sighs.
I nod. “Yeah. They were. We were sitting next to some loved-up couple kissing at the table next to us. And do you remember what you said to me?”
The bird is joined by a buddy, and it takes me back to a conversation I once had with Harper’s mother.
“I do,” Mark says. “I said I hoped Harper found someone who looked at her like that one day. Someone who would love her and keep her safe and treat her like a princess.”
The two birds land in a tree as I turn back to my best friend.
“That day is here,” I tell him. “She found her guy.”
Mark’s face warps with shock as he folds his arms.
“Are you serious?” he gasps. “I just assumed that was some bullshit speech at the warehouse last night?”
“No bullshit,” I confirm.
“So…” He gulps. “You reallylove her?”
Fiery heat rages behind my eyes as I draw in a deep breath.
“She found her guy,” I tell him again as I reach into my pocket.
Pulling out my burner phone, I slide it across the table.
“I’m out,” I tell him. “No more late-night trips to some drug dealer’s house. No more favors that involve knocking someone’s teeth out. From now on, I’m just a businessman.”
Mark stares down at the phone he contacts me on.
“Why, Chris? Why now? After everything we’ve been through…?”
“Harper,” I tell him, sliding the chair back and standing. “I’m tired of walking a tightrope, and I refuse to let my lifestyle put her in danger. I’m done being a scorpion.”
Mark looks at my outstretched hand before shaking my palm.
“Are you going to tell Harper about her mother?” he asks me.
“Are you?” I say, releasing his hand.
He shakes his head.
“Then I won’t bring it up…but if she asks me, I’m not going to lie to her. For what it’s worth, I think it would be better coming from you.”
Mark nods.
“If you hurt my daughter, I’ll kill you.”
I smile. “Wouldn’t expect anything else, pal.”
With those words hanging in the air between us, I turn and walk through the café just as some young guy in a beanie hat bursts in through the door.
“Chris Collins?” he asks. “You’re Chris Collins, right?”
I straighten my shoulders. “Who’s asking?”
“Gavin,” he says, glancing around the cafe. “I’ve been looking for you for over a week. I heard yousort things?”
“What?” I ask.
“There’s this drug dealer dude in college who keeps threatening me,” he explains, his jaw twitching from whatever narcotics he’s taken.
I raise an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Yeah,” he says, barely able to keep still. “Big ass scary dude who runs a gang or something. Says I owe him money. I wondered if you could…you know…make him disappear? I got cash. I can give you whatever once you deal with him.”
Mark chuckles in the background, and I sigh heavily as I walk past the young man.
“You got the wrong guy,” I say, pushing open the door. “Pay what you owe and stop taking drugs!”
Pulling out my cigarettes as I march towards my car, I light one and blow the smoke into the afternoon air.
And as I squint up at the early afternoon sun, the bird I saw a moment ago circles above me.
I’ve never believed in signs, but maybe Harper’s mother is sending me her blessing.
I hear you, Alice. I hear you.
I know what I have to do…
THIRTY-FOUR
Harper
One Week Later
“It’s too early,” I tell Chris. “I’m a student. We don’tdo mornings. And I don’t like elevators.”
Standing behind me, his hands are covering my eyes as I hear the doors ping open.
“Then you’re going to need to work on your fitness,” he says.
“What?”
He chuckles. “You’ll see.”
“I’ve had enough ‘surprises’ to last me a lifetime,” I huff, but he doesn’t reply.
We walk in silence for the next thirty seconds, and then I hear the creak of a door opening.
“You’re not going to tie me up in another abandoned warehouse, are you?”
Chris laughs. “I will if you don’t shut up.”
“Kinky,” I giggle.
Honestly, this past week has been so amazing. Outside of the countless hours we’ve spent in my bedroom, Chris took me to the zoo, we ate dinner in a five-star restaurant, and yesterday he took me to the field where I had the picnic with my parents.
He somehow restored that last magical memory I had before my mother died, filling it with color and so much life. Chris also promised that every day would be a happy memory from now on, and he doesn’t break promises.
“Right,” he says, halting our walk. “How’s your memory?”
I smirk. “We’ve discussed this already. It’s better than yours, old man.”
I laugh when Chris slaps my ass.
“Okay, smartass,” he says. “The last Christmas before your mom died, she asked you to write a wish list for your gifts.”
I sigh. “Yeah. I remember. I asked for a new bike and some hair curlers because Maria’s were amazing.”
“And?” he asks.
“And what?”
He lifts two hands to my head and my knees still buckle whenever he touches me. I hope that lasts forever.
“What was number one on your list that Christmas?” he asks.
Thinking back to ten-year-old me sitting on my bed under my lamp, I watch myself writing and smile.
“It’s silly,” I say, blushing.
“What was it?” he whispers.
I bite my lip.
“To live in the sky like the birds,” I mumble.
“Yeah,” he says, pulling off my blindfold.
“What the…?” I gasp, squinting at him as he backs away.
Chris points out in front of him. “Look.”
Frowning, I follow his finger to the glass wall and throw a hand to my mouth.
As the sun rises, the first rays of light reflect off the metal spires in the distance. The city shimmers with hues of gold, red, orange, and pink, with clouds above that float like molten bronze.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.