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Then I felt it. Three taps on the back of my hand. It was so familiar, and yet not. There was a pause, and then it happened again. Thumb taps on the back of my hand. Harris. It was a stupid game we used to play when we were holding hands. He would tap me a number of times on the back of my hand with his thumb, and I would squeeze his hand back the same number of times. It had been so long since we played that ridiculous game.
The tapping happened again, and that, along with the recollection was enough to calm my hysterical brain a little. I opened my eyes and blinked rapidly. I was shocked when I saw the dark evening sky above me.
“Evie?” A raspy voice gasped, sounding breathless. It wasn’t Soloman’s voice. It was too soft, and he would never call me by my name.
Then clarity came to me, and a part of me wished it hadn’t as I realised where I was and what I had done.
“Harris?” I whimpered as embarrassment and shame filled me.
“I’m here. It’s me. It’s just me,” he panted.
“Oh God,” I squeaked as tears filled my eyes, blinding me. “I’m so s-sorry.”
“Sshh now. I’m gonna let you go, okay, then I’m gonna pick you up. There’s a ton of snow and you’re only wearing a t-shirt,” he reminded me. And my shame got worse as I realised he was laid in the snow in order to stop me. How long had we even been there? He probably had hypothermia.
I gave one shaky nod and he released his legs, which were wrapped around mine, his body keeping every part of me away from the cold, wet snow beneath us.
He released his arms from around me as he sat up, then he slid his hands around my waist and effortlessly lifted me into his arms as he got to his feet.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” he whispered as he held me to his front and studied my face. “I didn’t know what else to do. Did I hurt you?” His eyes were frantic as he looked me over, and I could feel his hurt and panic at what I had forced him to do.
“Please…” I sniffled. “Don’t say sorry, Harris. This was a-all me, and I’m the one who needs to say sorry. You didn’t hurt me, but I know I hurt you.”
“I’m all good. Let’s get you inside, okay? It’s freezing out here.”
I nodded, too shaken up and devastated by what I had done to say anything. It wasn’t until Harris turned and started towards the house that I looked up and saw Nick, Kailan, and Aleks all stood on the steps watching us.
“Oh God,” I whimpered again as I realized Kailan was holding something to his nose, which was obviously bleeding.
“He’s okay. We’re all okay,” Harris tried to soothe me, but it didn’t help. I was a maniac! I had lost my God damned mind this time and I had hurt a guy I hadn’t even met yet.
Harris carried me inside past the guys, and I just sobbed harder when we got into the living room and I saw the coffee table laid in pieces on the floor.
Harris set me down on the sofa and moved to grab a blanket, but I jumped to my feet and swayed a little as dizziness consumed me.
“Ev, sit down before you fall down,” Harris said as he turned to look at me, grabbing my arm to steady me.
“No. I…I have to go. This was a mistake,” I cried as I pulled from his hold and backed away. “I’m…I’m so sorry.” I turned to where the other guys were stood near the door. “I…I didn’t mean to…to…” I waved a hand at Kailan, then down at the remains of the beautiful coffee table. “I’m a fucking mess. I’ll go. I…I’ll just go.”
“Evie, no,” Harris sighed. He sounded exhausted and who could blame the poor guy?
I moved for the door again, but Aleks stepped in my path, straightening his glasses as he stared me down.
“No,” he said when I tried to get around him.
“Excuse me?” I asked as I sent him a glare.
“I said no, you’re not leaving because you’re embarrassed. You have nothing to be embarrassed about,” he told me with a firmness and fire I hadn’t expected from him. He didn’t look the type with his preppy, pretty boy looks.
“I’m leaving because I’m crazy and I shouldn’t be around other people!” I cried.
“Ha!” Nick erupted as he pushed up from where he lant against the wall. “You’re in good company with us if you’re crazy,” he added, then he strode past me towards the kitchen.
I watched him go, then met Harris’s eyes. He had come closer to me, but was still maintaining a distance.
“He’s not wrong,” Kailan chuckled, and I turned to look at him. He pulled the Kleenex away from his nose and I was relieved to see it had stopped bleeding and didn’t look broken.
“Are you okay?” I asked shakily.
