Page 27 of Joey

He inhaled and exhaled, then checked around him before pulling out. He had a long journey ahead of him, but the least he could do was let Ani know he was on his way.

“Call Ani,” he told the car, and his phone rang through the speakers.

“Joey?”

“Hey, Ani,” he breathed.

“Are you okay? I wasn’t expecting to hear from you.”

“Have you seen the news?”

Ani was quiet for a moment, and Joey assumed she was checking the sites. “Ah, they found you.” A woman of few words, though they were always on point.

“It won’t take them long to find me.” He sighed. “I’m on my way home.”

“You are?” She sounded hopeful.

“It’s time.”

“I’m glad.”

Joey wasn’t so sure he was, but he didn’t comment. “It’s going to take me a good few hours to get there. Can you keep it quiet for now?”

“Of course.”

“I’m sure the vultures will hover around again soon. If they’re not already.”

“Have you spoken to anyone else?”

“No, and I don’t plan to. Not yet.”

Ani sighed. “I’m glad you’ll be back for the funeral.”

Joey didn’t reply, not wanting to think about it. “I’ll call you when I’m close.”

He hung up after saying goodbye and focused on the road. He didn’t put any music on to distract him. Instead, he let the images of the past week flow through him. He couldn’t believe it had been such a short time. There was no way he could ever repay Ethan enough for what he’d given him in those few days together. But he would still try. Once he’d got himself sorted, he would make it up to Ethan. He didn’t know how, but he’d try his hardest.

****

Seven hours later, he drove through the familiar streets of London towards home—a place he’d not seen for three weeks. He’d stopped for an hour at a service station, buying a drink to tide him over for the rest of the journey and hiding in his car in case anyone recognised him again. And if he’d spent most of that time staring at Ethan’s number on his phone screen, no one needed to know.

He wasn’t sure whether the reporters would be there, as it was closing in on eleven o’clock at night, but he wouldn’t put it past them. After all, the city that never sleeps has nothing on celebrity life.

Holding his breath, he rounded the corner to Life in Ink and exhaled when no one waited outside. The shop itself was on the ground and first floor of a four-storey building. The upper two floors belonged to him. Well, the entire building did, but the top two floors were his haven. No one was allowed inside without his express permission.

Parking next to his designated spot, in which his own car sat, he let the engine idle while he settled his nerves. The slightly rough noise of the engine would most likely annoy his neighbours, so after a few minutes, he switched it off. The silence within the car would break the moment he opened the car door, and the sounds from the businesses around him would infiltrate his bubble.

Before he did that, he checked his phone. He’d received no messages or calls from Ethan when he stopped at the services, and he shouldn’t expect any, but he couldn’t stop the hope from flaring inside him. But no messages lit his screen.

He sighed, shoved the phone back into his pocket and opened the door, the streetlamp above casting shadows. As expected, laughter and merriment from the surrounding bars filled the air. Despite the chill of the evening, some patrons of those businesses appeared to be making use of the outdoor areas. Most of the time, it didn’t bother him because he was busy working or not even present. That night, it grated on him, though it shouldn’t. They were entitled to be happy. It wasn’t their fault that Joey had suffered a loss that tore at the fabric of his life.

No, that was Joey’s fault. For not seeing that Elliott was in pain. For not checking on him sooner that day. For not making sure he was okay after the previous evening.

“Joey?” a soft voice said.

He glanced up. Ani stood a few feet away. Her green hair was ear-length on one side and shaved on the other, and tattoos peeked out from beneath her vest top, along her arms and up her chest and neck. Any other day, Joey would tease her about her pint size, but he didn’t feel particularly humorous that night.

“Hey,” he said.

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