Page 33 of The Last Dance

‘It recently came in.’ Mackenzie, the store clerk who I know far too well since I’m in here every week, smiles.

‘You need mystery?’ I ask Ambri. ‘Close your eyes.’

‘Ugh!’ She giggles, closing her eyes and holding open her arms ready to receive whatever is coming her way.

Mackenzie walks around the counter with the bag of records I bought along with the lifesize cardboard Billy Idol cut-out they happened to come across. They’ve been instructed long ago to call me with anything Infusion or Billy Idol because I know Ambri is obsessed and adores anything she finds that has to do with either of them. When they called me with this I couldn’t pass it up. I bought her some vintage Idol records and the cut-out. Right now, the only thing I want to do is see her face when she opens her eyes.

I set it in front of her, stepping away from it so she’s face to face with him.

‘OK.’

She bursts into giggles when her eyes open. ‘Oh, my God! Look at him!’ She steps closer to inspect him, finally glancing over at me with the biggest smile. ‘This probably wasn’t your best idea.’

‘And why’s that?’

‘Because now all I’m gonna want to do is hang out at home and stare at him. Maybe I’ll bring him to visit you sometimes when I come over.’

‘You are exactly that weird.’

‘I don’t know how you find this stuff…’ she hugs me, momentarily laying her head on my chest ‘… but I love ya for it. Thank you.’

*

‘Did I love her then?’

‘Henry,whoare you talking to?’

I glance over. Ben is standing in the bar doorway, a confused look on his face. I said that out loud and I didn’t even realize it.

‘We’re headed upstairs.’ He walks out, standing next to me on the sidewalk. ‘And the answer to that question is probably yes. You all right?’

‘I’m seeing her again – everywhere I go, she’s there. The memories come at me from out of nowhere like hornets from a disturbed nest.’

Ben shrugs. ‘That is beautiful, pure poetry.’ He laughs. ‘Tell her to go away.’ He leans into me. ‘She’s just a figment of your imagination, ya know.’ He whispers as if saying it out loud will make him sound as crazy as I’m feeling. He knows about my uh… visions. I don’t keep a lot from Ben.

I shake my head with a sigh. ‘I wish it was that easy.’

‘You guys coming?’ Noah and Claire walk out the doors and towards the entrance around the corner to the ballroom where the show is.

‘Right behind ya, babe.’ Ben grabs my shoulder. ‘You’re gonna have to pull yourself together at some point and figure out how to let her go. I think it’s time.’

I nod. ‘Good advice.’

‘It’sgreatadvice. I wish your stubborn ass would actuallytakeit.’

I glance back at the record store as Ben and I head towards the Crystal’s main entrance. I can actually feel my heart breaking all over again as I walk away from a memory I can never relive. An Ambri I might never be able to surprise like that again.

*

The room is packed when we walk in. Despite that, I spot her almost instantly. She and Karmen are walking from a side door, following the edge of the room and making their way towards us.

‘Thank yousomuch.’ Ambri’s voice carries to me as we walk towards them, starting a clouding in my head almost immediately.

‘Touché on the hot girlfriend, btw…’ Ben elbows me with a laugh.

I nod.

‘Any time,’ Karmen says. I look away from Ben, back towards the girls. ‘And remember you have my number and I’m completely willing to help, so don’t be a stranger.’ Karmen hugs her; Ambri looks stiff as a board as she does. She’s not really the hugging type, especially for virtual strangers.

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