Page 85 of Fever Dream
“What? No,” I say, immediately closing down that line of thought.
“It might be for the best, Case,” he argues. “At least … for now.”
“Just, I can’t think straight right now,” I say. “Let’s not make any big decisions right away. I’ll call Sonny to come get you out of the house. We can decide next steps when we have a better understanding of the full picture.”
Harrison just nods but something has gone out in his eyes, and it pains me even more than the potential discovery of our relationship. But I can’t let it worry me right now with more urgent things to deal with.
I pull myself to standing and step into a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. Then I pick up my phone and call Sonny, Harrison’s watchful eyes on me the whole time.
“Casey?” Sonny says as soon as he picks up. “Are you okay, man? I’ve seen all the news stories this morning. It’s hectic.”
“Yeah, I’m okay,” I sigh, ignoring my own lie. “Can you come over and help us out? I think there’s paps out on my driveway and … Harrison’s here. I need to get him out.”
“I’m on my way,” Sonny says immediately. I love that he doesn’t ask questions, just steps right into action like I knew he would.
Harrison moves into action too as soon as I tell him Sonny is coming but it’s like we’re suddenly two strangers escaping an awkward hookup. He avoids my eyes, and I probably don’t do anything to reassure him either as I pace the bedroom floor.
I go downstairs to wait for Sonny, confirming that there are indeed a bunch of strangers with zoom camera lenses congregating on my driveway. They’re just standing around, not actively doing anything but I’m sure Sonny’s arrival will prompt a flurry of activity.
I feel sick in my stomach as I hear Sonny’s BMW X and I open the garage roller door with the remote control. He takes the hint and drives straight in, parking beside my Range Rover before I close the door behind him.
I hear Harrison moving down the stairs as I open the side door to Sonny.
“Hey,” he says, reaching around to cuff me in a hug, something I need more than I realised. “You okay?”
“Fine,” I lie, eyeing Harrison as he comes to a stop beside us. He’s fully dressed and wearing shoes already, like he can't wait to get out of here.
“You alright, Harrison?” Sonny tacks on, hand landing on my boyfriend’s shoulder.
“All good,” Harrison replies in a way that shouldn’t make that sickening feeling in my stomach tighten some more.
“Alright, should we head straight away?” Sonny asks, looking between us for guidance.
“Probably for the best,” Harrison nods.
“Okay. I’ve got a blanket in the front seat for you. Maybe you can cramp down in the footwell. If you want to that is. I don’t know how you want to play it …” Sonny peters out.
“Sounds like a plan,” Harrison agrees. He turns and gives me one sad smile and then leads the way out to the garage.
Sonny turns to look at me, concern etched on his face. “Will I see you at the club soon? We have recovery.”
“Yeah. I’ll be there,” I assure him.
“Okay. You call me if you need me,” he says, eyeing me until I nod. “I feel awful leaving you here alone with that mob out the front. Want me to send Izak back?”
“Nah, man. I can deal with it. They won’t see anything more interesting than two cars leaving the garage but if that excites them then so be it.”
Sonny claps me on the shoulder one last time before he turns and follows Harrison who is watching me, eyes sad but guarded. They climb into the car, and I wait as Harrison does, indeed, cramp his tall form into the footwell and Sonny arranges the blanket over him.
I cannot believe my life has come to this level of ridiculousness. I feel like I should put a stop to this, to just pull Harrison out of this stupid situation and walk out the front of my house with his hand in mine—consequences be damned.
But I don’t. I hit the garage remote to open the roller door and watch until they drive away.
***
Sonny is waiting for me when I arrive in the player carpark under the Fever’s training facility. There are more media personalities camped out the front of the club but at least they can’t get in here without going through security.
“Hey,” he says as he steps toward me.
