2. A ghost from behind.

Benjamin

How many years has it been? Five? Six? When last did he call me? I didn't believe, I couldn't and I hated the fact that I had no other choice.

I slammed my door shut and punched the keys into the hole before tearing out of the garage and down the road toward the airport. He was back, at least that was what he said and worse of, we had to partner with him to expand the sales of our products in his country.

I fingered my greasy hair as I slammed on the accelerator. My phone rang and I jerked, he still makes me on edge, fuck.

Oliver’s name flashed across the screen, I had to explain this to him, but how was I going to tell him this? I swiped the call toward the red zone, ending the call. Another call came in rather quickly and I was about to end it when I noticed it was him, I picked it.

“Are you close?” he asked, the slight french accent still there. I swallowed, “Yes, I’m close.”

“Good, I’ve always liked it when you’re close.”

I ignored the inference, “have you had something to eat?”

“Aw, you’re still worried about me?”

“Answer the question, Harvey.” He snickered, “Five years and I would think you would have learned how to be patient.”

He had a way of getting under my skin with just a few words. How the hell was I supposed to be able to work with him in my company?

“I haven’t and you know how awful airplane food is,” I could feel him rolling his eyes through the phone.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten my favorite?” 

How could I forget? It was impossible to.

“Still there?”

“Yes, Harvey,” I said with a long sigh as I turned toward the airport. I taxied the car to a stop by the parking lot, close to the entrance, almost impossible to miss anyone that was exiting the terminal.

“I’m here.”

“You’re such a darling.” He said before he ended the call. I stared at the phone for a few more seconds before the weight of everything that was happening crashed on me. Why did he have to come out from nowhere? Why now when I was planning my wedding with Oliver? 

I sighed, my phone vibrated once more and I saw Oliver’s name across the screen.

My thumb hovered over the green for a second, mulling the thought of responding. No, I will tell him all about it at home. I owe him a big explanation, I just left him this morning without so much as a goodbye.

Next level assholery.

My eyes wandered till I caught him, Harvey, walking out of the revolving doors with his suitcase. The way the sun hit him at an ethereal angle, it made his skin glow. He hadn’t changed over the years, he still looked the same: carved by the gods, his eyes sparkling with this icy gray that reminded me of the trees during winter. 

His frame looked taut in the blue suit that he wore that made his paste-like skin sparkle like a gem. I shook the thoughts from my head before pressing the horn. He smirked as he strutted across toward the car. He swirled toward the driver’s end before rapping his knuckles against the window.

His face came into full perspective as I wound down the glass, “Be a dear and help me with my bag, would you?”

“You can carry your bags, Harvey, you’re not fragile.”

“But that’s not what you said all those years ago.”

“Can you just get in the car?”

“Fine, cunt.”

He threw his bags into the back seat and slid into the passenger's seat.

“So, where are we going? I read that there’s this famous seafood place in town.”

“King crabs.”

“You know it!? Is it any good?”

“I don’t know, I haven’t been there,” but Oliver has been dying to go there, I said the last part in my mind as I changed course toward the restaurant.

“What have you been up to? You look good, and I can smell that perfume that I got you. You never did let go, huh?”

“Can we please, not?” I said, gripping on the steering for my dear life. This was a mistake; I should have ordered him a cab or something. I didn’t need to be here, fuck, what the hell was I thinking?

As soon as I parked the car, I exited and walked toward the restaurant leaving Harvey behind. He walked briskly easily falling into my pace with his runner’s legs.

He slid his hand into mine, wrapping it gently. I tried to shrug him off but he latched on like a leech as we made our way inside the building.

We had just found a cozy spot to sit when the door opened once more and I caught a glimpse of Oliver marching toward us. My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach and my eyes widened. How the fuck did he…I flipped my phone, fuck, he could track my location.

Our eyes locked and from the way his lips twisted into a scowl, I could tell that he was unhappy, livid even.

“What the fuck, Benjamin? Who the hell is this?” He said, ignoring Harvey. Harvey coughed slightly, turning Oliver’s attention toward him.

“Hi, my name is Harvey,” he stretched his hand, “I’m his ex-fiancé.”