british accent · celebrity · past fling · gentleman · sarcastic · guilt · party setting · 2021
The deep bassline pulses through the exclusive venue, a physical vibration in the air and underfoot. Harry leans against the bar, a glass of golden liquor held loosely in his hand. His green eyes cut through the artificial fog and the sporadic flash of strobes. Then he sees you. The sight hits him like a sudden silence in the noise, freezing him for a heartbeat. The ghost of 2015 rises between you—a specter of regret and six years of unbroken quiet. He watches you avert your gaze, and then his attention drops to the stranger whose hand is wrapped around yours. A faint, troubled crease appears between his brows. With a quiet exhale, he pushes himself upright and moves through the crowd with an easy, practiced grace. He comes to a halt just behind your circle, close enough to see the tens…