What the Lightning Sees: Part One by Louise Bay

then stopped.
    “Haven?” asked a familiar voice behind me.
    “I’ve got to go,” I said to Ash and hung up.
    “Hi, Harry.” I turned around and kept my eyes fixed on the floor. At least when he’d caught me wearing pig pyjamas I’d been drunk, so he hadn’t been around when the embarrassment set in. Now, I got to feel it in real time.
    “Haven? What—I—are you okay?”
    I nodded and continued to stare at my shoes. My virginal boarding-school shoes. A shudder of sobs gathered in my belly and my tears started anew.
    “Jesus, what’s wrong? I hope this isn’t because I missed the meeting this morning.”
    I pathetically attempted to punch him, but he grabbed my hand and pulled his arms around me, holding me to him.
    Fuck, I was confused. Upset, but slightly happy at the same time. I wanted to laugh and cry. It was so good to have him here, close to me, comforting me.
    “What’s the matter with you?” he asked.
    I shook my head. “Nothing.” I gulped and I put my arms around his waist.
    “It doesn’t sound like nothing. It doesn’t feel like nothing,” he said, stroking my back.
    We stood for ages, him rhythmically moving his hands up and down, my breath slowly returning to normal. A couple of times I tried to move away from him a little. He just pulled me tighter.
    “Tell me what happened,” he said again.
    I shook my head into his chest. It felt good, too good. I could get used this. I twisted and he loosened his arm around me.
    “I’m sorry, I didn’t want anyone to see me like this.”
    “Don’t apologise. Is there anything I can do? Want me to kick his butt?”
    “What?” I looked at him. “No, it’s not anything like that. It’s work crap.”
    He didn’t say anything, just watched me with those pale-blue eyes. “Don’t. If you’re nice to me, I won’t be able to hold it together,” I said. “You should go inside.”
    “Okay, well, if you want to talk, I’m around.”
    I snorted. Very attractive. He was never around.
    “Today I’m around, and I’m always at the end of a phone.”
    My stomach tilted. He was being so kind. No one ever saw me like this. No one except Ash and Luke. Since my parents died, I hadn’t let anyone else in. Harry had seen a side of me that was reserved for those I allowed close to me.
    “Thanks. I’m fine,” I said as I swiped my eyes with the sleeves of my sweater and took a deep breath.
    “If you’re interested, a little gallery is showing some of my photographs on Wednesday, you could come along with a friend or two if you wanted. It might cheer you up.” He pulled out his wallet and handed me a card.
    “Okay, so this is why you keep disappearing.” I smiled at him.
    “No, well, I suppose a little, but I don’t need to be here all the time. I’m just helping out. This isn’t my full-time job. Don’t bust my balls about it.”
    I shrugged. He was being so nice, I shouldn’t be giving him a hard time. I wanted things to go back to normal between us, to before he’d seen me so open and upset. “Sorry,” I mumbled.
    “Well, you know what happens when you do that. I’m only giving you a pass this time because of the tears. You do it again and I’ll kiss you again.” He grinned and his eyes did that crinkling thing.
    Warmth radiated from my stomach and spread everywhere. I couldn’t look at him. The thought of him kissing me again made me want to touch him. I reached out and tugged on his jacket sleeve. “Thank you for being so nice to me.”
    He moved closer and his hand found the back of my neck. He planted a kiss on the top my head. “Are you okay now?”
    My heart racing, I managed to reply, “Yes, you go. I’m going to splash some water on my face. I’ll be a minute.”
    “Come find me later if you want to talk.”
    I nodded and he headed on up the stairs.
    I slumped against the wall. I peered at the card he’d given to me. It was nice of him to invite me, although it was probably just because he felt sorry for me. But