Being Harrison Bloom’s Girl

Slowly.

She never wanted to let him go. All she needed was to hold on to him, forever.

But even then, there was a part of her that knew that perhaps her destiny wasn’t what she had expected it to be.

“It’s Sunday,” coaxed Harrison.

Leigh smiled, but she didn’t stop dressing.

“I know, but I have to go back to school and work. I told Hana we’d finish the papers today. I’m cribbing off her, Harrison. I really need to go.”

“You said you’d be here the whole weekend.”

Leigh nodded, and the regret was very real.

“I know. I wish I could stay. But there’s so much work, Harrison. I know you’re used to fixing problems, but this is work that I need to do. There’s no way out. Nobody you can call, or influence in any way, I’m afraid. I’ve just got to go back and get on with it.”

Harrison sighed and gave up, coming over to her to help her find her shoes.

“I don’t know how you manage to lose your shoes every time you come here. I put in that closet for you.”

Leigh chuckled.

“Maybe we can turn that into a secret hidey hole. In case we need to hide from nefarious agents of destruction.”

Harrison laughed.

“I miss you when you’re at school.”

Leigh sighed and turned to hug him.

“I miss you, too. You know that, don’t you? I hate being away from you. I hate so much of this. But we’ll make it work. It’s only for a while. We’ll figure it out. We’ve dealt with enough already, but we’ll figure this out, too.”

Harrison pressed a kiss to the top of her head, but she knew by the way his arms tightened around her that he didn’t want to let her go.

“I know. We will. Shall I drive you home?”

Leigh shook her head regretfully.

“It won’t work, will it? I drove here. What will you do, take a bus back? That would probably be all over the tabloids. I’ve really got to go now, Harrison.”

Harrison could see it – part of Leigh had already receded from him, and it was disturbing to watch as she became the other person, the student who fit in so seamlessly on campus. Did she have the slightest idea of how lumbering and awkward he had felt, trying to make a grand gesture that would make her feel loved and getting it all wrong?

Did she think that he had enjoyed the amused disdain that he had seen in so many eyes when he had sent her those plants? And those flowers?

But he had to be patient and supportive, no matter how difficult it was. It was more difficult for Leigh. He had to remember that.

Except, it didn’t seem all that difficult for Leigh, a niggling little voice inside him pointed out. She was having fun.

It was petty and unfair of him to resent that, but she was having a bit too much fun, and finding it a bit too easy to leave him and the life they had started building together behind.

“I know. Kiss me goodbye then, Leigh,” was all Harrison said, though, as he gripped her tighter and found her lips.

He kissed her as if willing her to belong to him, convincing her that she would always belong to him, just as he belonged to her. He felt the response he could always draw from her, felt her soften under his hands and his mouth, and the need that surged through her was instant and nearly unstoppable.

He always wanted Leigh with a violence that shocked him.

But before he could give in to it, Leigh pulled back. He felt it before she pulled away physically.

So, he did the only thing he really could do.

He let her go, and hoped that she would come back to him soon.

Hoped that she needed him, too.