Wanna talk about what happened earlier at Hightide…?
My heart pounds frantically against my rib cage.She wants to talk about the almost kiss? What should I say? I wish we hadn’t been interrupted? Want to come over and sit on my face?
I settle on something far more bland when she sends something else through.
Your manager seemed pretty upset.
Oh.
My heart falls into my stomach.Of course she’s not referring to the almost kiss. She wants to talk about Enzo. Enzo motherfucking cockblock Miller.
It was nothing. Just some stupid tabloid article about me. I’m used to it.
Your manager didn’t seem to think it was nothing.
Enzo has a tendency to be dramatic. And I give him plenty of opportunities to be.
Well, I’m really glad it wasn’t anything bad.
I was worried about you.
That simple message makes my heart stutter. There are so many things I want to say to her, too many things I need to get off my chest. I can’t say any of them, though, so I go with:
I’m looking forward to our lesson next week. Looking forward to seeing you.
Me too <3
I close my phone, keeping it on the pillow beside mine in case she needs me again in the middle of the night. Despite how upset I was earlier, I’m slightly at peace after talking to Eloise, and for once, it feels like I can fall asleep without being absolutely trashed.
It takes me some time, but when I finally drift to sleep, my dreams are filled with visions of the sky, a soaring white gull, and a girl with hair the color of a shining pink sunrise.
13
Eloise
Saturday…
I wave goodbye to Dave, standing in place long after the front door slams closed. Forest turns to lock the door, and only then do I let my hand drop, my shoulders slumping inward as I allow my posture to soften.
“Well, I’m going to get this horrid dress off and get a couple of hours of practice in. See you later, Forest.”
He gives me a curt nod, but otherwise says nothing—it doesn't bother me, though. Nothing can bother me today. An asteroid could drop out of the sky and burn me to a crisp, and I’d go into the blaze smiling—because for two blissful days, Dave will be out of the house. That’s forty-eight hours, 2880 minutes of oxygen, of a small sense of freedom. And I am absolutely ecstatic.
Dave flies to the other side of the country once a month to service his clientele in Moriton City, and that leaves just me and the guard at the mansion. In the past, I’ve gone the entire weekend without seeing Forest, and he never seems to ask anyquestions or bring the matter up to Dave—so I know this is the perfect opportunity to get out of the house if I want.
I kind of wish he were traveling during the week so Riot and I could have some more time for our lessons, but I can’t be picky, so I’m just going to enjoy this rare, relaxing day.
Maybe I’ll finish my new book. Heat some water on the stove and take a nice hot bath. Or perhaps I’ll take my bike to my secret spot on the beach I found a couple of years back.
I’m in the middle of debatingwhatexactly I wish to do when my phone buzzes. I look down at the screen, my heart jumping at the sight of Riot’s name.
Are you busy tonight?
Speak of the devil…I shake my head with a chuckle, my thumbs working quick to type out a response.
Hey to you too. And no, I’m not.
Good. Because we’re going out.
