“But you weren’t supposed to see me… like this.”
“Like what?”
“Like… like I’m about to board the hot mess express.”
“What does that even mean?” I frown at the door.
“I’m not wearing any make-up. My hair’s a mess. I’m wearingathleisure, for Christ’s sake. I’ve not showered in over twenty-four hours. And I’ve got nap breath and was about to go out and buy a toothbrush, because, yes, I’m the eejit who forgot her toothbrush.”I blink, taking it all in. “I still don’t know why that would make you run away from me?”
There’s a pause. A long pause.
“Because you don’t know me well enough for me to look… like that. You know me as something else.”
“The person in the videos? The one all made up and performing for a camera, is that what you mean?”
“Yeah.”
“Maeve, would it break your heart if I told you that I don’t think I do know that person? I don’t really know who I know. We’ve never met before. There was this cool woman I was chatting to for a while, and we spoke on the phone once, and that was really nice, but then she disappeared for the best part of three weeks, until I saw her running away from me down a hotel corridor. So I have no idea who it is I know, but I don’t think it’s that person with her perfect hair and perfect make-up for the camera.”
I hear a soft thud.
“I called Reception, but they didn’t pick up,” Maeve says and she sounds a little further away. I wonder if she slid down to sit on the floor. “And I really need to brush my teeth.”
“Would you like me to go and get you a toothbrush from Reception?”
Another pause. This time a little shorter.
“You would do that?”
“I just offered, didn’t I?”
“But I literally just ran away from you.”
“Yes, you did. And you ran really fast. I didn’t have you down as a runner.”
“I’m not. I think I gave myself a stitch.”
“Is that a yes?”
“It’s a yes. Please.”
“Okay.” Then I reply slowly, “But I’m doing this on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“That you promise not to put any make-up on or change your clothes or do anything other than just sit and wait for me to come back.”
“And I still have to open the door to you when you come back?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely.”
A third pause, this time a little longer again.
“Fine,” she finally replies curtly.
“Good.” I smile at the door between us. “Stay here, Speedy Gonzales. I’ll be back in five.”
*****
