"You could get a kitten," Grace suggested. "They love you no matter what."
I smiled faintly. "I'm not sure I'd be a good match for a kitten."
"You could name them something geeky," Grace said. "Like— What's that guy's name? Loki?"
"Yeah." That would be a cute name for a mischievous kitten, but I wasn't ready to commit to an animal of any kind, human or feline. Besides, no unsuspecting kitten would want to spend the next several Saturday nights watching me eat ice cream and cry.
"I hate seeing you so bummed," Grace said.
I put my hands over my face.
She laughed and pulled them away. "That wasn't what I meant. I meant I'm sad that you're sad."
"I know," I told her. "At least I still have my sense of humour."
"And your dignity," she added.
"A bit of that, yes," I agreed. "Okay, most of it. I didn't sob untilafterhe left."
"Do you think anyone saw him out there in his underpants?" A smile crept onto Grace's face.
"I didn't hear Gladys scream." I hoped to whatever gods might listen that Harvey hadn't stalked us. I didn't feel like being tabloid fodder of the week. That would make this whole situation nine thousand and three-quarter times worse than it already was. Hawk and I would be followed for weeks, our private lives open to scrutiny. I expected that to happen if we were together, but apart we wouldn't even have each other to console us.
"She might have fainted. Did you check?" Grace asked.
I smiled and snorted. Is there a word for doing both at the same time? Maybe smorted. Or sniled.
"I checked the corridor to see if he'd really left," I said. "I saw no sign of her. I'm sure she'll bring it up when she comes by for dinner tonight. Are you still sticking around for that?"
"I wouldn't miss it," Grace said firmly. "You shouldn't be on your own right now. You might do something silly like run off to Vegas and marry an Elvis impersonator."
"Shouldn't that be 'get married by an Elvis impersonator?" I picked my wine back up.
"I said what I said." Grace nodded once. "You're vulnerable. Stranger things have happened."
"Yes, because I'm so impulsive." That was one word not usually associated with me, but I had my moments, like anyone else. "Is he cute?"
"Who?" Grace looked confused.
"The Elvis impersonator," I said. "I mean, a girl has needs."
Grace swatted me on the arm and almost knocked the glass out of my hand. I managed to save it at the last moment, without losing a drop. Oh wait, it was almost empty. When did that happen?
"Nice save. And I don't know, he could be. Maybe we should book a trip to Vegas and find out. He might have a brother."
A trip to Vegas actually sounded like a great idea, but since my last great idea ended so badly, I should probably skip it.
"In the meantime, I need to figure out what I'm going to say to Ed. He's going to be pissed too. He'll probably tell me I should have sent him the article directly and not shown Hawk at all."
Grace winced. "Wild guess here, but I think that might have made Hawk even angrier than hearing it from you."
I grimaced at the idea of him reading the article without knowing it was coming. I would have deserved to have my head torn off—not literally—if I'd gone behind his back like that. Which was exactly why I hadn't. He deserved better than that. Everyone did, celebrity or otherwise.
"He might be a tad furious," I sighed. "I think he'd prefer to have his sex life splashed all over the internet than this."
Grace shook her head. "You're a pair, you two."
I frowned. "How do you mean?"
