23
BECCA
I skimmedthe comments to my post as I packed. Most of them were lovely. I deleted the spam suggesting I buy bitcoins, which was apparently endorsed by an actor I was pretty sure never heard of bitcoins. Or at least, didn't put their name behind them. Scams; they were the one thing worse than tabloid journalism.
I tossed my phone on the table and opened my underwear drawer. No need for matching, but I grabbed everything I could put my hands on. I didn't know how long I'd be gone, and I hated doing laundry.
I threw it all into my bag and some clothes on top of it and zipped my suitcase shut. I looked around my room for anything I might have missed, but couldn't see anything. No doubt I'd find a hundred things later. As long as I had a few clothes and my chargers, I'd be okay.
My phone beeped. The sender said 'Grace'.
Outside front door. Get ur ass in gear.
I snorted and replied.
Ass perfectly in gear. On my way down.
I gripped the handle of my suitcase and hauled it behind me. My phone, I slipped into my pocket and my laptop went into a bag I tucked under my arm. Grace would tell me off for thinking about working on the Gold Coast, but I still had to find work, or keep my blog going.
I locked the door behind me and dragged my case to the elevator. All the way down I remembered bringing Hawk up here, and how embarrassed I was at the state of the building. And how we'd laughed when we fell back into the elevator.
Now all I could do was sigh and wondered if he'd ever read my blog post. What would he think if he did?
I wiped a tear from my cheek, then another on the other side. I'd cried a few already. I'd probably shed a few more before my heart healed. That would take time, lots of it.
It was merciful that I wouldn't be interviewing Hawk again. If I didn't see him, I might get him out of my mind. I hoped so anyway. It was difficult when he was the first thing I thought about in the morning and the last at night.
Even after I'd washed them, I swear I smelled him on my sheets. I read the texts he'd sent and smiled at the shoe emoji. I even listened to a voice message he'd left, even though it was only a handful of words.
I sighed and stepped out of the elevator, leaving it as empty as I felt.
"Took you long enough," Grace said when I stepped out the front door.
I stuck out my tongue at her, but it was half-hearted at best.
I dragged my suitcase to the waiting taxi and let the driver heft it inside.
"Shit, Becca, you look like hell," Grace said as she slid into the seat beside me in the back of the taxi.
"Gee, thanks," I said sarcastically. I brushed my hair and put on a splash of makeup, and my clothes were neat. I didn't think I lookedthatbad.
"No, I mean you look miserable," Grace said.
"I don't know why," I said ironically. "I feel on top of the world."
I remembered being on top of Hawk. He'd looked up at me and?—
"This trip will cheer you up, guaranteed," Grace said, her usual perky self. To the driver, she said, "You know where to go?"
"Yes, yes." He nodded so hard I thought his hat might fall off. "I can find anywhere, even without a GPS." He leaned forward and punched in the address.
I exchanged shrugs with Grace, but we both managed to hold in laughs.
"Thanks for this," I said to Grace. "I'll try my hardest not to be crappy company."
She leaned over and gave me a hug. "You could never be crappy company. You're allowed to be sad, you went through a rough time. It will get better, I swear."
She smiled so brightly I was immediately suspicious.
