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“It’s a miracle that you both found your way back. That you both still share the same love as you did then. It’s a miracle—and you’rewasting it, Cade. Life is too damn short to throw away a split second of it. You have had fifteenyearsstolen from you. Please don’t allow your pride to keep you from losing any more. Time is too precious, and it’s something we don’teverget enough of. Once it’s gone, we can never get it back. Spend yours wisely, son, and with the people who make your soul happy.”
* * *
SUMMER
The office got boring really fast after Vaughn walked Alex down to the main floor. I spent what felt like an age poring over theHawt Gosspictures of me and Vaughn, tearing each and every one of them apart from Caden’s point of view.
It doesn’t feel nice. I would know because I was the one watching him with Layla from afar for years, and every time I came across a picture, it was like a knife twisting in my gut.
When I don’t hear from Jesse or Caden, and their cell phones are still unreachable, I try to take a nap on Vaughn’s sofa.
It doesn’t work.
I text Anna back. There’s no reply for the longest time until I’m in the middle of playing some solitaire at Vaughn’s desk. The cards go flying everywhere when I scramble to unlock my phone.
Anna
I’ve been by your apartment. I explained to the cops, and they let me grab Jesse’s memory box from underneath your bed.
A wave of relief washes over me.
The blanket box Jesse had slept in as an infant had doubled as a place to keep all his milestone treasures. His hospital tag and first swaddle. His first shoes. A lock of baby hair from his first haircut. Photos of everything ranging from birth to present day, and millions of trivial items like the painted handprint from his first day at kindergarten.
The stubs from our tickets to Misdirection and memorabilia that he’d insisted on purchasing were in pride of place right at the top, as Jesse often liked to pull them out and relive their concerts whilst watching the live recordings of those special gigs.
The thought of Anna being able to save something so utterly irreplaceable brings a frog to my throat. I cough, trying to get a handle on my emotions, but it feels as though the events of the day, alongside the fact I can’t get through to my son or his father, are about to send me spiralling.
Instead of allowing that, I steel my shoulders and decide to keep my mind busy.
You’ve not lost your head in a crisis so far. You don’t get to start now, silly woman!
An idea pops into my head to ask Vaughn if I can oversee the staff performing inRisquéthis evening.
I can wear a mask as the performers and guests do. I’ll even throw on my favourite pink wig for shits and giggles. I just know that I can’t continue to sit here, waiting on one of them to call me back. I’m slowly going insane.
Me
Can I please oversee Risqué tonight? I’m going out of my head up here!
Please?
I see the dots begin to flash immediately.
Vaughn
Take Griff with you. I’ll swing by to check on you soon.
Without wasting a second, I descend the stairs and weave my way through the thronging mass of employees in various stages of undress to swing right into my usual changing area.
My pink wig is nowhere to be seen, and I narrow my eyes, silently cursing the thief before I grab a flame-haired one with bangs. I scan the room, searching for an outfit that might serve, and find a secretary-style pencil skirt with a white shirt. Matching black pumps completes the look.
It’s not the usual attire that’s required for bar work; however, for overseeingRisqué, it’s ideal. Vaughn is always kitted out in tailored suits, so I feel like I fit the part.
Once I’ve slipped into the clothes, I settle the wig into place and grab a black masquerade mask from the plentiful stash.
I’ve just slipped my phone into an inside pocket on the side of the skirt when there’s a knock on the door.
Griff’s voice calls from the other side of the door. “Summer—erm, I mean,Jolie? The boss said I was to stick with you tonight.”
