Chapter 6 #2
It takes him a moment to register then he sits back slowly, his lips parting ever so slightly wider. “You write spicy books?” He looks over his shoulder, and I cover my blazing face with my hands.
“Yes.” My words come out muffled, my shoulders rising and falling as I laugh.
“Well… I never.” I peek at him through my fingers and he pulls his bottom lip behind his teeth, a slow shake of his head. “Take off those angel wings, Athena.” He chuckles. “You’re a fraud.”
I cover my face fully once more. “I feel like we have spoken more about my work than yours,” I say when we are ready to go.
I reach for my purse and I grab my card, but he shakes his head, dropping his to the plate. I don’t even have a chance to fight it because the waiter is already there, swiping the card through the machine.
“You get the next one.” He winks and my chest constricts. “And you will spend a lot of time in my work world; we may not get a chance to speak about anything but...” He smirks as he pushes from his seat and steps aside whilst waiting for me.
Swiping my bag from the floor, I stand and walk beside him out of the restaurant. We move from Little Rogue and into a quaint bistro.
“Thank you for this,” I mutter as he gets my door and just as I place a foot on the sidestep, I hear a girl shout his name.
“Royce! Oh my God, it’s Royce!”
My face turns as I watch two younger girls swarm towards him. He holds his hand up gently and I notice they’re wearing his team hat and tee. My heart throbs deep inside my chest. He takes his time talking to them, then signs the underside of the peaks on their caps.
“We can’t wait to watch you race on Sunday,” they admit, eyes full of sparkles.
He stands and speaks to them for a while before they walk away.
He waves goodbye then hovers behind me, his fingers delicately brushing the small of my back as I step into the car.
I smile at him as he leans across and buckles me in, then watch as he climbs into the driver’s side and starts the car.
“Does that happen a lot?” I ask as he indicates and pulls out into the road.
“Sometimes. Depends on where we are,” he says softly and thanks the waiting car for letting him go.
“I don’t mind it prior to race weekend, but I can be a little self-absorbed when I am actually working.
Like, I get a bit grumpy I suppose. I don’t mean to be, but I have so much going on in my mind and I need to keep my head in the game.
I try to avoid as many of the media events as I can, as well as the well-known places where the fans hang around for race week. ”
“I get it.” I roll my lips as I look out the window, Melbourne slipping by as we drive towards the hotel. “Thank you again for this afternoon, I really appreciate it.” I nibble my bottom lip.
“No problem at all, I owed you.” A boyish grin tugs at my lips and his mouth twists as I fight my smile.
Back in my room, I pull my phone out and videocall Edel. She gives me a beaming smile from her sofa.
“Hey.” I fall into the pillows and let out a big sigh.
I could nap. Jet lag is kicking my ass, but I am determined to fight it off.
“How’s your day been?” she asks, sipping on her cup of tea, the soft hue of the TV dancing across her skin.
I take in her blonde hair, green eyes, infectious laugh and smile. I love every piece of her.
“Yeah, nice,” I say, a silly smile pulling at my lips and I couldn’t even stop it if I wanted to.
“Oh yeah?” Her brows raise as she looks at me through the screen.
“Yeah.” I nod.
“So, all is forgiven in the Royce Lexington world?” She giggles and I roll my eyes, softly shaking my head from side to side.
“For the time being, I suppose.” My lips twist.
She laughs.
“We had a really nice time and spent most of it speaking about me and my books. We had lunch and coffee, then he dropped me home.”
“Did you ask about him?”
“He didn’t really want to talk about it. He told me I would be living in his world soon enough or something like that, and I would see it all then.”
“Makes sense.” She nods and dips a chocolate digestive into her tea.
“Yeah, I suppose. I mean, what a way to learn about someone then seeing it through their eyes as such.”
“Exactly, and the book is going to be so epically amazing because of that.”
Anxiety twists in my gut. It must have shown on my face, too.
“Still not sure?”
“No,” I whisper.
“Athena, it is going to be amazing, I know it. I really do believe this is the one that will turn it all back around again.”
I love her optimism. I haven’t told her that if this flops, I’m out. Done. RIP Opal Bloom.
I’ll find something else. There is only so long you can pour from an empty cup.
“Yeah, maybe.”
She tilts her head, giving me that look. “You need to start being a little more positive, babe. Stop being cup half empty… you’ve come so far. I don’t want to start calling you Pessimistic Pam.”
I snort a laugh.
“Promise you’ll see this as a positive experience, that you’re going to spin that magic to make this the most beautiful and amazing book you have ever written.”
I swallow down the lump that has lodged in my throat.
“You deserve this and so much more, Athena. As soon as you realise that you’ll get the life you have only ever dreamed of.”
I nod, tears pricking my eyes and lining my lower lid.
“Oh God, don’t cry. I can’t swoop you up in a cuddle because you’re a billion miles away.”
“I’m fine,” I choke on a sob. What was wrong with me?
“That’s the problem, you’re always fine.” Her voice is soft, sincerity wrapped around her tone, and I would do anything to have her here with me now.
“I miss you,” I sniffle and her own eyes mist.
“It’s only been three days. How are we going to cope?”
“You’re going to have to fly out and follow me around.”
She sits tall. “Do you think…”
“I don’t know? Maybe, I can speak to my agent or Nora and see if there is any way we could work it.”
“Joys of voluntary redundancy.” She sighs.
“What?” My eyes widen.
“Yup, I was told today that following the buyout, they we’re downsizing… and well, I’m being squeezed out.” Edel works in public relations for a small firm, she is so dedicated to her job.
“Well, let me float the idea, and I’ll let you know what they say.”
Her lips purse. “Okay.” She holds her fingers up and they’re crossed.
We fall into easier chatter, and I finally cut her off when she has fallen asleep. Smiling at the screen, I lock it and toss my phone down.
Padding towards the desk in the room, I grab my laptop and fall back onto my bed, legs crossed as I open the screen. I stare at the blank document and feel nothing.
Opening my emails, I see one from Maria and click on it. I skim through it then sigh, closing the lid.
I fear I am never going to be able to write another book.
The tingles in my fingers have gone, along with the way my heart would skip a beat or two when a new idea hit me at three a.m. The excitement has fizzled out and been replaced with dread and anxiety.
I have a moment where I think it is coming back, my passion for words, but I think it is a fever dream.
Glancing at the time, I decide I need to get out my room because if I stay here, I am going to fall asleep.
Grabbing my small over the body bag, phone, and key card, I close the door behind me and make my way downstairs.
I have no idea where I’m going but I don’t care.
I’m just going to walk and see where my feet land.
Stepping into the lobby of the hotel, I stop off at the concierge desk and ask for some recommendations. He’s very helpful, offering me a few leaflets and a map for my aimless wandering.
“Thank you,” I mutter, glancing down as I look at where to headfirst. I need a coffee, and then I will be ready to explore.