Chapter Thirty-Nine
DAN
My only phone provider has been down all day, so I can’t receive any messages or calls. Hopefully, the outage is over by the time I shoot content at Euphoria’s new activation tonight.
‘Our numbers are a lot better this week,’ Lisa informs us before we go on lunch. ‘The way things are tracking, it looks like the business will get back on track and you’ll be able to keep your jobs.’
Blake raises her eyebrows and says, ‘Lucky us,’ not even attempting to hide her sarcasm.
The addition of Tea Time to our workflow felt foreign at first, considering news has been my forte so far. But finding these true stories – some of them hilariously inappropriate – is quite fun.
I think about how much has changed this week, not even work-wise. I said goodbye to Jean yesterday, offering to help her move this week. Although, she told me a removalist is taking care of it all and not to worry.
On my lunch break, I step onto the balcony to see Blake sitting in the sun. For a winter day, it couldn’t be crisper outsid e. The rays warm me from face down as I drape my arms over the balcony.
‘Great day, isn’t it?’ I make conversation, my gaze fixed on the cityscape and river.
‘Fantastic,’ Blake acknowledges, her face tilted to the sky. ‘Glad to be heading home after lunch. Got a half day today.’
‘Oh, nice.’ Silence pushes between us, but I cut it off with, ‘You got any fun media famils coming up?’
‘Nah, not really. It’s been a bit sleepy on that front. It’s been a while since I’ve spent a full week in the office without going on one.’
‘You going stir crazy or?’ I ask, knowing full well that I have been, but about her best friend.
‘Nah, it’s been a nice change. It was getting to the point where going out for an all-expenses-paid restaurant meal was becoming a chore, so might be good to build the excitement again before the next wave of venues open. Which should be next week, by the looks of it.’
I nod. ‘That’s good.’
Blake eyes me knowingly. ‘Could use a hand model for some shoots next week if you’re keen.’
‘Uh, yeah. Sure thing. At the moment, I’ve got the launch for a new light show, but other than that…’
‘Cool, I’ll message you on Slack with the details.’
And we’re back to silence again. After a tick, I form some words, but they don’t quite make it from my mouth. I gather myself and ask, ‘How’s Kallen?’
Blake lets out a long sigh, as if I’ve drawn her to the brink of her day being ruined. ‘Kallen is doing okay,’ she says. ‘He told me he’s secured an interview for a new job. So, fingers crossed he gets it.’
‘I…hope he gets it,’ I say, looking out to Story Bridge, to the one singular cloud hovering over it.
A deep breath leaves my lungs, one so loud it has Blake’s gaze fixed on me.
‘What?’ she asks.
‘I just, uh…miss him, that’s all,’ I mumble, surprised for those words to leave my mouth.
Blake places her hands over her forehead and groans.
‘I think at this point, Dan, you’re going to have to communicate a bit better with him – maybe speak a little more – if you’re thinking of salvaging something with him.
Kallen has been disappointed a lot in his life and gets in his head about it. He has major trust issues.’
‘I know.’ My head droops down over the balcony. The sheer drop to the ground. ‘I’ve never been good at expressing my feelings, either.’
Blake stands from her seat, looking me in the eye as she steps past. ‘Well, maybe this is a good place to start.’
And just like that, I concoct the best idea I’ve ever had, one which has me speed-walking to Lisa like my life depends on it.
In some way or another, it does.