Chapter 3
Bungalow Three, Chateau Marmont, West Hollywood, Los Angeles
‘So, what do you want to do first?’ Antoinette asks when she’s finished unpacking while I watched, looking on mournfully at all her clothes, wondering where mine are at this moment. I’m sitting on the sofa with my laptop open.
‘I want to find Aidan Ward,’ I say. ‘I thought we’d start by going online and checking out therapists, especially any new, British ones. I’ve already started a spreadsheet.’
Antoinette sits down next to me and peers at the Excel document I’ve got open.
‘Oh, wow,’ she says. ‘You really did.’
‘So I think the best way to do this is to make some burner accounts on Reddit and Facebook, join some local groups and ask if anyone knows of recently arrived guys. I thought you could take Reddit and I’ll do Facebook?’
Antoinette nods. ‘Makes sense,’ she says. ‘Because you’re old.’ I give her a look. ‘… -der, than me,’ she adds, quickly.
‘When we’ve got some possibilities, we’ll make appointments so we can find out if it’s Aidan Ward.’
‘Sounds good,’ Antoinette says with a yawn. ‘Don’t you think that you should go shopping first though? Unless you’re planning on wearing your plane outfit to dinner.’
I look down at the cherry-coloured cashmere Loro Piana co-ord set I’ve been wearing for at least the last eighteen hours and give it a sniff. It smells of plane-cabin air and stale sweat.
She’s got a point.
And, actually, what better than a shopping trip for some sisterly bonding?
‘We could both go,’ I say excitedly. ‘We could hit up Rodeo Drive, grab me some basics, get some food?’
Antoinette has sprawled herself across the couch, her long, tanned limbs askew. ‘I might skip it,’ she says, ‘if you don’t mind. I think the jet lag is hitting me.’
Disappointment thumps in my chest. ‘Shopping is good for jet lag,’ I say with a weak laugh but Antoinette just closes her eyes.
‘I don’t really enjoy shopping.’
I think of her now-full wardrobe jammed with clothes, some with labels still attached. ‘You don’t?’
She opens one eye. ‘Not shopping shopping,’ she says. ‘I prefer to do it online. It’s a much more Zen experience.’
‘But Antoinette,’ I say, ‘I’m not suggesting we go and hang out at some outlet mall. These are designer shops. With VIP rooms and champagne.’
‘I just prefer the apps,’ she says with a shrug. ‘But you should go! I think I’ll stay here and take a look at Reddit, maybe have a nap.’
‘Okay,’ I say, crestfallen. ‘I guess I’ll see you later then?’
But Antoinette is already asleep.